4. Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Jamison
I entered Jerry’s Pub, the best place for food, beer, and friends in Orlinda Valley. It helped when most of the regulars were people you grew up with and had known forever. The pub was decorated with a cool variety of small-town high school life and firefighter paraphernalia since it was now owned by a group of local firemen. I went out through the opened garage door, which led to the patio, and found Lance at a table with Bryson and Kai, my cousin Kora’s fiancé.
I sat on the bench next to Lance and graciously took the beer he offered. It was good and cold. “Where’s the woman?” I asked. I was positive Lance would be able to talk Lilly into getting out for the night, and Kai was hardly ever seen without Kora.
“Kora’s doing some wedding planning with Darlene and Summer,” Kai said. “So y’all got me instead.”
Talk went briefly to Kai and Kora’s wedding, but Kai couldn’t give us many details. He knew the date and did what Kora told him. He was a smart man. My cousin was the most organized woman I knew, so she probably had her wedding planned down to the smallest detail.
“Rose and Kristy grabbed Lilly for some much-needed girl time and catching up,” Lance said. “They might stop by later.” Lance shook his head. “I wish I could get my hands on that piece of shit Lilly was married to.”
“Was it really that bad?” Kai asked.
Lance shrugged. “All I know is he kept her from her family for too many years. My mom and Charles went to New York to visit a couple of times, but . . .” He shook his head. “What kind of guy would keep a woman from her family?”
“She’s home now,” Kai answered. “It won’t take long for her to get right back to how things used to be. That’s something I learned quickly about Orlinda Valley. Everyone’s always welcome, and no one’s a stranger.”
That’s so true. Most of us were born and raised here, and those who were new to town, like Kai, were welcomed with open arms. I had no doubt the same would be said for Lilly once word got out she was back.
Conversation changed to the upcoming football season—high school and college—and a local country band started warming up. It would end up being the usual night of dancing, pool, darts, cornhole, and drinking at Jerry’s.
“Looks like the girls made it.” Bryson gestured toward a table inside.
Lilly, Rose. and Kristy sat at one of the high-top tables with drinks. Lilly waved across at Lance, who tipped his beer toward her. “She looks more relaxed than she did earlier,” Lance said.
“You better be careful,” I said. “She didn’t like you hovering over her when she was in high school. I’m sure she’ll really hate it now that she’s an adult.”
Lance grunted. “Yeah, well, if I would have stayed focused on her all those years ago, she wouldn’t have gotten involved with that dick. I got a bad vibe from him early on.”
Bryson nodded. “I remember. When she brought him to the house for the weekly barbecue, you were anything but cordial.”
“If everyone would have listened to me, maybe we could have kept her from moving to New York with him,” Lance said.
“Like that would have worked. She was twenty and wanted to leave.” I slid another beer toward him. “You need to let it go.”
“I agree with Jamison,” Kai said. “She’s divorced now. No one can live in the past—trust me, I know better than anyone. Be glad she’s home.”
Lance huffed and became quiet. I sipped my beer and casually watched the girls across the patio. I guess I need to stop seeing them as girls. They were women. Lilly was a woman. It’s amazing what ten years could do to a person. She wore her hair on top of her head in one of those messy buns, and with her best friends Rose and Kristy flanking her, she looked much happier and more relaxed than she had earlier. Her smile was genuine as she participated in their conversation, and it almost met her eyes as it showed off her perfect teeth. She always had a pretty smile; now, it lit up her face.
She gestured toward us and stood from the table. Rose and Kristy followed.
“Hey, guys,” she said as she tapped Lance on the shoulder.
“Hey, sis,” Lance greeted her.
Bryson stood and wrapped her in a hug. “Glad you’re finally home, Lilly.”
“Thanks, Bryson.”
“Have you met Kai, Kora’s fiancé?” Bryson asked her.
“I haven’t,” she said as she gave him a hug. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you,” Kai said with a smile.
“I love Kora like a sister,” Lilly said. “If it wasn’t for her, Rose and I would have been ignored by all the guys. She ensured we were always included, even though we were the youngest. It was the guys versus us.”
“Truth,” Rose added.
“She’s told me lots of stories, and it’s good to meet you, too. I know she’ll be glad to see you,” Kai said.
“I sent her a text earlier,” Lilly said. “She mentioned they were going to try and stop by tonight.”
“Anything’s possible with those three,” Bryson said as he took a swig from his beer.
“It looks like they left me.” Lilly glanced around. Kristy and Rose had taken seats at a table next to us. “I’ll talk to y’all later. Good to meet you, Kai.”
“You too, Lilly,” Kai answered.
I watched her as she sat at the table with Kristy and Rose. They leaned their heads close together to talk, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She seemed to be enjoying herself, yet at times, she fidgeted with her glass or the ring on her right hand—a nervous habit. I didn’t remember her ever having a nervous habit before.
“Hey.” Lance whacked me on my back, and I jerked my attention to him.
“What the hell, man?” I said with more irritation than I felt.
“You were zoning. Just checking on you. You good?” Lance’s brows raised.
“Yeah, I’m good. I was just thinking when the last time was I saw Lilly outside of my dad’s funeral. It was our graduation party and the day I announced to everyone Carly and I were getting married.”
Lance’s face got serious. “I remember. I never knew a man could glow, but you did.” Lance got quiet, then said, “You and Carly were perfect together.”
I couldn’t talk due to a sudden lump in my throat, so I nodded instead. Bryson placed his arm over my shoulder.
Kai broke the silence. “Kora has a group picture of all y’all on one of her tables. It was taken before all the kids. She told me about Carly. That sucks, man. I’m sorry.”
Again, I couldn’t talk. I just pinched my lips together and nodded.
“Today is the second anniversary of her death,” Bryson said.
Lance raised his beer. “To Carly. The most beautiful soul I ever had the pleasure of knowing, who loved my best friend huge and would want him to be happy.”
Kai and Bryson touched their beers to Lance’s, and I followed suit. She would want me to be happy. I glanced over at Lilly, and our eyes met. She gave me a tight smile, which I returned.
I puffed out a breath. “I agree with all of you. Carly sure wouldn’t want me moping around. Don’t forget. I tried dating. It was a disaster.”
“That was what, six months ago?” asked Bryson.
“And I wouldn’t call it a complete disaster. It could have been much worse,” said Lance.
“True,” agreed Bryson. “It could have been beer and margaritas you spilled all over her, not just water.”
“Yeah, well, beer and margaritas might just be the key to having a woman fall in love with you. It worked for me,” Kai said with his arms wide.
I chuckled. Kai was right. Spilling alcohol all over Kora was part of their story. “Yeah, well, bathing a girl in anything doesn’t usually work. I decided right after that that if a relationship was meant to be, I wouldn’t have to try. It will just happen. My main concern right now is Darcie and making sure she’s happy.”
The band started playing, and the vibe around the table picked up a bit. “Let’s not talk about this anymore tonight and just have a good time.” I motioned for the server and gestured toward our empty pitcher of beer.
“Look at her,” Lance said as he filled our cups.
I glanced over to where Lilly sat. Rose and her husband, Nolan, went off to dance. Kristy leaned in to say something to Lilly when a guy came to the table. Lilly nodded and Kristy followed the guy on the dance floor as well.
I didn’t know Kristy well, but I did know she was divorced. She had always been pretty. Blonde hair, blue eyes, thin, and since her divorce, she took advantage of men whenever she could. In a small town, you knew these things.
My gaze fell on Lilly, who was now alone. She kept spinning her glass around and had hardly taken a sip.
“You should ask her to dance.”
I jerked my eyes toward Lance. “Me? Why?” I ignored the sudden uptick of my heart in my chest.
“It’ll relax her. She always looked up to you, and it would be weird if I did it.”
He had a point. Just then, some dweeb walked to the table and leaned toward her. She shook her head, but he didn’t leave.
Heat warmed my face. “Fine.” I sauntered the few steps to the table. “Hey, Lilly. Is everything good?”
A quick flash of something went across her face, but I couldn’t make out what it was.
“I was just going to dance with this beautiful lady.” The guy who had been talking to Lilly was a beanpole at least six feet five as he stood taller than me, but not an ounce of muscle lived on those bones. I didn’t know the guy but had seen him around town. “Karl, isn’t it?”
“Sure is man.” He gave me a ridiculously large, toothy smile.
I nodded and turned to Lilly. “What do you say Lilly-Pad, want to dance with me?”
Lilly smiled a small half-smile. “Sorry, Karl.” She shrugged and grabbed my hand, and I pulled her to the dance floor.
“Poor Karl. He seemed a little hurt,” I said as I wrapped one arm around her waist and held her right hand in mine. I kept a safe distance between us. I didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable.
She gave a small laugh, which made her face light up. “I’m sure he’ll get over it.”
“You should laugh more often. It always looked good on you, and it still does.”
Her face filled with a smile, and she rolled her eyes.
“That does, too,” I said and smiled back. “Is everything okay?” I led her around the fake dance floor, which was placed over the grass on Friday and Saturday nights.
“Yeah. I’m just so glad to be home and am a little tired. It’s been a long day.”
I waited for her to say more, but she didn’t. It shouldn’t surprise me. There was no reason for her to open up to me. I’m just her brother’s best friend. There was one time—a split second—where things might have changed, but . . . I shook my head to clear the memories, which had no room here and enjoyed her company instead. We danced in silence for a bit more.
I enjoyed the feeling of her body near mine and held her close. Suddenly, the couple next to us stumbled and fell into us.
My grip on Lilly tightened to keep us both from tumbling to the ground. Her laughter rang out, and the light caught her eyes. My hands grabbed her waist. I wish I could say I touched her shirt, but she wore a short crop top, and my fingers touched the soft skin of her back as I righted her.
The man held up his hand in apology.
“It’s all good,” I assured him, then placed my attention back on Lilly.
She held my gaze with her eyes, which were still filled with laughter. Mine went wide as my entire body froze.
I swear electricity shot from my hands where they touched her soft skin, straight into my veins, and caused my blood to flow to all parts of my body. Including parts that had no right to be affected by my best friend’s little sister.
Her grip loosened, but neither of us moved. I caught a whiff of coconut again and wanted to brush my hand through her soft hair. It’s Lilly. Enough already. “You okay?” My voice sounded like a frog took up residence deep in my throat.
She nodded. “I’m good. Let’s finish the dance.” She wrapped one arm around my neck, grasped my hand in hers, and pressed her face to my chest.
I held her gently and laid my cheek against her head. I willed my eyes to stay open and focused on my breathing. My gaze wandered around the room. Get your thoughts on mindless shit. I watched others dancing. Two teams played cornhole across the lawn, and Lance and Kai were laughing about something at the table. Lance’s gaze caught mine, and he lifted his beer in my direction. What was that for? Was he okay with me dancing so close with Lilly?
Finally, the song ended, and we pulled away from each other.
“Thanks, Jamison. But I need a drink.”
Thank God. I needed some air. “Let’s go.” I led her back to the table with my hand on the middle of her back until she was safely back with the girls.
“Thanks for the dance, and saving me,” Lilly said.
“Anytime you need a dance or saving, you know you can give me a call.” I gave her hand a squeeze and went back to join the guys.
Lance placed a cold beer in my hand. “That couple was trashed and would have taken Lilly out if you weren’t there to catch her.”
That’s what his look was for. I sighed quietly, relieved. “You know me. Always willing to go to bat for Lilly.”
“I know, man,” Lance said. “It’s good that if I can’t keep her safe, she’ll always have you looking out for her.”
Yeah. That’s what I was good for—looking out for Lilly. Now, just to get my body to realize she was off limits.