Chapter 3
“Hey, hey, hey, if it isn’t my favorite duo.” Seamus put a couple of coasters on the bar in front of Lucas and Todd. “What can I get you two this evening?”
“Do you still have the Magners?” Todd asked.
“Yes, it’s here until the end of the month. In October, I’ll transition to something for fall.”
“I’ll have that please.”
“Coming right up. Lucas, what’ll you have?”
“Martini. Vodka this time.”
“Grey Goose with a lemon twist?” Seamus confirmed.
“Do you know all of your customers’ preferences this well or am I special to you?” Lucas asked, batting his eyelashes.
“Oh, you’re definitely special,” Seamus replied in an exaggerated tone. “I think the town took a vote and everyone agrees on that. You’re Hope’s most special citizen.”
Todd giggled while Lucas rolled his eyes.
“You’re in an awfully good mood. I take it that means my brilliant plan is still working?” Lucas asked.
When he had suggested Seamus tell his parents he was gay during his July visit, he had brushed the idea off as absurd.
No way would he be able to fool the people who had raised him, their extended family, and their many friends.
But after two days of relentless harassment about their latest marriage candidate and the promise of an actual engagement party that had been planned without his knowledge, he had been willing to try literally anything.
At first, his parents were shocked and dismayed by his news, but before long, they came to terms with it.
Seamus was actually surprised at how well they took it until he realized they were grateful for an explanation for his unnaturally lengthy singledom.
Believing their straight son was only interested in men struck them as more believable than the possibility that he wasn’t interested in marriage.
“It sure is,” he said while he made Lucas’s martini.
“No matter how hard they try, they’re not going to find me a husband in the community, and to them, marrying an outsider isn’t an option, so that means I can live my life in peace, free from harassment.
” He set their drinks in front of them. “You really are a genius, Lucas.”
“It’s good to be recognized.”
“Did you text DJ?” Todd asked Lucas.
“I sure did.”
“Is he working?”
“Believe it or not, he’s coming to meet us. He said he’d be done at Slice of Life in time.”
“That’s great!” Todd said happily. “I’m glad he’s actually taking some time to have fun.”
The door swung open and a short, slight body was shadowed in the entrance before he stepped inside.
“Deej!” Todd got up from his chair. “I can’t believe you actually came!” He hugged his friend and then patted the empty stool beside him. “Sit. Sit.”
“Hi, guys. Sorry I’m late.”
“No worries. You didn’t miss much. Seamus was just singing my praises.”
DJ glanced at him and then quickly looked away. “What’d you do this time?” he asked Lucas.
“Got his parents off his back. Something he has apparently been trying and failing to do for his entire adult life, and I handled it in one conversation.” Lucas blew on his fingertips and rubbed them against his shirt. “It’s all in a day’s work.”
“What can I get you to drink?” Seamus asked his newest customer as he set a coaster in front of him.
Clear blue eyes landed on him, DJ’s look appraising. “Are you having issues with your family?” he eventually said.
“Not any more. Lucas helped—” The bar phone started ringing. “Give me a sec.” He held up his finger and stepped toward the landline. “Seamus’s Basement,” he said.
“Seamus. We’ve been trying to reach you. You haven’t answered your cell phone.”
Completely taken off guard by hearing his father’s voice on the bar phone, it took him a few moments to respond.
“Seamus?”
“Sorry, I’m here.” He blinked. “Is everything okay, Dad? Why are you calling this number?”
“I already told you. You weren’t answering your cell.”
“I didn’t hear it. I’m at work.” He glanced at the clock above the bar. Massachusetts was three hours ahead that time of year. “It’s after midnight there. Why are you up? Is Mom okay? What happened?”
“We found you a husband,” his father said joyfully.
“You...what?” he said, shocked.
“We found you a husband,” his father repeated. “He’s perfect for you, Seamus. So much so that your mother’s sure it was fated all along.”
“A husband?” Dizzy, he clutched the bar for support. “You found a gay man? In the community?” he confirmed.
“Yes! He’s a little younger than you, but well past marrying age. He’s been single all his life, just like you. We even knew his parents in passing, may they rest in peace.”
His family trouble had just gone from bad to disastrous.
He dragged his hand over his beard and turned around to lean his back against the bar so he wouldn’t collapse.
Apparently hearing his end of the conversation, Lucas was staring at him, openmouthed.
His friend DJ was leaning against the bar, arms crossed in front of him.
And the spot Todd had previously occupied was now empty.
“And he’s, uh, he’s willing to move to Hope?” he said, desperately wishing the answer was no. “Because I’m not leaving here. I have my business and my home. I’ve lived here for half my life and—”
“That’s the best part.” His father actually sounded giddy. He hadn’t known that was possible. “He already lives in Hope. He’s been there about as long as you.”
“He lives in Hope?” he repeated disbelievingly.
“Yes.”
“There’s a gay man in the community who’s living in Hope, Arizona?”
“Yes. I’m telling you, Seamus, I think your mother’s onto something. It’s fated.”
His parents could be eccentric, but this was a lot even for them. He half-believed someone was pulling a fast one on them.
“What’s his name?” he asked. “If he lives in Hope, I probably know him.”
“Dylan Johnston,” his father answered. “Do you recognize the name?”
He furrowed his brow in thought and then shook his head, even though his father couldn’t see him. “No. Never heard of him. Are you sure he’s in my Hope? Maybe there’s another town with the same name? Someplace on the East Coast?” That would make more sense.
“I’m absolutely certain. We met with his sister. She graduated from high school in your town. Dylan still lives in Arizona. Don’t worry. He’s perfect for you and we’ve handled the arrangement. You need to go to him right away, Seamus. He’s the one.”
“I, uh…” He had no idea what to say that wouldn’t devastate his father. “I have to go, Dad. The bar’s full. But I’ll call you tomorrow. Tell Mom I love her.”
“I will. She’s so relieved, Seamus. I can’t tell you how worried she’s been for you all these years.” He cleared his throat and then quietly said, “And so have I. Have a good night, son. We’ll talk tomorrow and plan the wedding. Congratulations.”
He hung up the phone and blindly reached for its base to set it down.
What was he going to do now? Refusing to marry women who lived on the other side of the country was one thing.
How was he going to get out of a marriage arrangement with someone local that his parents believed was fated? He was going to break their hearts.
“What the fuck was that?” Lucas asked.
“I honestly don’t know.” Completely bewildered, he shook his head and blinked, trying to get himself together.
“Did your parents actually find you a man to marry?”
Nodding, he said, “Looks that way.”
“Holy shit,” Lucas said.
“Yeah,” Seamus agreed.
“What are you going to do?”
“I honestly have no idea.”
“Maybe you should give it a shot,” Lucas said.
“I never thought I’d be happy with one guy or that I’d leave LA and now look at me.
Moving in with Jared was the best thing that ever happened to me, even if I originally came here against my will, kicking and screaming.
I wouldn’t give up this life with him for anything. ”
“I’m straight, Lucas. It isn’t the same situation.”
Lucas gave him his patented eye roll.
“If you’re straight, why would your parents arrange a marriage with a man for you?” DJ asked.
“It’s a long story, but the short version is, I took advice from the town troublemaker and lied to my parents so now I’m in a living hell.” He rubbed his hand over his beard again. “Serves me right. Fuck.”
“You don’t look good, Seamus,” Lucas pointed out.
“You think?” he snapped.
“Alright, alright, no need to get testy.” Lucas downed the rest of his martini and set his glass back on the bar.
“Todd had to take off because his brother’s kid is sick or something so he needs to take over closing the grocery store.
I’m going to go home. There are only a couple of other people here.
Close early for the night and get your head on straight.
” He paused. “Or not straight. That’s the better route in my opinion. ”
He clutched the bar with both hands and dropped his chin to his chest.
“Sorry about this, DJ.” Lucas’s barstool slid against the floor as he stood. “The one night you come out and we’re all bailing. Want to walk out together? I can drop you off at your place on my way to the farm.”
“No worries.” DJ reached for Todd’s abandoned cider. “I’m going to finish Todd’s drink and then I’ll head out. No reason for it go to waste. I can walk home.”
“Night, DJ. See you next time, Seamus. Maybe by then, you’ll be able to introduce me to your husband.”
He held up his middle finger.
Lucas cackled as he walked to the door.
“Fuck my life,” Seamus said.
In a twist of luck, the other two people in the bar came up to close out their tabs.
He checked them out quickly and then followed them to the door and flipped the sign and the lock.
Lucas was right about closing early. He was a mess.
No way was he going to be able to work for another four or five hours.
He dropped his head against the glass door and sucked in deep breaths.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
He swung around, the unexpected voice a reminder that he had one more customer in the bar.
“Sorry about that.” He sighed. “You can unlock it when you’re done with your cider.”
DJ nodded and traced his fingertip against the condensation on the glass.
While mentally running over the conversation with his father and trying to come up with a plan, he got to work picking up empty glasses and trash. He wouldn’t do his full closing routine, but he had to at least get the bar back in order before he left for the night.
“I can help you clean up,” DJ said, rising from his stool.
“I’ve got it.”
“I don’t mind.” He walked around the bar and over to the sink and started washing the dirty supplies. “I work at Jesse’s Diner, Strong Brew, and Slice of Life, and I fill in at Pike’s Grill every once in a while. I’m used to this.”
With experience at the town diner, coffee shop, pizza place, and biggest and best restaurant, DJ could probably handle closing down his little bar all by himself. Too mentally drained to object, Seamus nodded in response. “Thanks.”
He turned off the music, wiped down the tables, stacked the chairs on them, gathered the bags from all the trash cans, and then climbed up the back stairs and tossed them in the dumpster. When he got back inside, the dishwasher was running and DJ was mopping the floors.
“I appreciate the help, but you really don’t have to do this.”
“It’s no big deal.” DJ shrugged. “I restocked your empties, wiped down the bar, handled the dishes, sanitized the sinks, and prepped your garnishes for tomorrow.” He picked up the mop and bucket and walked toward the back of the bar.
“I’ll pour out the dirty water in the utility sink and you should be good to go for opening. ”
“Wow.” He looked around the now clean space. “You’re a life saver. Thank you.”
“No worries.”
When DJ returned from the back room, Seamus walked toward the front door to let him out. “I really appreciate your help,” he said. “Next time you come in, drinks are on me.”
“It wasn’t a problem.” DJ headed toward the door.
“Hey, weird question.” He didn’t know much about DJ because he rarely frequented the bar, but he remembered Todd Smitty once saying they’d gone to high school together, which meant he had grown up in Hope.
And he worked at several of the businesses in town.
Surely, between one of those places, he had met or heard of everyone who lived there.
If DJ didn’t know the mystery man his parents had lined up, he probably didn’t exist. “Do you know someone named Dylan Johnston?”
DJ stilled and stared at him, his expression appraising once again. He didn’t respond right away, but eventually, he nodded. “Yes, I do.”
Seamus was taken aback. “Seriously? Who is he?”
He stayed quiet for another long moment and then he squared his narrow shoulders, strode over to Seamus, and reached his hand out. “Dylan Johnston,” he said, looking up at him. “Everyone in Hope calls me DJ. It’s nice to meet you.”