Chapter 21
JAKE
Twenty minutes later, I held her as she sobbed.
“It’s so sad. They never got to be together.”
I exchanged a bemused glance with one of the volunteers at the Rosa Delgado Memorial Art Exhibition. The art installation was set up in a series of canopy tents with different art mediums grouped together, all inspired by our town legend.
The whole thing was impressive, but the oil paintings pushed Dani over the edge. She’d locked herself away from art so long, and now all these pent-up emotions clamored to break free.
“Next year, Vanessa’s photos will be part of this collection, I bet,” I said.
She looked up at me, her lashes spiked with tears.
“You really think so?” she sniffed.
“If a dumb grump like me felt something from them, they’re good.”
“You’re not dumb.” She frowned at me.
“I notice you didn’t say I wasn’t a grump.”
Her eyes sparkled. She fairly bubbled with life, joy, and everything good.
“I try not to lie,” she said primly before a mischievous smile stole over her face. “Besides, I like your grumpiness.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Good. You’re stuck with me.”
We grinned stupidly at each other until the volunteer encouraged us to move to the next tent. After we finished the exhibit, she threaded her fingers in mine.
“Thank you,” she said. “I don’t know what came over me.”
“Art.”
“I guess so.” The corners of her lips drooped. “I’d forgotten.”
“Nah, it’s still there. You’ll find it.”
She squeezed my hand. I expected her to drop it then, but she didn’t. We wandered through the festival for a little longer until she sighed deeply.
“Okay, I’ve got to head out. I should have gone already, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave any earlier.”
I totally forgot she had to work. Obviously, the Tavern made good money during festival weekends, and they needed her.
“You don’t have your car,” I said stupidly.
“Nope. I waited too long, but it’ll be fine.”
“I’ll pick you up after work.”
“Don’t be silly. You need to decompress after being around so many people.”
“Eh, it wasn’t so bad since I was with you.”
It was too late to take it back. Instead of being uncomfortable, though, Dani was pleased by my revelation.
“Okay,” she agreed softly.
“And I’ll walk you to work.”
She laughed, incredulous, and I shrugged.
“There are a lot of people around. I’ll rest easier if I know you made it safely.”
She grinned and curled her hand around my arm again. We walked the ten minutes from the square to the tavern mostly in silence, but it was comfortable.
Once I ensured she made it to work, I went back through the festival though I could have easily skirted it. It was different without Dani, but she colored how I viewed everything. Eventually, I found myself outside the silversmith tent.
“Ah, the young lover,” the silversmith said with a gleam in her eye.
“Nah, we’re just friends.”
“Yet here you are.”
I didn’t consciously set out to return here, but I assumed the ring was long gone. Now I had to admit I hoped it would still be here so I could get it for Dani.
After a long moment, she said, “We still have the ring the young lady admired if you’re interested in it.”
I grabbed the back of my neck self-consciously.
“Yeah, okay,” I mumbled. “I’d like to get it for my friend.”
She hummed in acknowledgement and produced the ring from behind the makeshift counter. She placed the ring box in a small gift bag and rang up the sale.
“You were that confident I’d be back?” I asked on an embarrassed laugh.
“That hopeful,” she corrected. “You’re friends, but you’re also more. It’s easier to see from the outside.”
“I don’t know. Her friendship has been the most important of my life. I don’t want to risk it and screw everything up.”
“But what if you miss out on the best thing in your life?”
Her words stuck with me the whole walk home, the ring burning a hole in my pocket. I waved to her dad across the street with his friends. Later, I spotted her mom at a batik display set up near the bakery.
It’s salesmanship, I told myself. She probably has a slew of them and sells more if she adds a mysterious element to it. Hell, I bought a ring for a girl who’s not mine, so it’s obviously effective.
After I got home, I tried to get into my latest book and couldn’t focus. Miss Priss wanted to cuddle, but I was too restless to sit still long. Bore, I made a sandwich and refrigerated it for tomorrow since I was full.
Finally, I gave up and headed to the Tavern. I was shocked at how busy it was. I debated going home since I was peopled out, but more hours of empty silence didn’t appeal, either.
A wall of noise greeted me when I went inside. Half the town was here as well as the festival-goers. I fought my way towards the nearest bartender, who I didn’t know. I placed my order and waited.
“Howdy, stranger.”
I steeled myself to be polite. The woman was familiar, but I couldn’t place her. Frankly, I didn’t care. I wanted to nurse my beer alone until it was time to leave.
“I’m Shayla, Dani’s lawyer. We met the other day.”
I nodded at the reminder.
“Not very talkative, are you?” she asked.
“Nope.”
She tossed back her hair and laughed. Numerous heads turned towards the sound, but I sought my favorite little pixie. I couldn’t see her through the crowd.
“Dani’s working the other end of the bar,” she said helpfully.
“Thanks.”
“This doesn’t seem like your scene,” she said after I accepted my beer.
“It’s not.”
“Yet here you are,” she prodded.
I wasn’t ready to admit the reason I was here, so I took another sip of my beer. Maybe I should have ordered two since there were still several hours until closing.
“Don’t tell me you’re a closet open-mic fan.”
I grimaced.
“Ben is pretty good though not quite as good as he thinks,” she observed. “There was some spoken word poetry that wasn’t my thing earlier.”
“Listen, Shalya, you seem like a lovely person—”
“Ouch.”
“—but I’m not really in the mood to chat.”
“That’s obvious.” Her eyes danced with mirth. “I was curious how long it would take you to break.”
I looked at her askance, and she laughed that throaty laugh again.
“In my line of work,” she said, “reading body language is pretty important. And you seem like a lonely guy in need of a good woman.”
She laughed again at the alarm on my face.
“I’m messing with you.”
“I’m not interested in dating.”
“Sure, if that’s what you have to tell yourself. Unfortunately for you, you’re the most interesting person here, so you’re stuck with me. I promise to dial down the flirtation, though.”
“I’m not sure you know how,” I said tartly.
“Touché.”
But she grinned, so we were good. She snagged a small table when it opened up, and I followed her.
We settled into an irregular conversation over the next hour.
Finally, I sat forward in my chair when Dani walked by and signaled for her attention.
Her expression lit up but faltered when her eyes landed on Shayla.
“What are you two doing here?” Dani’s eyes darted back and forth between us.
“I bullied him into accepting my company,” Shayla said. “I needed a break from men slobbering on me, and talking to him is like talking to a brick wall.”
I rolled my eyes at her, but Dani laughed. Then she turned her beautiful eyes on me, and my truth spilled out.
“It was too quiet at home.”
Her face softened. Then some drunken asshole shouted and ruined the moment.
“It’s crazy tonight, but I’ll stop by again if I can.”
“Don’t worry about us,” Shayla said. “I have a cat at home who’s about as responsive as your friend here, so I’m used to amusing myself.”
Dani laughed again and waved as she headed back to work.
“So, how long have you been in love with your roommate?” Shayla asked.
“Since eighth grade.”
I set my drink down hard. Shit. I didn’t mean to say. Shayla laughed again.
“Don’t worry about it. People always tell me things they don’t mean to. I have that way about me. Your secret’s safe.” She leaned closer. “I don’t understand why she doesn’t know, though. You two would be great together. You’re not secretly an asshole, are you?”
“No, I’m pretty open about it.”
There went that laugh again. It would be much easier if I found her attractive.
“Are you a cheater? Do you plan to steal from her? Cut her down at every opportunity until she’s a shadow of her former self?”
My expression grew darker with every word.
“Fuck, no,” I snarled. “I’m not Beau.”
“Then I don’t see the problem. No matter what, you’d be an improvement.”
“You don’t get it.”
“Help me understand.”
I ran a hand through my hair.
“I’m not good enough for her.”
Shayla blinked at me.
“Seriously? That’s your reason for leaving her vulnerable to every shitty guy who doesn’t see what’s special about her and only cares about what she can do for him?”
She snorted.
“You deserve it when some crappy guy like Ben swoops in and throws the wool over her eyes.”
She nodded behind me, and I turned. A scowl sprung up when I found Ben crowding Dani into the wall. He spoke animatedly. Dani had a polite smile on her face, but her eyes searched for an excuse to get away.
“I like Dani,” Shayla continued, “but she sees the best in people, even when it’s not deserved. Someone like her is catnip to a user. You say you’re not good enough, but those assholes don’t give a shit about her. They want to use her, but she deserves someone who cares about her.”
I sat back in my chair, stunned.