Chapter 5 It’s A Good Thing I Pay Attention
TANNER
The Local is already wall to wall people when Jacks, Lacey, and I walk in. We push through the crowd, and I spot Poppy and Logan sitting at a table with our friends, Donovan and Enzo. My heart drops a little when I don’t see Wren.
After the week I’ve had, I could use a win, and the only win I want is for her to give me a chance to show her that I’m not the guy she thinks I am.
Poppy stands and wraps Lacey up in a hug, and Jacks and I greet the guys.
“So, what’s everyone drinking?” I ask.
“We hadn’t ordered yet,” Logan says. “We were waiting for everyone to get here.”
“I think I’m gonna do a gin and tonic,” Lacey says, scooting into the booth.
“I’ll take a French 75,” Poppy says.
“Wren and Gray will be here soon, but I’m not sure what they want,” Lacey adds. “I can text them.”
It’s a good thing I pay attention.
“I got them. Don’t worry,” I say. “Donovan and Enzo, y’all good with beer?”
Both men nod, and Jacks, Logan, and I head to the bar to order.
“Yo, Frank,” I yell when we find an empty space. He waves and nods his head, acknowledging us.
“You still good with our plan,” I ask Logan while we wait.
“Yeah, we’ll play, but I’m serious. If she doesn’t want to play, then you gotta take that as a sign to leave her alone. I don’t understand this obsession you have with her. Do you like her or something?”
“What can I get y’all?” Frank yells over the bar before I can answer Logan.
“Five beers, a gin and tonic, a French 75, an extra dirty martini, and a cosmo,” I order.
“Y’all opening a tab?” Frank asks.
“Sure.” I slide my card across the bar. He takes it and then turns to go make our drinks.
“T, I can cover me and Lacey.” Jacks says.
“I was about to say the same thing about Poppy and me. You don’t have to pay,” Logan adds.
“It’s no problem. Y’all can get it next time.” I shrug them off.
“I wish you wouldn’t do that,” Logan argues.
“I have the money—might as well spend it.”
“Regardless, we could’ve gotten them,” Jacks grumbles.
Frank returns with our order. I grab Wren’s before either of my friends has the chance. We do our best to collect the rest of the drinks between the three of us, but there are nine drinks and only six hands.
“Leave some of the beers, and I’ll make a second trip,” I offer. They agree, and the three of us walk back to the table.
My heart stops when I see Wren. The other girls in our group are pretty, but Wren is the type of beautiful that men would start wars over.
She’s stunning. Her long, auburn hair is pulled back out of her face.
She’s wearing pink denim shorts, a white tank top that shows off her midriff, and a matching crocheted vest with small pink flowers and green leaves down the front.
I walk up behind Logan and Jacks, clearing my throat.
“Uh, here you go,” I say, offering her the cosmo.
She stares at me a little stunned and doesn’t take the drink.
“You drink cosmos right?” I say, now very unsure that I remembered her favorite drink correctly.
“Yes,” she says. “I’m just confused about how you know that.”
“I pay attention,” I say, winking.
She takes the cocktail from me and rolls her eyes. “Thanks,” she mutters under her breath.
The look I’m used to her making when she sees me appears. It’s official. She hates me. Why did I have to wink like a fucking dumbass?
Pull yourself together.
“I’ll be right back,” I blurt out, turning and heading back toward the bar to get the rest of the beers.
I gather the three remaining drinks and am about to turn around when Frank stops me.
“Hey, T. You gotta minute?” he asks.
“Yeah, what’s up dude?”
“Jerry’s here and wants to talk to you.” He nods to the other side of the bar to where the owner of The Local, Jerry, stands.
The T-shirt he’s wearing is worn, and I can tell the screenprint of The Local’s logo is starting to peel.
He’s a good dude, but despite being the owner, he doesn’t come around much, unless required. Jerry lifts his chin in my direction.
My mind jumps to the conversation he and I had a month ago. The one where I asked if he’d ever consider selling The Local, and he said he’d think about it. I haven’t seen him since, and if he’s wanting to talk, maybe that means he’s considering my offer.
“Yeah, let me just bring these beers to my friends, and I’ll be right back.” I grab the bottles, run back to the table, and leave again without a word.
I make my way around the bar to where Jerry is standing.
“How’s it going?” I ask.
He glances around. “It’s always a good night when we’re busy. You got a minute to chat in my office?”
“Definitely. It’s not like you to be here. Everything good?” We move out of the bar and through a door into a small room. Papers are scattered around a small desk, and a couple kegs sit in the corner.
“Oh, yeah, yeah,” he begins, sitting in the folding chair behind the desk. “I guess I should just come out and say it. I’ve been thinking a lot about what you and I talked about, and if you're still interested, I’d be interested in selling this place.”
I stare at him, surprised. “Oh, wow.” I run my hand through my hair.
“Sorry for the blunt delivery, but I don’t know how else to say it.”
“I’ll be honest. When I brought it up, I didn’t realize you were so close to selling.”
He nods. “This place means a lot to me, and if I’m going to sell, then I want it to go to someone who will love it as much as I do, and I have no doubt that’s you.
” His dark brown skin creases at the corners of his eyes as he chuckles.
“You are one of my best customers, and I’m not getting any younger. ”
My mind whirls with ideas of where I could take this place.
I could finally have a project that was all mine—a project where I could really let my creativity run wild.
And, the best part would be that I’d get to run it all by myself.
No more answering to my dad or brother. No more getting left out of meetings or trying to prove myself to people who are impossible to impress.
Fuck it sounds nice. It sounds freeing.
A conversation I had with my grandfather interrupts my thoughts, and I wish my life was simpler. I wish I didn’t feel obligated to stay despite how they treat me. I wish I didn’t want their approval so badly, and owning a bar would never make them proud.
“I don’t need an answer tonight, but just promise me you’ll think it over.” He puts out his hand to shake mine. “When you’re ready to talk about it, let me know, and we can meet and discuss the fine print.”
I take a long drag from my beer. “I will.”
“Good. Let’s keep this between you and me for now?”
“For sure.”
I follow him out of his office, still a little stunned. Turning, I walk back to my friends and find all of them staring at me. My heart skips a beat when I spot Wren, and I decide to focus on her. I can think about possibly becoming a bar owner tomorrow.
“What?” I ask, approaching the table.
“What was that about?” Jacks asks.
“Yeah, why are you sneaking off behind doors with strangers?” Lacey teases.
“Oh, that was just Jerry. He owns the bar. It was nothing.”
For a split second, I consider telling them, but Jerry asked me not to, and there is no way for me to discuss this with all eight of them quietly.
“Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan starts to play over the speakers, and all four girls scream.
“Let’s dance!” Poppy yells. “Boys, you coming?”
“Let’s go, babe!” Enzo says, grabbing Donovan’s hand.
“I think I’m going to sit this one out,” I say.
“Yeah, me too,” Logan says, making eye contact with Jacks.
“You’re never any fun,” Poppy teases her boyfriend.
The six of them head to the dance floor, leaving me with Logan and Jacks at the table.
“So, now that it’s just the three of us, are you gonna tell us why you were talking to the owner of the bar?” Logan asks.
“Yeah, because it sure as hell didn’t look like nothing,” Jacks adds.
I take another long sip of my beer. Jerry asked me not to say anything, but I know I should talk about it with someone. I exhale.
“You can’t say anything,” I insist.
“You and the secrets lately,” Jacks says.
“What does that mean?” Logan asks.
“Nothing,” I say, cutting my eyes at Jacks, who shrugs his shoulders and sips from his beer.
“We won’t say anything,” he says, and Logan nods. “What’s up?”
I turn completely to face them, lowering my voice so no one else can hear me. “He wants to sell the bar, and he wants me to buy it.”
“That’s fucking awesome man. You said yes, right?” Jacks asks.
“No, it’s complicated. I told him last month I wanted to be considered if he ever thought of selling it, and I wasn’t expecting for him to offer it to me a month later.
So now I’m not sure what I want to do. As much as it’s tempting, my grandfather trusted me and my brother to take over the family business one day, and I can’t help but feel a little guilty about considering leaving. ”
“That’s bullshit. You hate it there. Take it from someone who let his dad run his life for too long. You shouldn’t sacrifice your happiness to make others happy. Your grandfather wouldn’t have wanted that for you,” Logan says.
“Speaking of your father, whatever happened to his campaign?” I ask.
Logan shrugs. “Last I heard, some of his past infidelities had come to light, and he had backed out.”
“You didn’t?”
“Oh, god, no. I may have cut ties with him, but I wouldn’t slander his name. I think a few women came forward, but I’m not sure.” He pauses. “But we’re not talking about me. We’re talking about you.”
“I think you should buy the bar. I never thought you belonged in the office. Capable—of course you are, man, but it’s not you,” Jacks says.
Deep down, I know he’s right. The suit and the fancy office has never been me. “I was thinking it would be cool if I expanded the bar. Maybe build some pickleball courts, and then people could come play and grab a drink after the games.”
“Fuck yeah, man. I think you know what you need to do. Talk to your dad and Mitch, and then make it happen,” Logan says.