Chapter 13
CHAPTER 13
WE CAN PUT A PIN IN THAT FOR NOW.
Griffin
Eugene
Your mom would like to know if you’d like to come over for dinner one day this week.
Eugene
It’s been a while.
Me
I know. Tell her I’m sorry. Work has been busy.
Eugene
Still doesn’t answer my question, son.
Me
Yeah. Soon.
“You really need a day off, man. You’re getting more miserable by the day. I take that back. The hour.”
I glare at Tucker sitting across the bar, amused by the words coming out of his mouth.
I, for one, am not.
I would love to have a day off, but this bar won’t operate on its own like the ranch does if I’m not there. If I take an afternoon off here, it means either hiring someone else or paying someone more to cover my shift. Plus, the bar has been keeping me busy and out of the house.
And I’ve needed to fucking get out of the house, so I’m not sitting on my porch and watching my neighbor go for her morning runs.
I’ve been spending more time at Barlow Ranch just to get off my property. The issue is, when I’m taking one of my horses out on the trail, all I think about is Blair and the way she felt sitting in my truck last week when I picked her up.
I wish I had never gone to pick her up.
“Or, you could start an exercise routine,” Tucker suggests. “It’s a good way to relieve stress. There are many types of exercise you can do,” he says with a wink. “You seem tense and stressed out.”
“I agree. Is this seat taken?” Nan says, taking a seat next to Tucker.
“No, ma’am.” He smiles at her. “But even if it was, there’s five other stools to choose from. This place is deader than dead.”
“Hilarious,” I deadpan.
“I like to think so.” Tucker laughs.
“Did you both come in today to annoy me?”
Tucker raises his hand like he’s in school and has an answer to my question before nodding his head. Such a child.
“Yes and no,” Nan says.
“What’s up?” I tip my head toward her.
“I have a total of two questions for you,” she says, holding up her thumb and pointer finger to emphasize her case.
“I have time for one,” I tell her, wiping the counter in front of them.
Nan looks around, surveying the bar. “By the looks of this place, you’d have time for an entire interview. But I’m gonna keep it to two questions.”
“Get on with it. ”
“One”—she holds up a pointer finger—“how would you feel about karaoke night at the bar?”
“No. Next.”
“Great. We can put a pin in that for now. I’ll circle back in forty-eight hours.”
This woman.
“Two. How do you feel about your new neighbor? Are you two getting along nicely?” She waggles her eyebrows. “She’s a really sweet girl.”
I’m actively trying to keep my new neighbor out of my head, and Nan has to come in here and bring her up.
In front of Tucker, no less.
I can’t answer her question because I don’t know how I feel about her.
I want to say she’s growing on me, but I don’t know enough about her.
What I do know is that she’s got thighs for days. A body I would love to consume myself with. I want to explore every curve and run my hands along her bare skin. Admittedly, I’ve undressed her in my head every night before going to bed since having her in the passenger seat of my truck. Losing my mind every time my head hits the pillow.
She’s bringing up feelings I wish I never felt.
It’s been years since I’ve slept with anyone.
This is a small town. I don’t want to get involved with anyone for the risk of everyone knowing by morning. I know how we operate around here. Everyone talks because no one knows how to keep their mouths shut.
And that’s just a fraction of the reasoning.
I never want to make myself feel vulnerable enough to allow them to break me the way I’ve been broken. I’ve been doing just fine believing that I’m better off alone for the rest of my life.
My routine works for me.
My life works for me.
“Wait, wait, wait ,” Tucker says. I watch as the wheels in his head spin and he puts two and two together. Great . “Is the new city girl your new neighbor?”
I stare at him unblinkingly.
Lovely. Now he knows the truth.
“And you’ve been holding out on us since she got here? It’s been, like, a month now?”
I’ve been holding out because of this exact reaction .
“My neighbor is none of your concern,” I tell him.
“She lives in your house!” Tucker says.
“My old house,” I correct.
Nan turns to face Tucker, elbows on the bar, resting her chin on her knuckles. “Don’t you think it’s about time that Griffin here got over Sleazy Sierra?”
“I do, Nan.” He nods his head repeatedly. “But can we pause this for just one second?” he asks, turning his stool to face her. “How come you don’t have a fun nickname for me? I’m supposed to be your favorite.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She narrows her eyes.
“I know you have nicknames for the Barlow kids. And now I’m learning you have one for Sleazy Sierra. What am I, chopped liver? I may not be a Barlow, but I’m a Daniels.”
“I’ll give ya one,” I chime in. “Annoying Tucker.”
He turns to face me. “That’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever said.”
“Talkative Tucker,” Nan answers.
He pauses while his face wrinkles in thought. “Actually…I’ll take it. Now, back to what we were saying.” He brings his fingers to his chin to remember.
I shake my head because these two together are a recipe for mayhem.
“Oh yes, the bitch ass ex. It’s been years now. It’s time for him to find someone new.”
“I was thinking the same thing, Tuck. The moment I laid eyes on Blair, I knew she would be perfect for him.” She beams .
I swear, if hearts coming out of eyes was a real thing, I just witnessed them coming from her.
“I can’t confirm that because I haven’t seen her with my eyes yet,” Tucker says to Nan. “But I trust your judgment.”
“I am a pretty good judge of character, aren’t I?” Nan asks him.
“I mean, you call this guy behind the bar Grumpy Griffin . So, yes.”
“You two know I am still standing right here, right?” I interrupt.
“Oh, yes.” Nan smiles at me. “Welcome to our conversation about your life.”
I groan.
This is why I can’t confide in anyone about the thoughts I have for my neighbor. Tucker would only feed off it. My sisters would push me harder in her direction. And Nan’s meddling only encourages others to do the same.
She’s pulling Tucker into her influence right before my eyes.
“Nans got a point,” Tucker says, pointing at me. “She’s hot, and she lives close to you. Easy access.” He shrugs.
“You just said you haven’t seen her.”
“Like I’ve already said…I trust Nan’s judgment.”
“I have an idea.” I raise a finger in the air as if a lightbulb just went off in my head. They both turn their stools to face me completely, waiting to hear what I have to say. “How about we put a pin in this conversation and don’t circle back? Ever.”
“That’s a shitty idea.” Nan wrinkles her face in disgust.
“I second what she said. Worst idea. Next.” Tucker grins.
“Or you two can get the hell out of my bar.” I shrug.
Tucker barks out a laugh. “You’re not very good with ideas here, Griff. I’m concerned about you.” He takes a sip of his drink. “Oh, my turn for a better idea. How about you bang your neighbor?”
“Good one.” Nan nods, lifting her hand toward Tucker.
The two fucking high five in front of me .
“Now we’re discussing my sex life? Excellent.” I run a frustrated hand through my hair. “Love this for me.”
“It’s a healthy conversation,” Nan adds.
“We’re done here,” I say, grabbing a clean dish rag before turning away to dry some glasses.
“We’re just saying you should think about it,” Nan says from behind me. “She’s not planning on leaving. She’s here to stay, which is why she bought the house and didn’t ask to rent one.”
I stare at the glass in my hand while my mind travels to the time Sierra left.
She told me she was never planning to leave. Yet she did.
Her buying the house means nothing.
I’m content with my life. I wouldn’t say I’m happy, but I’m content.
That’s enough for me.
I don’t need to let anyone in, because they always leave anyway.