Chapter Nineteen
Ellie filed away names and details, hoping she’d have occasion to bump into most, if not all, of the people Jack introduced her to.
For being such a small town, Bedlington had an impressive collection of creatives and queers.
And more than a few queer creatives. It gave her a lovely boost of confidence that Rhett had picked the right place to settle, at least for the time being.
And made her glad she’d found a place close without being creepy close, since it would be a bit extra to move to Bedlington after she and Jack had been dating all of three weeks.
It also made it easy to relax. She’d worried Jack would be the type to nurse a drink in the corner. And while he certainly wasn’t one to work the room, most of the room seemed to know him already and didn’t hesitate to approach them.
“Why do I get the feeling you don’t often bring dates to social functions?” she asked after a lovely chat with the woman who owned the Sugar Shack.
He gave her a bland look. “Because you’re reasonably observant and it’s blatantly obvious.”
“It’s like every woman here over the age of fifty has auntie vibes and just wants to see you happy and settled down.”
Jack’s gaze had landed on his sister Logan, who was talking with her girlfriend Kathleen and Rhett. “And some not even over the age of fifty.”
Ellie laughed. “Thank you again for inviting Rhett. I confess I’ve got some of those auntie, or maybe just protective sister, vibes for her.”
“Of course. The more the merrier,” Jack said.
“Yeah, but it’s more than that. This one party will probably introduce her to like half the queers in a twenty-mile radius.”
Jack laughed. “Probably more than half.”
Ellie nodded. “She needs that. Needs community.”
“What do you need?” Jack asked.
“Besides you taking me back to your place and fucking my brains out?” Because despite what they’d gotten up to before leaving, she absolutely wanted him again.
His eyes went ravenous for a moment before turning serious. “Yes. Besides that.”
She shrugged, oddly content in that moment. “You’re already on the hook to help me move, so not a whole lot.”
“I’m glad you asked me.”
She was, too, and grateful to Rhett for nudging her to. “I’m really excited to settle in. It’s close-ish to Springfield so I can keep tabs on my mom. But not so close that she expects me to come over every day. And I wanted to be close to Rhett. She’s chosen family as much as friend.”
“Fair. Is your mom cool with it?”
“She’s glad I found a place close. I don’t get too much into the details with her.” Though Ellie wasn’t always sure whether that was for her mother’s benefit or her own.
“Huh.” Jack looked like he might be unsure, too.
“Trust me. It’s easier.” And not something she cared to analyze. “Anyway. I also want to find my own community beyond hanging around Northampton forever.”
Jack chuckled. “Also fair.”
Ellie chewed her lip, decided to take a chance. “I like that I’ll be relatively close to you for the time being. I’m having too much fun to make getting together a colossal hassle.”
“For what it’s worth, seeing you would be worth a pretty sizable hassle.” He squeezed her hand. “But I’m glad making it not was on your priority list.”
She wondered if that had been his aim all along—finding out if they were serious enough to rate in her decision-making.
Either way, she liked where they ended up.
She’d had so little luck landing on the same page as someone else, much less headed in the right direction.
It was nice to have that, and to have it without some unspoken pressure to get anywhere quickly.
People continued to approach them, and Jack continued to navigate each conversation with ease.
It made her wonder about his grumpy demeanor when they first met.
Was it unique to her? Or perhaps new people.
Or work environments? Maybe she could needle it out of him next time she had him in a sex coma.
They hadn’t said more than a passing hello to Clover and Sy, who were clearly the celebrities of the hour. As the crowd started to thin, Clover made her way over. “I’m so sorry I haven’t had a chance to chat with you more.” She took Ellie’s hand.
Ellie waved her off. “You needed to work the room. You’re fantastic at it by the way. I’m sure we’re pretty close in age, but I definitely want to be you when I grow up.”
Clover laughed. “Officially the first time anyone has said that to me.”
“Totally not true,” Jack said. “I’ve seen you hosting the school field trip.”
“Okay, fine. But that has more to do with the goats than with me.”
Ellie raised her hand. “I’m also in it for the goats.”
Clover’s eyes lit up. “You should come to goat yoga next weekend. It’s our first one of the spring.”
“You do goat yoga?” She’d heard of it but never imagined she’d have the chance to do it herself.
“You don’t even have to be good at yoga. It’s mostly about the goats.”
Jack cleared his throat. “And that’s my cue to go refresh our drinks.”
He took their glasses and disappeared in the direction of the bar. When he’d gone, Clover leaned in and whispered, “I’m really glad you came.”
“It’s such a cool place. I’m so going to be a regular.”
“I hope you are,” Clover said. “But it’s more than that.”
“I don’t follow.”
“Jack would kill me if he knew I was saying this, but he doesn’t date a lot. For him to be into someone enough to bring them to what is practically a family function? It’s a big deal.”
She let the significance of that sink in even as its underlying meaning eluded her. “Are you going to give me the ‘if you even think about hurting him’ speech? Because I’d be okay with that, but I’d prefer another drink first.”
Clover laughed long and hard. “I wasn’t, but the way you said that makes me feel like you two are perfectly suited for each other.”
She knew what to make of that even less than the big deal comment. It seemed like a vote of confidence, though, and she didn’t turn her nose up at those. “Thanks.” She made a face. “I think.”
“High praise, I promise.”
Since Jack appeared to be waylaid, Ellie decided to change the subject. “Have you met my friend Rhett?”
“Butch hottie with the Mississippi drawl?” Clover asked without missing a beat.
“That’s the one.” And she couldn’t wait to tell Rhett that’s how Clover described her. “Did she mention being from Mississippi or are you that good with accents?”
Clover laughed. “Oh, I asked. I’m not an expert and she mentioned living in New England for more than a decade. I didn’t stand a chance.”
She was quite fond of Rhett’s cadence. She wondered if Clover simply agreed, or if there was possibly more to it.
Not that she was trying to rush Rhett into another relationship, but it would be good for her to know someone was into her.
Besides, she had no idea of Clover’s attractions or relationship philosophies. “She is easy to listen to.”
“I wish someone would say that about me.” Clover rolled her eyes.
“Say what about you?” Jack asked as he rejoined them.
“That I’m easy to listen to.” Clover laughed again. “Though I think I’m easy to talk to, so that counts for something.”
Jack leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, more brotherly than possible romantic history vibes. “You’re my favorite voice of reason. And so much nicer to me than my siblings.”
Clover offered him an affectionate smile. “Sweet talker.”
Jack shook his head. “You’ve saved me from making an ass of myself on more than one occasion. That warrants some sweet talking.”
Ellie cleared her throat. “I feel like that’s a story I need to hear.”
Clover nudged her gently with her elbow. “Come to goat yoga. I’ll buy you breakfast after and tell you all the stories.”
Jack made a show of groaning.
Ellie didn’t hesitate. “It’s a date.”
* * *
Ellie let Emily Dickinson out of the second bedroom where she’d been sequestered. Jack watched the cat sniff and rub herself against pretty much every stack of boxes and laughed. He’d never had a cat, but he’d warmed to the idea since meeting her.
Ellie planted her hands on her hips and turned a slow circle. “I can’t believe we did that in one afternoon.”
Jack let out a relaxed sigh. “It helps to have able-bodied siblings.”
“Thank you for letting me borrow them for the day. And your truck. Do you have any idea how much money you saved me?”
He didn’t. He’d literally moved twice in his life—from his childhood home to a house he shared with a couple of guys from the Barrow Brothers crew to the duplex he’d shared with Logan.
Each time, there were enough pickups and strong backs to get the job done.
Each time, payment came in the form of pizza, wings, and a couple cases of beer. “Are movers ridiculous?”
Ellie nodded. “Not that I begrudge them. I wouldn’t want to move other people’s heavy crap around all day.”
She had a point. “Well, I’m glad I—we—could help.”
“I’m planning to have everyone over for dinner once I’ve unpacked my pots and pans, but I feel like you deserve an extra display of gratitude.”
“Display, huh?” He imagined her body on glorious naked display and wondered if that made him creepy.
“Yeah. You know. Like balloons.” Ellie stared up at the ceiling. “Or a fruit basket.”
He knew she was teasing, but he couldn’t help but frown. “Please don’t buy me a fruit basket.”
“Ooh. What about one of those fruit things that’s made to look like a flower arrangement? Those are money.”
“One, there’s nowhere in a fifty-mile radius that sells those. Two, no.”
Ellie scowled. “Are you saying you’d turn your nose up at something I picked out and got especially for you?”
His confidence wavered for a split second. Just enough to make him say, “Of course not.”
She smirked. “Right answer.”
“I’m no idiot.” Jack shrugged. “I mean, I’d rather something that wouldn’t cost you a dime, but a gift is a gift.”
“Did you have something in mind, then?” The playful look in her eyes made it clear she knew exactly what he had in mind.
“Maybe.”
“A striptease, perhaps? Or a scene of some kind?”