Chapter 4 William
Decorating the Christmas Tree had been more fun than I thought it would be.
I mean, it wasn’t NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden fun, but I knew better than to compare Creekstone life to New York City life.
I had to stay laser focused on the endgame which was getting into the C-suite in Atlanta, and the only path there was through Creekstone.
Nick called me earlier this week to help me get set up in Creekstone.
I asked if there were any organizations that he recommended I get involved with so I could meet more of the community, and he recommended I get involved with a local holiday competition because it would allow me to rub elbows with many of the business and nonprofit leaders.
Nick connected me with the Senior Citizens’ Center and said they needed help decorating their tree.
When I talked to the program manager, Rhonda, she noted that funding was always an issue, so I offered to purchase some ornaments and bring them with me.
Rhonda was ecstatic. I met her and her team at the library, and we got to work putting the decorations I brought on the tree.
Everyone seemed to think the tree looked amazing, and honestly, it should’ve looked amazing considering how much those decorations cost. The only person who didn’t think the tree was great was Kit Campbell.
It seemed like everything I did annoyed Kit, but everyone in town loved Kit.
I understood why. She was smart, beautiful, and friendly to everyone—except me.
After our tree was finished, I stuck around because Nick invited me to go out and get a bite to eat and a drink.
Nick told me we should walk to a place called The Pub.
He told me it was a good time to run into folks as they headed home.
Nick was right. Most of the shop owners were closing up as we walked down the street.
He stopped and talked to every single person and introduced me to each of them.
I was beginning to see how Nick won this election.
His friendliness opened a lot of doors for him.
As we walked down the street, I had to admit that Creekstone at night was charming. The air was crisp, the holiday lights twinkled and reflected off the wet pavement, and the darkened storefront windows caught the light in a way that felt magical.
When we reached The Pub, Nick opened the door for me.
Inside, the brown walls were covered in sports memorabilia and neon signs.
A jukebox played the Smashing Pumpkins’ “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” from the corner of the room.
Locals dined alone or in pairs at booths and tables.
Televisions were strategically placed so that people could comfortably watch TV from any spot while they ate.
A no-nonsense bartender washed dishes behind the long bar.
There was a pool table tucked into the back corner of the room with a group playing pool.
As soon as Nick walked in behind me, the group at the pool table waved him over.
Trent, the librarian, and Melissa were standing on one side of the pool table facing us as we walked toward them.
It looked like Melissa told the other two people playing pool that we were heading toward them because I saw them both turn to look at us.
I didn’t recognize one of the women and the other was Kit.
I took a deep breath. I felt a knot in my stomach.
I hoped that Kit wouldn’t be annoyed with me the entire night, but I was determined to make this work.
I smiled and waved, but Kit scowled and turned back around.
Kit’s annoyance was particularly harsh because, before she went to work at the library this morning, she had changed into a cute little dress, some tights, and a pair of black boots.
She definitely looked the part of the sexy librarian.
Nick made a beeline for Melissa. She threw her arms around him and snuggled her face into his neck.
Trent introduced me to the fourth woman playing pool. “Sasha, this is William. He’s new to town.”
Sasha was tall like Trent. She had long blonde hair and wore a black Metallica T-shirt under an unbuttoned flannel shirt. She held a pool cue in one hand and extended the other for a handshake. “Nice to meet you. I’m Sasha. Trent’s wife.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said.
“So, William,” Sasha said. “Trent tells me that you just moved here from New York.”
“Yep,” I said. “I moved to New York for work. I was never there though. I travel a ton for work. How about you guys? Are you all from Creekstone?”
“Yep, we’re all Creekstoners.” Trent had walked around the pool table to hand Sasha her beer. He shook his head. “We don’t get many folks moving into Creekstone. What brought you all the way down here from New York?”
“Well, my company has an office in Atlanta, and I hope to be doing less traveling and more regional work. I decided I wanted to try something different.” I didn’t want to go into it too much. “I came to Creekstone for work a few weeks ago and loved it. So, I thought I’d give it a shot.”
I looked over to see if Kit was listening, but she leaned over the pool table to take a shot. I was transfixed by her. The scoop neck of her dress exposed her collarbone, and even though I couldn’t see much else, my imagination was definitely speculating.
Nick and Melissa appeared at the high-top table next to me and interrupted my thoughts. He had beers and a basket of cheese fries. Nick had his huge smile beaming. “Pizza is on the way.”
Trent joined us as soon as he saw food hit the table.
“So, Nick told us that you’re going to help bring some new development to Creekstone,” Trent asked as he stole one of Nick’s cheese fries.
“Hopefully,” I said.
“Hopefully, something cool.” Melissa said with a laugh. Nick looked at her wide-eyed.
“What?” Melissa pushed Nick’s shoulder playfully. “William gets it. Right, William?”
“I think I do, but what would you consider cool?” I asked.
The truth was, I had done extensive surveys and market research to figure out what Creekstone needed so we could appeal to the community.
What we found was that young people just left and never came back.
And, just based on what I had seen at the library today and even walking into this pub, it was quite possible that I was talking to some of the only young people in all of Creekstone.
Melissa pushed her lips forward in a thoughtful pout. She rested her forearm on Nick’s shoulder. Nick looked up at her like being her post to lean on was his purpose in life. “Well,” Melissa started. “Restaurants, shopping.”
Melissa was taking a sip of beer when Trent said, “We need more places to hang out.”
Melissa’s eyes got wider, and she nodded as if in agreement with Trent. “Yes! Totally! But also, practical stuff like doctors, dentists, beauty salons.”
“So, like, everything,” Kit said, walking over to the table and picking up a French fry. “Trent, your shot.”
Kit followed Trent back to the pool table. I couldn’t help but watch Kit walk away, and then I sighed, realizing I was focusing on the wrong thing again.
Nick and Melissa were canoodling as they ate their fries. I interrupted and said, “So, Kit might be right. It sounds like a little of everything.”
Melissa tilted her head thoughtfully. “Well, we have some of those things, but they aren’t really for us.
You know? Like, they’re really there for our grannies and gramps.
Their style. And then just outside of town where the college is, there’s a little strip of restaurants and bars that cater to the college kids, but really, who wants to hang out with college kids? ”
I chuckled a little because Nick and Melissa were barely older than the average college age student, but I got what she was saying.
Kit and Trent returned when the bartender brought the pizza to our table.
“So how were the Christmas trees this year?” Sasha asked.
“So rad,” Trent said. “There is a Dolly Parton themed tree.” Sasha’s face lit up.
Nick agreed. Sasha eyed Kit who had been quiet since I arrived at the pub. “What about you, Kit? What did you think of the trees?”
“Love them. All the trees are beautiful. Holiday spirit was at an all-time high,” Kit said, smiling at Sasha. For a brief second, Kit and I made eye contact.
Sasha turned to Melissa and Kit and started chatting about the Christmas trees like it was the Met Gala. There was something markedly different about the look in her eye when she was talking with Sasha and Melissa. She seemed polite and agreeable, but the fierceness and sincerity was absent.
After the pizza, Nick, Trent, and I started playing a round of pool. Melissa herded Sasha and Kit over to the bar to get more drinks. We were a few shots into the game when I noticed three guys had walked over to the bar and started chatting with Sasha, Melissa, and Kit.
Sasha and Melissa were laughing at whatever the guys were saying. Kit was smiling politely.
Trent walked over to join Nick and me at the corner of the pool table, where we were standing and watching.
“Sasha loves to flirt,” Trent said after taking a shot.
“Does it bother you?” I asked, taking a sip of beer. I couldn’t help but watch Kit as one of the guys was telling her story. She had the same polite smile on her face.
“Nah,” Trent said, turning to me. “It’ll make her feel extra confident and then later she’ll want to get frisky and watch out!” Trent howled. He looked over at the bar and as if realizing something, “Oh, but I must go bail Kit out. She hates it when people hit on her.”
I tried to sound casual. “A lot of people hit on Kit?”
Trent shook his head. “Brother, all of the time at the library. Don’t get me wrong. She can handle herself, but I can just tell it’s an annoyance, so I try to be helpful.” Trent trotted over to the bar.
I kept my eyes on them, and I saw the look of relief when Kit slid off her bar stool and slipped away. I swallowed hard as I watched Kit lean against the other side of the pool table. I wanted to join her and talk to her, but I didn’t want to be another one of those guys bothering her.
I turned to Nick who was still standing next to me. He was watching Melissa patiently. Nick turned to see that I was watching him. He laughed and patted me on the back. “Never have to worry about Melissa. We’re soul mates!”
I tried not to make a face. I needed to stay in good standing, especially with Nick, so I had to be respectful and personable, but I had to know, “You believe in soulmates?”
“Absolutely,” Nick said, taking a big gulp of beer. “Without question. You don’t?”
“I guess I haven’t given it much thought,” I said, shifting my weight from one leg to the other. Nick could see I wasn’t a believer, though.
“Well, then you haven’t met your soulmate yet.” Nick laughed and then said with an almost cautionary tone. “But watch out. When it happens, you’re in trouble. There’s no turning back.”