CHAPTER 2
KEATON
Dexter’s is busy tonight. It is most nights, considering Storyville isn’t exactly a thriving metropolis and there aren’t a lot of options when it comes to nightlife. Which is why when Gary and I meet up for a night out, this is our regular spot.
Now that I’m on summer break, we’re able to get together more often since I can work around Gary’s schedule at the firehouse easier when I have more flexibility.
The man might be a goofball who doesn’t take a lot seriously, but he’s a damn good firefighter.
If I were ever to need the kind of help he provides, I’d breathe a little easier seeing him there to save me.
Just as he brings us a few beers with a huge grin on his face, the air in the room changes. It doesn’t go ice cold or anything creepy like that. It actually warms, like the sun has just broken through the clouds.
There’s no need for me to look toward the door. I already know who just walked in. Still, I glance over to find Gemma smiling with the best friends she’s had since forever and Hollyn, the newest addition to the group.
Less than a year ago Hollyn was coming through Storyville on a road trip and her car broke down. Fate, it seems, has a sense of humor. What would be a huge annoyance turned into her walking into the library and meeting Elwood.
I would never have thought our librarian would fall in love with a stranded stranger. But he did. Every time I’ve seen him since Hollyn showed up in town happiness practically radiates out of him. Honestly, I’m a little jealous.
Aren’t we all searching for the kind of connection that protects our happiness?
I haven’t found anything like that in my life. Sure, when I was young, I thought I got close. It never lasted. Looking back, it was for the best. None of those relationships were meant to last longer than they did.
There was never really any major drama, things naturally came together and they just as easily naturally fell apart. No hard feelings. No big scenes with tears. No betrayal.
Just the ebb and flow of lives that aren’t meant to walk the same path any longer.
Even though I focus back on the beer, I catch Gary giving his sister a goofy wave. I might not be looking at her, but I’m very much aware of her presence. My body seems to lean toward where the group settles around a table.
“Didn’t know the girls were coming out tonight,” Gary comments next to me. “I’m glad though. Gemma has been stressed out lately.”
My eyebrows pull together and I find myself glancing over at Gemma who is heading toward the bar with Greylin and Hollyn to grab the first round of drinks. She’s laughing at something, and I swear the lights in the room find her. Even the neon looks brighter.
I blink once and shake my head. “She doesn’t look stressed out,” the words are out of my mouth before I can stop them.
Gary glances over at his sister and his entire face softens. “You wouldn’t think so,” he agrees, but then something serious crosses his face. “She’s been working on making something special for Green Mountain High.”
Even though I try to push it down, I can’t help my curiosity. “What do you mean? She just runs the event space, right?”
My best friend glares at me, something I don’t often see from him, “She doesn’t just do anything,” he defends her.
It takes me aback. He’s always been a protective big brother.
Even when we were teenagers and part of me didn’t want her following us around anymore.
It wasn’t all the time, what with the girls hanging out more and doing their own thing.
Still, I always expected him to put up a fuss about it, but he never did.
He simply always made room for her when she wanted to be around. I did too. While trying to ignore the way she looked at me like I was the best thing to ever walk into her life.
There was no way I was going there. She was a cute kid and a wonderful person, but a little sister in my mind.
It wasn’t until after she came home from college, ready to face the world as the woman she grew into, when I started to see her differently. Even then, I would only let my mind wander there alone at night when I couldn’t ignore the thoughts anymore.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” I tell him, honestly. “I’m not talking down about what she does. I just meant that her focus is on the events. What is she working on?”
Gary leans closer to me, glancing around like he expects this conversation to become the center of a corporate espionage scandal. “She’s been trying to make an exclusive beer. Just a small-batch thing.”
My eyes widen without me being able to stop my reaction. “She’s doing what?”
He chuckles softly and shrugs while I look at him with shock and confusion. It’s warranted. She’s been dealing with a home brew set-up, and he never mentioned it before now? Why not?
This is actually something I would like to know. Need to know? I’m not even sure.
But he’s very aware of my own healthy fixation on making, and perfecting, my own home brew. So why wouldn’t he mention Gemma making one?
Gary reads the look on my face and cringes slightly.
“I know I should have said something, but she’s been really hush-hush about it.
She only lets the girls try it when ready and then only one of them at a time.
” He shrugs. “I’ve never even been allowed to see her whole,” he makes a sweeping gesture with his hands, “you know, the thing, where the magic happens.”
I bark out a laugh and finish off my beer while reaching for the other one already waiting for me. “I get it,” the words come out as a chuckle. “Please don’t make that hand motion again.”
He huffs and rolls his eyes. “I swear you’re more judgmental than your students,” he grumbles.
“Whatever.” I shake my head and lean toward him. “Get back to the point.”
“That’s it.” His words land between us. “I don’t know anything else. Still, I can tell the whole thing stresses her out. She’s determined, but you know how much of a perfectionist she is.”
One corner of my mouth tugs upward and I glance back toward the table where the girls are talking with bright smiles on their faces. They look like they’re in their own little world. Is it wrong that I wish I could visit her there and finally admit I see far more when I look at her than I should?
I swallow hard and force my voice to be calm, “And she’s stubborn.”
He makes a face and nods sagely. “You know it.”
Before I can ask any more questions, even though he’s already said he doesn’t know anything else, Elwood, Aiden, and Rook walk up to our table. Aiden is a cop in town and finally stopped pulling Greylin over for every traffic violation under the sun and is now blissfully in love with her.
Elwood steals a glance at the table the women are at before looking between Gary and me. “Hey guys. Looks like you have a good vantage point, and a little space. You wouldn’t mind us joining you, would you?”
He says it like a question, but he’s already settled in and I can’t help but laugh. “You’re spying on your woman?” I can’t help but tease the mild-mannered librarian.
“Yes,” he says without a hint of hesitation. Then he smirks as if he doesn’t care if I judge him for it.
“I sure as fuck am,” Aiden chimes in.
“I just know Meadow gets all giggly and adorable whenever she has a drink or too.” Rook flashes me a grin. “I can’t miss the show.”
“They don’t find it creepy?” My question is half serious, half tease.
Aiden is the one who chimes in, “Greylin doesn’t.”
Elwood makes a face and bites out, “Don’t. She’s my sister.”
“I’m glad none of you are looking at my sister,” Gary throws out there and my heart halts for a beat.
I look away from the table because I was looking at Gemma without even realizing I was doing it. It’s like I can’t help myself even though I know it’s the last thing I should be doing.
Gary’s suddenly asks, “Hey, do you guys know anything about Gemma and her mysterious home brew?” He gestures toward me. “I mentioned it to Keaton because I know she’s been stressed out even though she doesn’t talk to me about it.”
“I don’t know much, just that she’s been trying to find the right balance with the hops and the cannabis flower,” Elwood is the one who speaks up.
“I helped her do some research at the library when she was just starting out. The girls do tastings when she lets them, but it’s all very strict and there is blood pact level secrecy around it all. ”
Rook chuckles and nods. “She had a tasting with Meadow not long ago. Gemma said it wasn’t right, but Meadow disagreed. I wasn’t allowed to know anything more,” his tone is serious.
“I didn’t even know she was doing this,” my word are filled with disbelief.
“She beats herself up about every batch,” Elwood adds in.
I nod slowly and even though I want to ask more questions, I’m not sure if I should. Then the conversation shifts around the table, and I know I can’t pull it back without it being weird. Still, those questions burn in my gut.
Elwood and Rook grab the next round, and they make sure to walk by the table where their women are sitting when they do. I can see the scolding looks, as if they didn’t know their men were here already, but the appreciation on their faces is sincere.
When they come back, Aiden asks Rook, “Have you had any more issues out at the farm?”
“No,” Rook shakes his head, “it’s been quiet. I’ll let you know if anything changes.”
They share a long look, and I have to wonder if some of the rumors I heard around town after Rook’s grandfather died are true. News from the farms surrounding our little town moves through the gossip mill at a much slower pace. I’m sure there are things we never hear about as well.
Since I don’t know the man very well, I never heard the full story. I did hear about him and Meadow getting married and he’s been around town more because of her, but other than that I’m in the dark.
If Gary knew all the details, I think he would have filled me in already. Then again, maybe not. He’s oddly secretive about some things in the name of loyalty. Or maybe Gemma never told him the details to begin with.
She’s exactly like him in so many ways.
Her loyalty runs just as deep as her brother’s does. There was a time when she was six and we were sixteen. I don’t know how many times we were told not to dribble the basketball in the house, but we did it anyway.
The whole incident ended badly. More than one fragile thing was broken. It was an entire crime scene, honestly.
We fessed up to it, but the first person Gary’s parents looked toward was Gemma. She didn’t say a word. Her face was screwed up with a stubbornness that bordered on terrifying. I think I cracked first after seeing her determination to keep quiet when it would have been easier for her to speak up.
When I glance back over at her, there’s something about the set of her shoulders that reminds me of that day. If she’s been struggling with her project, why wouldn’t she come to me?
She has to know about my own home set-up, at least as much as Gary understands. It’s not something I guard and it sure as hell isn’t a secret.
For the rest of the night, even after I watch the guys go and collect their women, giving Gemma a ride like it’s natural, I can’t help but wonder—will she ever ask me for help?
And if she does, can I handle being close to her for the first time in years without doing something we’ll both regret?