CHAPTER 3
GREYLIN
I’m glad Dexter’s isn’t packed tonight, but it’s certainly busy enough.
Not that it would change anything; all I need is a free table and a couple of hours with my girls to make everything right in the world.
I’ve almost completely shaken my annoyance and anger at Aiden pulling me over, again, two nights ago.
When I look down at the table, I can’t help but chuckle. It highlights just how different we are, but it’s never stopped us from being sisters. Who needs blood for that?
These women show up, they always have. When the days were hard, I knew all I needed to do was go to them and they would help me carry the burden. When the days were good, they were right there to cheer and celebrate with me.
I’ve lost track of the number of cartons of ice cream, bottles of various alcohol, and tissues we’ve needed over the years.
Mayer is drinking whiskey and if I had to guess it’s Hammond Whiskey black label. She’s a refined woman of habit like that. Now, me? I can’t do whiskey straight up. I learned that lesson in college. No, thank you.
Gemma is drinking a paloma because tart with a kick might as well be her tagline. The woman, much like the drink, shouldn’t be underestimated. I’m in awe that she can drink tequila at all. I’m not a fan, and the smell won’t let me forget it.
Then there’s Meadow who is enjoying her White Russian. It isn’t surprising that she prefers something sweet with a coffee flavored kick. It’s just like her baking—she wants flavor and something she can pair with a baked good. But watch out, they will sneak up on you, and Meadow is the same way.
I pick up my lemon drop and meet the eyes of my friends.
We share smiles and mentally toast each other.
The years recently have been long between figuring out how to make GMH happen and then turning our dream into a reality that we have to constantly maintain.
The only reason it happened at all was because we worked together.
The newest addition to our little group is Hollyn, who recently had her car break down on the edge of town while on a road trip. Little did she know that Storyville was the place she needed to wind up.
My brother, Elwood, fell for Hollyn fast and hard. I’d be happy for him as long as he’s happy, but I’m so glad someone like her dropped into his life. She’s perfect for him.
Gemma sits up a little straighter with her eyes locked on the door. I follow her gaze and see her brother, Gary, who is a firefighter for our small town, has walked in. I have a feeling it’s not her brother who has captured her attention though.
I suspect she’s really looking at Keaton. It’s not something we talk about, mostly because Gemma refuses, but the woman has had a crush on her brother’s best friend for years. I guess I can see the appeal. Keaton teaches high school science and is a good-looking man.
Not as good looking as Aiden.
I push the thought away and finish off my drink.
I’m not the only one who has noticed where Gemma’s focus is. With the way the three of us are looking between her and Keaton, we aren’t very subtle.
Which means Gemma might just kill us.
When she clears her throat, I stand up and make a motion to the table. “I’m getting the next round.”
“Oh,” Meadow jumps up, her voice bright and her eyes filled with mischief as she looks at Gemma, “I’ll help you carry everything back. We do not need another incident. Once during spring break was enough.”
I grumble, “You drop a few drinks, and no one will let you live it down.”
Mayer gapes at me and protests, “A few?”
All I can do is shrug because it was more than a few. Look, it wasn’t my fault. We were all dehydrated and had been partying for a few days. I was not at my best right from the start, and the nightclub was packed.
Honestly, I could have dropped more of them, all things considered.
I think Gemma tries to protest, but I’m already heading toward the bar. It doesn’t take long for us to get our drinks and head back to the table. When I see who is standing there like he has every right to be, I freeze.
Meadow is biting her lip, but I can see she’s barely holding it together. “You don’t want to talk to Officer Simmons?” The tease in her voice is easy to hear, and I shoot her a look.
Does she heed the look? Not even a little bit.
“I’m not sure why you guys don’t just fuck and get it over with,” she muses like it has a real possibility of happening.
It doesn’t.
Not in this lifetime.
Not with his family and my stake in GMH.
I think Aiden and I are about as close to Romeo and Juliet as the town of Storyville can get. Well, unless one of us got with York Simmons. Just thinking about it has me almost choking on my tongue.
“The mayor’s head would explode,” I remind her out of the side of my mouth while forcing my feet to move.
As I remember him pulling me over two nights ago, I practically slam the drinks down on the table. I’m so sick of seeing red and blue flashing lights behind me.
I grew up in Storyville. I learned to drive on our small-town streets. Then, I went off to college with my best friends.
Here’s the thing—in all that time, I never once got a ticket.
We decided to open GMH, which people started whispering about almost immediately, and now you would think I’m some sort of hardened criminal. Does every ticket go on my permanent record? Like an arrest record?
It’s a stroke of luck that I haven’t racked up enough points for me to have my license suspended. Is it intentional on his part, or has that just been a happy accident?
When Aiden looks at me, he offers a small smile, but there’s something off in his expression.
It’s not like we’re friends and I can ask about it, but it does have me swallowing the harsh words that want to slip past my lips.
He’s not wearing his uniform that protects him from such barbs when he decides to make my life a living hell.
“Hi Meadow,” he offers my friend the same small smile before nodding in my direction, “and Greylin.”
My name on his lips shouldn’t sound so good and it certainly shouldn’t have a shiver working up my spine. Nope. Not at all.
But there is something about his voice that has always gotten to me. It’s been true for a lot longer than I’m willing to admit.
When we were growing up, Aiden was only a couple of years ahead of us. We all kind of knew each other because the size of our town. Still, he wasn’t exactly part of our friend group or maybe we weren’t part of his? I don’t really know.
Aiden was popular in school, but it was probably because he’s the mayor’s son. When you live in a town like Storyville, things like that matter.
By the time we came back to our hometown after college graduation, Aiden was already a cop and had earned the respect of the people.
I’m sure it wasn’t easy growing up while blanketed in the shadow of his family.
York was always more of the golden boy compared to Aiden.
If you would have asked me back then, I would have bet money on him leaving Storyville and never looking back.
Here he has to endure the expectations of the Simmons name.
Being the mayor’s son wasn’t why I had a crush on him in school. No, it was because of the kind of guy he was…and still is.
He’s loyal and kind. He’s generous with his time and energy. He’s smart, but not pretentious about it.
Honestly, the only thing he loses points on is his family. It’s something he has zero control over.
I eye the way he’s standing close to Gary, and I can’t help but blurt, while motioning between them, “I didn’t realize you knew each other.”
Gary smirks and Aiden gives me the same, weak-ass smile. I fucking hate it and have to press my lips into a thin line to stop myself from saying as much.
“It’s an occupational thing,” Gary explains.
It takes me a moment, but then it dawns on me. Gary is a firefighter. Aiden is a cop. Their paths probably cross more often than I realize. And it’s always on someone else’s worst day.
That can’t be easy.
Something inside of me, the anger I hold close to keep me protected from Aiden and his green eyes, loosens. I take a drink to try and cover up my moment of humanity when it comes to this man. He’ll earn it when he stops pulling me over.
Aiden watches me carefully as I take another sip. One side of my mouth tips up in a smirk and I assure him, “You don’t have to look at me like that. I’m not driving tonight, so don’t even think about pulling me over.”
When Aiden smiles this time, it’s a little wider and not nearly as stiff or fake. “I’m off duty tonight, Greylin, don’t worry.”
Right then, my brother slides into the spot next to Hollyn who looks up at him with so much love in her eyes that I almost want to look away. If they start kissing, I’ll be doing a hell of a lot more than looking away. I’ll be gagging before considering whether to wash out my eyes with acid.
Kidding. Just kidding.
Kind of.
Maybe.
My brother grins before kissing his woman’s temple before murmuring, “Having fun, Sweet Girl?”
She tries to hide her smile and how much his care means to her, but it’s written all over her face. As it should be. Their happiness feels like hope, and I ignore how much I want what they’ve found.
I haven’t been in a relationship in years.
The last time was in college, and I really thought it was going to go all the way, you know.
He, who shall not be named, was the first guy who had me almost forgetting my crush on Aiden.
Then I found out that while I was looking toward the future—graduation and then starting out on the rest of our lives together—he was fucking a TA and one of his professors.
When it all came out, I wasn’t as heartbroken as I should have been, as I would have expected to be. And that told me everything I needed to know. We moved and I left that guy behind me.
There was a time when I thought that Aiden was going to ask me out after moving back to Storyville. It didn’t happen, but then we had our moonshine night, and everything changed.
Now we’re on two different sides of a line which, frankly, should have never been drawn. Mayor Simmons has an axe to grind with recreational cannabis and we’re just the lucky bitches who get to deal with it.
“This is girl’s night,” Hollyn reminds Elwood, “no boys allowed.”
My big brother pouts and whines slightly as he points out, “But these guys are here.”
Gary chuckles and holds up his hands. “I was just coming by to say hello to Gemma, I don’t know why these guys are here,” he motions toward Aiden, who I am trying not to look at, and Keaton.
Gemma keeps stealing glances the man’s way, but he seems completely oblivious and my heart sinks for her.
“Hey,” Aiden protests, “you’re the one who said to meet you for a drink after we got off shift.”
I can’t help but giggle at how affronted he sounds. Aiden’s green eyes meet mine and for a moment, everything else disappears.
“Yeah,” Gary teases him, “a drink, it’s not like we’re on a date.” He looks around the bar, clearly perusing who is present. “You guys aren’t my type,” he grins and shrugs, “no offense.”
“You notice how people always say no offense after saying some crap that’s offensive,” Aiden points out. He grumbles, “Like anyone wants to be your type.”
Gary barks out a laugh and hooks his arm around Aiden’s neck. “Come on, copper, let’s get you another drink and see if we can’t get you laid. You’ve been extra uptight lately.”
Aiden glances my way while my mouth goes dry and it becomes hard to swallow past the lump in my throat. I hate the idea of Aiden picking up some woman. Would it be for a one-night stand or would it be for more?
It’s a completely ridiculous feeling because what he does or doesn’t do is not my business. I spend the rest of the night trying, desperately, not to look in his direction while I can feel his eyes on me from time to time.
I don’t like how quiet he was. It’s not like him, but I’m not exactly in a position to do a damn thing about it.