They all exchanged greetings, took their seats. Ty wasn’t surprised that the drinks on the table were all tailored for each of them—a non-alcoholic beer for Ty, something colorful and fruity and probably more juice than liquor for Lara, and something straight and strong for Keane himself. Not his first, if the empty next to it was anything to go by.
“So, you back for good this time, Wagner?”
“I think so.”
“I heard the high school is looking for a?—”
“I’m working at the museum,” he interrupted, unable to stop the flatness in his voice. If one more damn person told him about the coaching opening, he was going to snap.
Ty didn’t miss the look that passed between Keane and Lara. Just like he hadn’t missed a very similar look pass between Lara and Mary Lou over dinner. Everyone thought they knew what was best for him.
He wished he could agree with them. It would make his life a lot easier. Instead, he changed the subject, asked about Keane’s ranch, about guys they’d graduated with. The conversation was easy, and Ty didn’t even start getting tense until Keane ordered his fourth drink while him and Lara were still nursing their first.
A redhead who looked vaguely familiar approached their table. She wrapped her arms around Keane from behind. “Heya, handsome.” She flashed Ty a smile. “Who’s your friend?”
“Jessica, you remember Ty Wagner. And you know Lara.”
The woman didn’t spare Lara a glance. Instead, she squeezed Keane. “Dance with me, huh?”
“Sure thing,” Keane said, sliding off his stool.
“I got a friend if you’re interested,” Jessica said to Ty.
“Uh, nah. I’m…good.”
Then she was dragging Keane off to the tiny dancefloor, more full of drunk swaying than any actual dancing.
“You can go dance,” Lara told him once Jessica was out of earshot. “I don’t mind sitting here alone people watching.”
He knew she meant it. Lara had never had any trouble being alone. She might have even preferred it. Still, it just felt…weird and wrong and he didn’t want to mine into why. “I’m a shitty dancer.”
“I mean, yes, that is an undeniable fact” she said with an amused smile. “But that is hardly dancing.” She pointed to where Keane was swaying with the redhead. “That is just pressing up against each other.”
Which for reasons he did not wish to uncover put the image of her falling on top of him at the museum that first day back in his mind. He shifted in his seat, stared at the last few sips of shitty non-alcoholic beer. “I’m good.”
When Keane got back to the table, ordered his fifth drink, Lara stood. “I’m sorry, Keane. That’s about all the saloon I’ve got in me. Do you mind if Ty walks me home? He can come back and spend some more time with you if you guys want, I’m sure.”
But they both knew—maybe they all knew—he wouldn’t.
“That’s okay,” Keane said, a little bleary eyed. He gestured toward where the redhead was laughing with her friend. “I think Jessica’s got another dance in her. You two boring old people go to bed.”
Ty tried to smile, tried to keep it light, but… “I can give you a ride back to…”
Keane shook his head. “No worries. I’m not driving back tonight.”
Well, it was something. He followed Lara through the crowd and then out into the street. The tourist season was starting to taper off, so while there were a few people walking around, it was almost quiet—especially the closer they got to the Townsend’s house.
They walked in quiet. Probably lost in their own stuff. His mostly centering around Keane, and inevitably his dad. No doubt Dad had heard he was back by now. If Ty didn’t go see him in the next few days, Bruce would show up somewhere and cause a scene.
Just the idea of going to that trailer, dealing with the inevitable shouting match, made him sick to his stomach. Without baseball they were nothing to each other, and maybe Ty was ready for that eventuality, but it didn’t make iteasy.
They reached the sidewalk that would lead them up to the house, but Lara paused.
“You go on up. I’m going to walk for a little bit.” She let go of his arm, but he stopped her before she could start down to the beach. Aside from the streetlights, it was pitch black out there.
“Hey, it’s too late to go walking by yourself.”
“I do it all the time.”
