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.
