“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Erin was right. We were at the front door of the Ridge Tavern and Tap in under ten minutes. I’d be lying if I said my quads weren’t burning, though.
“Here we are,” she announced before pushing open the worn wooden door.
The Ridge reminded me of an old western saloon that had been turned into a college dive bar. There was wood everywhere. Old pictures and paintings adorned the walls. The bar and tables took up the right half of the establishment, while the left half housed two pool tables and a few other games.
“This is charming.” I followed her inside.
“I don’t know if charming is the word I would use, but whatever floats your boat,” she replied as we approached the bar.
“Wife,” Johnny called from a barstool and kissed Erin on the cheek.
“What are you having, Erin?” the gray-haired bartender asked.
“I’ll have a gin and tonic. Mattie?”
“Same.” I smiled and then whispered to Erin. “See? Everyone knows everyone. That’s charming.”
Johnny snorted and pointed a finger at the bartender. “Dave isnotcharming. Last year he got so drunk he puked on the pool table before passing out in the snow. It took three of us to drag him home.”
I scrunched my nose and eyed the other side of the room. “Thosepool tables?”
“Maybe,” Johnny said, winking at me.
Erin and I took the seats next to Johnny while Dave slid us our drinks.
“You hungry?” he asked us.
We put a food order in for every appetizer on the menu. After a day of falling in the snow, I was completely ravenous.
“I think my stomach is going to cave in on itself,” I complained after five minutes.
Erin giggled. “You’re so dramatic. It’ll be up soon.”
She must have been a mind reader because, at that moment, Dave set down plates of nachos, mozzarella sticks, and chicken wings in front of us. Silence ensued as we all devoured the food.
I was mid-bite on a particularly messy chicken wing when the bell by the door chimed, signaling someone had entered. I barely registered it, but I did clock Dave raise his hand, and wave at the new arrival.
“Giles,” he greeted.
I whipped my head around to see Giles wearing a thick fleece pullover and black jeans at the doorway.
“Hey, cuz.” Johnny gestured for him to join us.
He sauntered over to us, greeting me with a small side smile that caused my stomach to flip.
“Hey.” He rested his hands and leaned on the back of Erin’s barstool.
“Hi.” I smiled at him.
He gave me a funny look in return. “Florida, you got a little something on your face.”
My face paled, and I dropped the chicken wing I had been shoving down my gullet. I looked around frantically for a napkin. Erin slid me one across the table with a huge smirk on her face. Snatching it, I quickly dabbed my face.
“It’s still there.” Giles's grin was bigger now.
I wiped my face with more urgency.
