And if she asked the next question, I wasn’t sure I could lie.
10
MAE
“Can I please tell you how much I needed this?” I asked Jules.
Boots and Brews was just what the doctor ordered. I especially loved the fact that it was a woman-owned bar which was totally different than any in Cedar Falls or even on the lakes.
“It reminds me of that bar we went to in Nashville, off the strip.”
Jules joined me at a hightop I’d scored. Delaney was grabbing new drinks.
“It does. What was the name of that place?”
“Are you kidding? I can’t even remember what I ate for breakfast.”
Jules did have a pretty bad memory, but mine wasn’t much better. “Mason told Pia that the owner’s father ran a honky tonk in Arizona but then she met a guy in Italy whose family runs a local vineyard so they moved here, and Boots and Brews was born.”
“Sounds like a Hallmark movie.”
“Right?”
“What vineyard?”
“Grado Valley.”
“Two vodka sodas and a Surfside.” Delaney passed out the drinks. “How’d you get the table? This place is packed.”
We’d already taken line dancing lessons after each taking a spin on the mechanical bull that was apparently only a few-times-a-year thing. I hadn’t even thought of Mathieu until now.
“It’s a secret talent of mine,” I answered.
“Stalking tables?” Delaney laughed.
“Yep. I have a sixth sense when people are about to abandon.”
“She really does,” Jules verified. “Speaking of Pia, I’m sad she couldn’t come.”
“I know.” Delaney took a sip of her drink. “But I can’t imagine this is a fun scene while preggers.”
“Also, speaking of getting under guys, the dark-haired hottie in a white tee hasn’t taken his eyes off you.” Jules looked in the opposite direction to not be obvious, but I saw who she was talking about.
Disturbingly, an image of Beck popped into my mind. This guy was good-looking, for sure, but he didn’t compare. Part of me wanted to tell the girls about the strange vibe I got from him the other night, but I also didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, especially with Delaney being engaged to Parker and all. I knew better than anyone that the guys talked about everything, including women. And the last thing I needed, especially given our current work situation, was any strangeness between us.
Never mind the dream I had two nights ago.
“He’s alright,” I said, trying not to sound nonchalant. “Not totally my type.”
“Um, really? What’s your type, exactly?” Delaney asked.
“Beck,” Jules blurted.
I stared at her in horror.
“Looks-wise,” she added. “The opposite of him, personality-wise.”
The two of them laughed, and I breathed a sigh of relief, picking up where Jules left off. “I won’t disagree he’s cute. And actually has a great personality. It’s his dating history and general thoughts on relationships that would make him a terrible boyfriend.”
