“It’s a lot, I know. It’s one of the lesser-known old-time bars. Faces around here can get too familiar for Que and me. I bet your friend, tall, dark and handsome, would say the same. He’s lived here about as long as Que, but they stay on separate paths. Just as you rarely see a hawk frolicking with crows,” Cher says cryptically, but it’s a comment that resonates.
It’s the first time I have really thought about Ry since Ashton and Lollie showed up. It sends a swirl to my stomach, which surprises me. I have been doing a good job of keeping him off my mind since our argument. As far as I can tell, he has done the same with me.
“Yeah, what’s the deal with those two? Do they know each other?” I ask Cher, and Lollie scoots closer to me. I then realize my slip of bringing up Ry with Lollie here, but it’s too late to take it back now. Lollie sends me a concerned look, feeling more and more kept in the dark.
“They do. Once upon a time, they had been close friends. But, as it does with most friends turned to enemies, love came between them. Love and other emotions of sorts. Now, it seems they arerootedhere, so to speak,” Cher says in a way that leaves a lot to the imagination. “She was a pretty one, though. Fun, too. Actually, she reminds me a lot of you...” she says with a twist. Her words send a troublesome chill down my spine.
She glances toward my two friends with a smile that doesn’t meet her eyes. Lollie is not impressed, her icy stare boring into Cher. When Lollie notices me watching, she darts her eyes away.
“OK, who are we talking about?” Lollie asks, now acting confused, looking between me and Cher. “I am definitely missing parts of this story. Did you meet someone else, Jade, that I haven’t been told about?” Lollie’s hurt expression makes the guilt of holding information creep up on me.
“Uh, kind of. Just the man who came up to tell me about this place. Ry. The one I told you about, who had helped me clean up the property. I haven’t seen him for months now,” I lie.
It hurts to do so, and I don’t even know why I do, because Lollie can tell. She looks at Ashton passing each other a worried glance, her lips forming a grimaced and strained expression.
“Well, thanks for keeping me and Ash in the loop,” she utters. I can tell I’ve put her in a sour mood.
“Oh, Lol…” I say, but she just shrugs.
“Oh shoot, did I bring up something I shouldn’t have?” Cher says and looks at Lollie. Cher sounds innocent enough, but I can see Lollie’s jaw tighten. “Don’t worry, Ry usually stays in his own little realm most days. You two probably won’t even meet him.” Cher adds as a final touch.
“It’s fine, just…I don’t know. Let’s drink.” Lollie says in her shut it down way when she is around people she is not completely comfortable talking to.
So, we do just that, even if it means we willhave to address the topic later. We drink. We dance. I steal glances at Que, and he has stolen more than a few at me.
Thoughts of Ry bubble up. A guilty nagging sensation in my gut I can’t ignore. I gave him the cold shoulder, but something internally tells me I should give in to his ways. I can’t get him out of my head now.
Something felt so concrete when he was near. A tether to our souls that I could hold on to. I don’t feel that with Que, but heisquite pleasant to look at.
It isn’t long before Que finds his way closer. Easing his way behind me on the dance floor, but the intimacy feels wrong. I let him put his hands on my waist. There is no harm in dancing, but I want to see his face.
I spin around and wrap my arms around his neck. I’m reminded of one of my dreams, then. One where I am dancing with this very man. I know it. The smell of moonflowers surrounds us. The same smell as outside the Detroit dive bar, months back.
“Have I met you before?” I ask, feeling sure now.
“It’s possible,” Que says. “But it was way before you even knew.” He pulls me closer, aware of where my body touches his. Oh, maybe this doesn’t feel so wrong after all.
“What do you mean by that?” I’m curious now, Que having a way of engaging my mind in a way Ry does not.
“I’ve tried telling you this story before, but it didn’t go so well. I don’t think it’s mine to reveal, little gem.” For the faintest second, I think I know what he is talking about, but blank memories cloud it.
“I’m afraid I’ve only ever met you in my dreams, and even then, at a distance,” is all I can think to say back. But it’s the truth. I have seen him. Detroit. In my sleep. All imagined, I convince myself.
He darkens then, as if remembering the saddest story.
“It’s a shame you weren’t created for me. We could have been something real.” His voice is low and aching. He kisses my head and leaves me there. Still and surprised, surrounded by dancing locals.
I walk away with my head down, hoping Lollie didn’t see any of our interaction. The dance floor, with an array of geometric designs below my feet, makes my head slightly dizzy. Music is blaring in my ears, washing away a memory that begs to be revealed. None of the songs are familiar, but they seem to know me—and I let them.
I find our table and realize Lollie and Ashton are gone. A moment to observe that I find enduring. I’ve always been a people watcher, even as a child. My mother scolded the younger me for staring more times than I can count.
I felt a searching within me, looking for someone. That same feeling would cross me when I looked out at the estate and focused my eyes on the hickory tree. But there are no trees here, only drunken dancing and hearty sax.
I catch Cher talking with Que by the bar stool he reclaimed after leaving me stranded. They look to be arguing about something, but when she spots me watching, her entire demeanor changes. My staring was never one to go unnoticed.
She smiles and comes to sit down with me.
“So, Que and I are going to head out. But I wanted to tell you, I’m so happy you guys showed up. I don’t know what you plan to do with your estate. But for selfish reasons, I feel you belong here.” She stares at me intently, hoping I understand. I find her choice of words to hit me right where I need them to.
