Page 44 of Broken Boundaries

“I’m Aspen. You?” I yell over the music.

“I’m Dawson. Can I get you another drink?”

Dawson is cute. He has a nice smile and looks about my age. He’s tall, and his blond hair is curling out from under his hat.

“Um, yeah, sure. That’d be great.” I smile at my friends, and they shoo me away to go with him. I follow Dawson to the bar, where he puts a hand on my lower back and leans down to ask me what I’d like to drink. It feels strange telling a new man what my drink of choice is.

Zach knew almost everything about me. I never thought I’d have to start over, but here we are.

Dawson hands me my drink after Owen makes it and then ushers me over to sit down on one of the two barstools that just opened up.

“Are you new in town? I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”

I nod and sip on my drink. “Yeah. I’ve been here since the beginning of June. Just haven’t gone out much. Have you lived here your whole life like everyone else?”

He chuckles. “I moved here when I was fifteen, so I haven’t technically lived here my whole life. But sometimes it feels like I have. You move here for work or something?”

“Uh, well, no, not technically. I moved here with my ex, but that didn’t work out.”

“Your ex, huh? Any chance that was Zach Calloway?”

I nearly choke on my gin and tonic. “Wow, news does travel fast in small towns.”

“Yeah, it does. Zach’s an idiot, though. His loss is everyone else’s gain.”

“Well, thank you, I think. I appreciate that.”

“So, you decided to stay in town?”

I nod, “Yeah, for now. I started a job at Moonlight Ranch and really like it. I didn’t really have anywhere else to go, so I figured I might as well stay for a bit. See how it works out.”

“Well, I’m glad you did.”

Dawson goes on to tell me that he works with his dad at the tractor mechanic shop, which I didn’t even know was a thing. He played football in high school and went to a two-year tech school right after, but he always knew he wanted to work with his dad. He seems like a nice guy. Which is why when he buys me another drink and asks me if I want to dance, I agree.

I let him put his hand on my hips as we sway to the music. It’s not as awkward as I expected it to be. He keeps the conversation going so that I’m not worried about where to look or where my hands should be. We just talk (as best as we can over the music) and move a little bit. My new friends eventually make their way over to us, but Dawson doesn’t seem upset about it.

“Having fun?” Jazz asks into my ear.

“Yeah, I am.”

“Could he be the rebound?”

The music is loud enough that I’m sure Dawson didn’t hear her, but I’m still embarrassed by the question. I shrug. “Maybe.” Although I really don’t want to force anything when I don’t feel ready.

“Good.”

Jazz disappears briefly and comes back with a round of shots. I’m not a shots girl, but I do it anyway because she looks so excited about it.

“I’ve got to head out,” Dawson tells me a little bit later. “I’ve got work in the morning. But I’d like to see you again. Would it be alright if I got your number?”

“Yeah, that’d be great.”

It feels strange giving another man my number. In the back of my head, it feels like I’m doing something wrong even though I know I’m not. He puts my number in his phone and then sends me a text so I have his.

When he’s gone, we all head back to the table. I’m definitely feeling the effects of the alcohol right now. I’m warm all over, giggly, and a little lightheaded. But I’ve had so much fun tonight that I don’t want it to end. Unfortunately, it has to.

“I’m going to Owen’s tonight,” Jazz tells me. I’m happy for my friend. Even if she doesn’t think it’s anything serious with Owen, I saw the way he looked at her, and I know she’s going to have a fun night.