Page 59 of Sunrise & Serenity

She’s not addressing me, but I straighten in my chair anyway.

“I’m in,” Quinn says.

Chance’s eyes slide my way before he answers. “Sounds good. Knox’ll be here Friday as well. The three of us should be enough to keep an eye on you two.”

Tension ratchets up my spine. I’m not worried about Taryn. She’s allowed to hang out at the local bar as long as one of us is with her. The whole town knows us and that Taryn’s not to be served alcohol—or bothered.

But Sage? She’ll be noticed by every single man in the bar.

It shouldn’t bother me, but it does.

I fold my arms across my chest. “Don’t I get an invite?”

All three of them stare at me.

“You never want to come,” my sister says.

It’s true. I could count the number of times I’ve been to the Silver Pony since I’ve been back on one hand. And I don’t like the way they’re all watching me. As if they can see something I don’t want them to see.

I push back my chair and stand, picking up my empty plate. “Might be nice to be asked.”

As I take a step toward the sink, Taryn jumps up and clutches my arm. “Of course you should come.”

Regret comes quickly. I have no real desire to go to a bar and deal with the stares and whispers. But I’ve made a fuss about it now. “We’ll see.”

She lets me go without protest, but as I leave the kitchen, her excited voice rings in my ears. “It’s going to be so much fun.”

CHAPTER 15

SAGE

The Silver Pony Tavern is everything I could have hoped for. I take it all in as I follow Taryn and Quinn through the door.

Wagon wheels line the ceiling, each strung with bare lightbulbs. A vast, empty fireplace takes up one corner, and several high-top tables are set up near the bar. The scuffed wooden dance floor, which includes a small stage, is surrounded by mismatched wooden furniture and leather couches. At the opposite end of the room, two shallow steps lead down to a crowded area with pool tables. The place smells like smoky leather and liquor, and twangy country music spills from speakers set in the ceiling corners.

And it’s full. Given the size of the town, this is apparently where everyone in Silverford hangs out on Friday nights.

Taryn grasps my hand and tugs me toward the bar. “Let’s get a drink.”

Quinn trails behind, greeting people as he goes. Chance is picking up his friend Knox, then meeting us here.

A few people give me curious looks as we make our way through the crowd. I guess they don’t see many newcomers. I suppose that will change once the Wild Ember guest facilities open.

“Hi, Allie.” Taryn waves to the woman working behind the bar.

She places a beer in front of a customer, then makes her way over. She’s gorgeous, with long, inky-black hair, high cheekbones, and dark, almond-shaped eyes.

“If it isn’t my favorite McBride,” she says, her smile wide and friendly. “It’s been a while. I thought you might have fallen in love and run off.”

Taryn flicks her hair. “There’s no one around here worth falling in love with, let alone running away for.”

Allie laughs. “Smart girl.” As she turns to me, her expression turns a little more assessing, though there’s still warmth there. “And this is the photographer I’ve heard so much about.”

Wow, small-town gossip is no joke. “Hi, I’m Sage.”

“Allie owns the Silver Pony,” Taryn tells me.

“That’s amazing. This place is great.”