Page 86 of Made Better Together

He tilts his head back up at me, then slides his hand over to thread his fingers with mine. “Thanks. I’m…I’m still processing we’re actually here, together, to be honest.”

“We sure took the long road.” The ends of my lips turn up. “Isn’t that a line from a country song?”

He laughs, just as the waitress comes by with our drinks. I watch Connor as he takes a sip of his Pinot.

“How is it?”

“Pretty good. Try yours. You’re the one being experimental.”

I do as he asks…and the wine is delicious. “Sweet and peachy.”

“Doesn’t sound bad.”

I set my drink down. I want to dig more into what he was saying earlier.

“So other than your family, do you hang out with anyone here?” Shane graduated last year and moved to Chicago, so I know not with him.

“Not so far. I’m always slow to make friends in new environments, though.”

“That’s normal.”

“I’m not shy.” He peers off at something over my shoulder, eyes unfocused. “But being here with my life in limbo, not knowing whether I want to work for Milo long term, I…I need to be more settled before I’ll feel confident opening up to new people.”

“Like the risk isn’t worth it if things change?”

“More like I’m not sure I’m in the best place to be a good friend right now.” Huh. “I mean, beyond the people I already connect with…” He bends his head toward me.

“Well, you have a friend in me…”

“Hope so.” A grin comes on his face. “Another country song reference?”

I giggle. I hadn’t even thought of that. “Maybe.”

We link eyes for a beat—it’s getting a little too easy to lose myself in his hazel globes. I force myself to break away and take another sip. “I’m already almost done with this drink. The night might be over really fast.”

“We can swap in some water. Or do you want to go to the next place on my list?”

I definitely want to see what else he has planned. “Let’s keep it moving. I can have water at the next stop.”

He nods, and we take off after he settles up. Mind you, I offer to pay, but he insists that the “Connor Battle Bar Tour” has to be paid for by Connor Battle.

The next spot on his list has the inauspicious name of Cheetos. I’m expecting a dive bar, but when we get there, it’s a high-end sports pub, and really nice.

“I wonder how it got that name?” I ask, as Connor pulls out my bar stool for me.

The bartender standing in front of us is the one to answer. “The owner’s son named it when he was eight. Cheetos are still his favorite snack ten years later.”

Connor takes his seat. “That would do it.”

“What would you two like to start with?”

Connor’s eyes flit over to the taps. “We’re in a tasting mode. What do you suggest?”

“Ah, how about our five-flight sampler? Each flight is about six ounces. I can give you a mix of what’s on tap.”

“That sounds perfect,” I say to Connor.

He nods at the bartender. “We’ll each do a sampler.”