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“We’ll see,” Jarret said slowly.
“So, you did bang her.” Sean barely got the words out before Jarret punched him in the shoulder.
“Hey. What the fu—”
“Grow up, McAdams,” Jarret growled.
“Fuck you.” Sean made a face.
“And that is the reason you still live with your parents,” Wyatt said with a grin.
Sean stopped chewing and eyed up the both of them, and was silent for the next little while. The boys made small talk, and eventually the conversation centered on the new sports complex being built across the lake. Jarret’s family had won the contract three years prior, and the plans he outlined were impressive. The complex would feature both indoor and outdoor activities, as well as use of the water.
The arena had already been finished and would have an adjacent indoor pool as well as a new community center.
“You should invest,” Jarret said, looking to Wyatt. “Jump in while you still can.”
“Invest? In what?” Over the course of his career, he’d been asked to invest in numerous ventures—restaurants, health clubs, night clubs—but Wyatt always deferred and kept his money in stocks. He owned a few homes, two of which were rentals, but other than that, he didn’t really pay much attention to that sort of thing. Maybe it was short-sighted, but he’d always been of the mind that he had time for that stuff.
“There’s lots of options. Restaurants.”
“Nash would love that,” he replied dryly.
“Competition is healthy for everyone, Blackwell.” Jarret sat back and looked serious.
He supposed that was as good a comeback as any, and there was probably more than a little bit of truth in there. Wyatt shrugged. “You want my honest opinion?”
Jarret looked at him as if he had four eyes. “Well, I don’t want your dishonest one.”
“I like Crystal Lake the way it is. Or rather, the way it was. I’m not sure all these imports coming into our town is a good thing.”
Jarret’s mouth tightened. “Well, that’s pretty ballsy considering you haven’t actually lived here in years. Fact is, the tax dollars rolling in are good for the town coffers, and more people living here means more people spending money, which is good for business. Tourism is up, which your brother Hudson is happy about. It’s a win for everyone.”
He had a point, but Wyatt wasn’t giving in just yet. “Don’t you think building a huge sports complex is going to take away from the town? What the hell is going to happen to the old arena?” He looked at Sean. “The ballpark we played in when we were kids? The football field?”
“Hey, don’t look at me.” Sean shrugged.
Okay. McAdams was an idiot.
“The town won’t suffer. There are limitations in place. The council is committed to making sure Crystal Lake retains the spirit that attracted folks here in the first place. Hell, your brother is on the council, and he approved the plans.” Jarret frowned. “I’m surprised you care is all.”
If Wyatt was honest with himself, he would have to agree with his friend. As it was, he didn’t get a chance to elaborate or reply because Daisy Miller appeared out of nowhere. She pulled up a seat alongside Wyatt and was joined by a girlfriend she introduced as Trish. Trish, Wyatt didn’t know, but Sean McAdams did, and the two of them cozied up together sharing laughs, beer, and wings.
Daisy sat a little too close to him, but she made no overt moves, and the five of them chatted about nothing in particular.
The band started up just then, a local country act that covered everything from Johnny Cash and Hank Williams to Zac Brown and Florida Georgia Line. Wyatt was thankful for the distraction because it took Daisy’s focus from him. They ordered another round, more wings, and sat back to enjoy the show.
Near the end of the set, the band slowed it down with a haunting, romantic sad sap of a song that had Sean and Trish up and moving toward the dance floor. Jarret had already flown the coop. He’d gotten a call and left twenty minutes earlier.
“So,” Daisy said, eyeing him over the rim of her glass. “I think we should dance.”
He hesitated, and she smiled.
“Hey. It’s just a dance, nothing more. And I really like this song.” She paused. “Please?”
Okay. It was just a dance, and he was being silly as hell. They headed out to the dance floor.
“So, you’re still in town.”
