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Graham moved to the backslider door that stuck when you slid it open. “We can change this up, too, put in French doors.”
“Oh, I like that idea.”
He looked back at me and grinned. “You can say no.”
I chuckled. “Why? You and I are definitely having the same vision for this place, and I’ve still got money from the sale of my condo.”
He laughed. “I think you’re my new best friend.”
It was the little things that snuck up and hurt, but I pushed through it. “You bring to life all that you’ve shown me, and you will be my new best friend.”
“I like you, Cedar.”
“Likewise, Graham.”
He rolled the plans out on my farmhouse table. “Let’s start with the porch.”
Natalie called. Ithought she had a dog for me, but she wanted to know if I wanted to go out for drinks. My instinct was to say no, but that was just a knee jerk reaction. I wanted to get to know the town and my neighbors. I wanted friends, so I bit back the no and said yes.
I wasn’t sure where we were going, so I dressed in jeans, a tee, and my Adidas. Natalie offered to drive; her purple VW bug fit with her personality, bright and sunny.
I should have known we were going to the tavern; it seemed to be the happening hot spot. Music poured out into the street, and the scents coming from the kitchen made my mouth water.
Natalie looked around. “Oh look, there’s two stools at the bar.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me along. Liam saw us and shouted, “Now the party can begin.”
We settled on the stools, ordered our drinks. Before Natalie turned to me, I noticed how she watched Liam. And when he dropped our drinks off and grinned at us, her face went pink, she downed half of her Cosmo in one sip.
“Have you ever gone out with him?” I asked.
Her head whipped around so fast, she almost fell off her stool. “What? Liam? No.”
“Why do you sound so surprised?”
“Because...” She glanced his way. “He has a very active social life.”
Ahh, “Have you ever…”
“No, I’m like a sister,” she said, but she didn’t sound very happy about that.
Hmmm. I watched Liam after that, the glances he made, the way he smiled and lingered when he brought us our rounds of drinks. It wasn’t me he was smiling at. Never had a brother, but pretty sure they didn’t look at their sister like that.
We were three drinks in when Natalie suggested karaoke. I thought she meant she was going to sing, but she wanted us to sing. I couldn’t sing. I wasn’t being modest, wasn’t downplaying my talent. I sounded like a dying cat. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“It’s fun.”
“I’ll drive the customers away.”
“No one is listening,” she said and threw her hand out. “See.”
She was right. People were playing pool and darts, talking, otherwise engaged. I still wasn’t drunk enough, but I heard myself say, “Okay.”
“Hot damn.” She finished off her Cosmo and walked to the stage. I wasn’t used to the camaraderie. Had only ever shared that easiness with Brock, but I was making a change, getting back to me, so I finished my wine and joined her.
By the third song, we were taking requests. Natalie took the lead; I was more her backup singer, but the more I drank, the better I thought I sounded. People were getting into it. They may have been laughing at us, not with us, but we didn’t care because we started a trend. If we were that bad and got up there, it encouraged others.
Natalie and I were back at the bar. Liam dropped two burgers in front of us. “Eat,” he ordered. Two waters followed. “And drink.” Natalie and I had the same thought, but before we could make our sarcastic comment about already drinking, he clarified, “Water.”
“Fine,” I said, lifted the burger and took a huge bite. Talking around the bite I said, “Damn, this is so good.”
