Everett snorts. “It definitely was not.”
Lincoln doesn’t tell any stories about his work, but he does laugh along and help Cash talk about the people in town who are the biggest characters.
It’s easy to lose track of time like this, caught up in the warm tones of their voices and the buzz of their laughter. I meant to go to bed at some point, but I must end up falling asleep on the couch because when I open my eyes again, I have no idea what time it is, but I’m covered in a thick, warm blanket that smells like clean laundry.
It’s a sweet gesture, and I try not to think too hard about the fact that one of the men must have done it before heading up to bed.
Chapter 11
Harper
It’s the day shift at the bar, and it’s pretty chill. The crowd is always much thinner before five or so in the evening, since most people are at work anyway. It’s just a few older people who are retired and use the bar like a place to socialize, and those who come in here and there to get food or a quick beer on their way to something else.
Cora is in the back office, hanging out with her coloring books and toys while I work the last half hour of my shift.
Alan, one of the other bartenders, comes in, smiling at me as he goes to get ready for his shift that starts when mine ends.
“Quiet today?” he asks.
I nod. “Yup. Uneventful.”
“Good thing about working in a small town. It’s pretty predictable. Some people think that’s boring, but I say it works out for the best.”
I can agree with him there. The routine of the days is nice, after so much time spent hurrying from one place to the next. It does worry me, that I’m getting too complacent and when it’s time to go back to the way things were, I’m going to be out of practice. But that’s for me to think about later.
The door opens and Lainey comes in, smiling brightly. She stops to talk to someone she knows at a table by the door and then makes her way up to the bar.
“Afternoon, Harper,” she says.
“Hey. What can I get you?”
She shakes her head. “Nothing. I’m here to see you.”
“Oh.” I blink at her. “What’s up?”
“Don’t start worrying now, nothing’s wrong. It’s just a beautiful day today. Too beautiful for you to be cooped up in my brother’s dusty bar.”
“It’s not dusty,” Alan and I say at the same time.
“And I think Everett and Cash would take issue with you calling it just Lincoln’s bar,” I add.
Lainey snorts, her eyes bright. She waves a hand like that’s neither here nor there. “You know what I mean. You and Cora should come to Dolly’s with me for a while. Do something other than work.”
I bite my lip. I like Lainey, but…
“I’m still on shift, technically. For another—” I check the time. “Twenty-two minutes.”
“Alan can start a little early. Can’t you, Alan?”
Alan shrugs a shoulder. “Sure. It’s not like it’s hopping in here or anything. It’s no problem.”
Lainey beams at me. “See? No problem.”
“Okay, okay. Just let me wash up and grab Cora.”
Ten minutes later, the three of us are heading down the street to the diner. Cora looks delighted to see Lainey, who gives her a little hug as we make our way there.
“So,” Lainey says. “How are things going?”