Chapter Two

Gentry

I lean against the bar and nurse a beer as I make small talk with Mullet, half-watching the game that's on. Unfortunately, this has become a regular occurrence for me.

"You guys dressing up tomorrow?" Mullet wipes down the counter as he talks. This is his bar, and he retired at least ten years ago, but he still comes in often to serve when he's feeling up to it. I'll tell you one thing, that's not for me. I love this town too, but when I retire, you won't catch me around people on the regular.

"Nah, gotta be able to move quickly. Costume will slow me down."

He nods. "Hadn't thought of that. It's the first year we've hired security, but after that fight last time around, I think it's a good call. Folks get drinkin' and everyone gets stupid. I couldn't pull ‘em off each other and had to call the cops. I hate doin' that shit unless it's absolutely necessary, ya know? They have more important shit to do than to clean up some drunken assholes."

"Yeah, well, maybe I'll come dressed as security and everyone will stay on their best behavior."

Mullet laughs and scans his eyes over me. "You're a big guy. I think they will. You know you're welcome to bring someone and have a good time. I don't need you to stand by the door or anything. Just mingle and be here if we need a set of hands."

"Well, I think I'm bringing my brother, Carson. Gotta bring a young one with me to offset this old arm I'm swinging." I laugh. "I'm not as spry as I once was."

He chuckles. "Same, brother. How is everything?"

"Same shit, different day. Work on the truck and chop wood. The only thing out of the ordinary lately was getting the plow hooked up so I can make it out of my driveway if we get that snow that's supposed to come next week. Can't believe we're in for that shit already."

Mullet nods and I get the feeling he's not asking me what's up because he wants to hear about my plow or the four feet of snow that's on its way. "I know you hate talkin' about anything deep, but how are you… really? "

I drag in a suffocating breath and stare up at the game, desperate to talk about anything but feelings. "Crazy game they're having. You still like the Cowboys?"

Mullet grabs a glass from the dishwasher and wipes the rim before setting it up on the shelf. "So, you're not good, huh? The internet has all kinds of information now. You can search for people and find out all kinds of shit you have no business of knowing."

I glance toward him and hop off the stool. "There's nothing to talk about. It was one night ten years ago. It's fuckin' stupid that I still think about it, and it's even dumber that everyone in my life keeps mentioning it."

He laughs. "I've known you for thirty years, brother. That night, at this bar, you were a different man. Everyone saw it."

I laugh. "Look, I get it, but what would I do even if I found her? I sent her a letter years ago. She never answered me. That's about as clear as it gets."

"Maybe she didn't get the letter."

I downturn my gaze. "She got the letter."

"You don't know that."

"I do. She got it."

"You were overseas. Things get lost all the time. This was ten years ago. That letter could've gone anywhere."

"Or it went to her, and she didn't respond." I'm getting more and more agitated the longer we talk, but I'm not really sure why. The only thing I'm sure of is thinking about Kelly fucks me up.

Still… ten years later and talking about a woman I knew for one night still fucks me up. That's not normal. "Look, I gotta go. I'll be back tomorrow night for the party with Carson. Let me know if you need anything before then."

Mullet shakes his head and sighs as though he doesn't understand me. I bet he doesn't. He's been happily married with kids for years. Hell, I think his children are grown by now. I should've asked how they were doing. Anything to get away from all the fucking questions.

I swing open the door of the bar and stride into the street, where the cool night air is refreshing. I love this time of year. Not for the apples, the pumpkins, and the oncoming holidays, that shit's a headache, but for the crisp air and hunting season. That, and folks tend to stay in more when it's cold and snowy, so there's fewer people in town.

The truck is parked a few spots down on the right, and though I'm desperate to get home, I see Mrs. Robinson walking toward me. I swear the woman has a closet full of floor length skirts with long, wool cardigan sweaters. She's always wearing them whenever I see her, along with her signature blue knit cap.

I love Mrs. Robinson. Everyone does, but I've had it with small talk tonight, and I want to head home.

"Why, if it isn't big ole Gentry? How are you, sweetheart?" She reaches her arms open for a hug and holds me as tight as her fragile frame allows. I have no idea how old the woman is at this point, but her skin is paper thin.

"Oh, I'm makin' do. How are you? You pull a good harvest from your garden this year?"

She swats at my shoulder playfully. "Oh, honey. That's not what I'm worrying about. What I'm thinking about is you . I've been wondering how you've been managing Kelly Bruin being back in town."

My heart stalls and my breathing picks up as I stare toward Mrs. Robinson. I'm not sure if she notices this subtle shift in my breathing or not, but her soft, wrinkled hands land on mine.

I cup my opposite hand over hers, attempting to warm her as I keep my tone steady and say, "I'm sorry, what?"

She tilts her head to the side. "Her mother died a few weeks back. She's been here cleaning up her cabin. Pretty sure she's headed back to San Diego tomorrow."

How has the woman I've been fantasizing about for years been here in my town for three weeks and I didn't know?

Fuck!

My body reacts, and despite the cool air, I'm sweating.

"You okay, dear? You don't look okay. Do you need to sit? We don't need a big giant like you going down." Mrs. Robinson holds me as tight as she can. "Not sure how we'd get you up."

This woman is sweet as hell, and she should be honored as a community treasure. "I'm okay. Yeah… it's all good. I'm sorry to hear about her mom."

It's true. I am sorry to hear about Kelly's mom. I'm devastated, actually. I'm sure all the burden is on her shoulders. If I remember right, she's an only child. That has to be tough to manage all by herself. Then again, she could have someone next to her.

Grow the fuck up, man. You know there's someone next to her.

"Well, I know you've thought about her over the years, so now's a good time to catch her. Her mom's place is over on Moose River Avenue."

This is a small town, so news travels inordinately fast, even faster when it happens at the bar. I told a man down there about the security business opening up, and by noon, everyone in town was talking about it.

I drag in a deep breath. "Good to know. I'll keep that in mind."

Mrs. Robinson leans against my chest and offers me a hug. "Trust me, honey, I know how complicated the heart stuff is."

"It's not complicated," I groan, kissing the top of her head. "I don't know why everyone thinks I'm still hung up on this. I'm not. It was a long time ago. I've moved on and so has she."

"Did you, though?" Mrs. Robinson looks up at me. "You're alone, and I know you. You wish you had someone."

"I don't, though. I'm happy alone." It's true. I am happy alone. Happier alone than I would be faking a life with a woman that isn't Kelly, and much happier alone than I would be knowing she officially rejected me.

God, I need help.

I know it isn't normal to fixate on a woman this long. Truth be told, I didn't feel the time passing. One day, I was falling in love on a bar stool. Next thing I know, ten years have passed, and I'm still thinking about her. There was no plan for that. It just happened.

"Well, dear, if you want to talk, you know where to find me."

I lean into Mrs. Robinson and kiss her head. "You need help getting to your car?"

She eyeballs me like I'm crazy. "You get your butt out of here, mister. I can find my own car."

I know she likes to be independent, so I hop up in the truck and start up, watching her until she's safe in her vehicle. I think Mrs. Robinson is a second mom to everyone in town. She's watched over everyone for years and her personality is the type that molds to meet every individual person. With someone like Kelly, she'd be softer. With me, she's gruff and aggressive because she knows that's what I respond to.

Trouble is, she's always right. I don't know how I got stuck on Kelly, but everything about her is perfect. She's sweet, mouthy, funny, loves dark humor, and she wore a little black dress like no one else. Her hips are wide, and her ass is thick and round. She's curved and gorgeous, with long dark hair and plump, pink lips.

She was engaged at the time, and I knew nothing could come out of that night. Deep down I knew that, but there was a part of me that wondered what would've happened if she weren't engaged. That's why I sent the letter. I needed her to know how I felt before she tied the knot.

Not responding is the answer I needed. Not responding is the honesty that should've forced me to move on.

She loved her fiancé. I misread whatever was happening and that's that. There's no need to go embarrassing myself years later with a reintroduction. God, she's probably got a couple of kids by now, a rock on her finger, and a big house out in San Diego. She doesn't need me complicating things.

Then again, driving by her mother's cabin wouldn't be the worst thing. Maybe I could catch a glimpse or run into her outside. That's natural. We're in the same town. People bump into each other all the time.

Bumping into her could give me closure… more closure… actual closure. How could it not? Seeing her with her husband and her family should be the kick in the ass I need to move on… right?

Either way, I'm clinging to that option as though it's a foregone conclusion. What other choice do I have?

When Mrs. Robinson has pulled out onto the street, I back out of the spot in front of the bar and leave the flashing neon lights behind. It's only seven p.m. so I convince myself that a drive is in order to clear my head.

Though I know deep down exactly where I'm going. Moose River Avenue is beautiful this time of day.