2. Emery

2

EMERY

“So have you always lived in Whiskey Run?”

I’m doing my best to appear interested, but not too interested in the man sitting across from me at The Whiskey Whistler. Ray has been coming into the bakery for the last month, asking me to go out with him, and finally I agreed. I sort of had to. No matter how hard I’ve tried, I can’t forget my ex-husband, Nash. Everything I do brings up a memory of us together, and it’s driving me crazy. I wanted this divorce. I’m the one that asked for it, and I know I need to move on. “No, actually I’ve only been here a few years.”

He looks at me, waiting for me to continue, but I don’t say anything. I moved to Whiskey Run when Walker and Nash relocated the Ghost Team here, but I don’t want to get into all that with Ray.

He shrugs his shoulders. “Uhhhh, okay. They’re busy in here tonight. I’m going to go up to the bar and get our drinks. What can I get you?”

I take a deep breath and wish that I could just walk out of here and go home, but I can’t. I would like to have a shot–or two–of Blaze Whiskey, which our town is known for, but I don’t want to lose my senses. “I’ll take a mojito, please.”

He smiles and smacks the table in front of us. “Be right back. Save my seat.”

I barely refrain from rolling my eyes. I watch him walk away and then around the bar. Since I own the bakery right down the street, I have at one time or another seen or met almost everyone in Whiskey Run. And even though I’ve only been here a few years, they all treat me as a local, one of them. When I first got to Whiskey Run and Nash was traveling across the world for his job, I was bored. I needed something to do, and since I had worked in my family’s bakery since I was little, I opened the Sugar Glaze Bakery. It’s probably one of the best things I’ve done. It’s definitely saved me from going stir crazy. I could only take so much sitting at home, waiting for Nash, before I knew I had to do something.

Ray comes back with a tray and sets two drinks in front of me and then a mug of draft beer in front of him. “Here you go... I grabbed you two.”

I look at the green fruity-looking drinks in front of me and then up at him. He must have high hopes for how this night is going to play out, but there’s no way I’m ready for that. “Thank you, but one’s my limit.”

He shrugs his shoulders and smiles playfully. “We’ll see. The night is young.”

I’m already regretting this decision. April, Tara and Becca, the women that work with me at the bakery and are also good friends of mine, have been on me to get back out there. This is the third date I’ve been on, and I’m about to call it quits. Maybe I’m destined to be on my own forever. There’s nothing wrong with it really. I like myself and all, but I know I’m not going to be happy. If only Nash...

My hand clenches into a fist, and I slam my eyes shut. Get it out of your head, Emery. Don’t think about him.

I feel a warm hand on my back. “Are you okay?”

I shake my head back and forth as if I’m trying to get the thoughts out. Truth is, I don’t know if I am okay. I don’t know if I ever will be. If only...

Damn, there I go again . I force my eyes open and try to smile at the man that has moved next to me. I hate him touching me. I really do. But I agreed to this date, and he’s obviously just trying to be nice. “Yeah, uh, brain freeze that’s all.”

If he notices that I haven’t even taken a drink, he doesn’t mention it. His forehead creases. “Ooooh, those are the worst. You know what would make you feel better?”

I know that going home and going to bed will make me feel better. But I don’t say it. I just look at him curiously and smile. “What’s that?”

He tilts his head out to the dance floor and holds his hand out to me. “A dance?”

The dancing area is full of people doing the latest line dance. I don’t want to dance, but I also don’t want to ruin this night for Ray. He doesn’t deserve my bad mood. Plus, it’s a fast song anyway. Instead of putting my hand in his, I slap my hands together as if I’m excited. “Sure, let’s go.”

I don’t wait for him. I turn to go and find an empty spot for us to dance. I smile at him encouragingly as he stops next to me. We have no choice but to start right in on the movements. It’s either that or we’re going to get knocked into as the dancers shift to one side and then the other. Ray goes the wrong direction and laughs about it, making me smile. The people around us wave or say hello to me, and I force myself to relax and have fun. I’m actually enjoying myself until the music flips over to a slow song.

Ray comes toward me, arms open wide, and it’s obvious his intention was a slow dance. I put my hand on his chest to stop him. “Uh, wow, I worked up a thirst. Are you thirsty? I am. Let’s go back to the table.”

I don’t wait for him to answer me. I take off across the room, weaving through couples and back to our table. Our drinks are gone, which is a good thing. I didn’t know how I was going to explain how thirsty I was, but I’m not going to drink the alcohol we’d left on the table.

“Oh no, our drinks,” Ray says as he approaches the table.

I reach into my crossbody purse and pull out my wallet and hand him a twenty. “Here, next round is on me. I’ll take a water this time.”

He takes the money. “I’ll be right back.”

Nash would never...

As soon as the thought enters my mind, I shake my head. Quit it, Emery. Forget him. It’s over. You signed the papers and you are divorced. It’s time to move on.

I fall down into the seat and stare at my hands, missing the wedding ring I once refused to ever take off. I tried giving it back to Nash, but he refused to take it. Now it sits in a jewelry box on top of my dresser, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t look at it every morning.

“Here you go. Water for you and a shot of Jack for me.”

Ray no sooner sets my water down than he’s throwing back the shot. I watch him as I sip on the water. I don’t even ask him about the change from the twenty dollars I gave him. A part of me hopes he keeps it so I feel less guilty when I tell him I’m heading home... alone.