Rhett

Istart the walk back to my family's hotel after practically being shoved out of Winnie's bakery. It's quiet, just the sound of my footfalls and thoughts of our conversation fill my ears. The way she looked at me gave me the impression that she still might think about me the way I have her over the years. Maybe I mis-read her being polite for fondness at seeing me this evening. She got cagey on me when I told her I would be staying in town.

I'm almost to my room and heading straight to bed so I can get up early tomorrow morning to see Winnie—no, stop Rhett—to visit the bakery to show my support for her new business. My mom and all my siblings have been talking nonstop the last few months about all the delicious things that come out of Winnie's kitchen. I love the pride in mom's voice when she talks about her. I could do without the photo Alder sent me with his arms wrapped around Winnie, kissing her cheek.

As I'm reaching for my keycard, I feel my phone vibrate in my jacket pocket. When I pull it out, I'm greeted with the sight of me and my best friend. We're decked out in snowboarding gear and huge smiles, I think we were maybe 17. I tap the screen and answer.

"Hey, Colt. What"s up?"

"When did you get in, man?"

"Just this morning. I haven't had much time to do anything other than settle in at the hotel." I don't tell him about visiting Winnie at her bakery and I'm not sure why because there's no reason I shouldn't visit her and check out her new business.

"Well, why don't you come out to AJ's and have a drink? You're only just across the way."

"I don't know man, I'm pretty beat and have to be up early in the morning." To see your sister who at this point in time seems to not want to see me.

"Aw, come on, it"s been forever since we've been in the same town! I need my wingman back!" Well now I really had no desire to go, but if I was being honest with myself, I was too keyed up from my interaction with Winnie to fall asleep any time soon anyway.

"Okay, I'll be there in five, one drink."

Colt gives me a "Hell Yeah!" and hangs up before I can respond. I smile at his enthusiasm. He's always been charismatic. When he and Winnie moved here we became fast friends. If Colt's jumping off a cliff, I'm already in the water having jumped right before. I've never broached the subject of Winnie with him and when I wanted to back then, she didn't want me to. Saying it didn't matter if we were only for the summer anyway. I scrub a hand down my face, trying to clear thoughts of that summer and Winnie from my mind before I'm sitting next to her brother for the next hour.

I turn back down the hall and make my way across the street.

Angry James, AJ's, isn't the only bar in town, but it may as well be as far as locals are concerned. As soon as I walk through the front door I'm hit with memories. Mostly good, only a few bad.

"Rhett!" I hear my name and see Colt's arm waving around in the air to signal me. The motion isn't necessary because even though it's always busy in here, it's only about 600 square feet. I give him a wave to let him know I've seen him and then make my way to the bar to order my one and only beer of the night. I grin when I spot the owner, Buck, behind the counter.

"Barrett Holloway, is it true I'll be seeing you more around here?"

"Hey Buck, yes it's true. You'll have to put up with my mug regularly. I'll be taking over Coach Reynolds' position at the high school."

"Well I"ll be. I know your mom and dad are sure gonna be happy to have you around more. A few ladies in town may be as well." There's a twinkle in his eyes that seems to always be present. Buck's been a fixture in our community for as far back as I can remember. He has a booth at every festival this town puts on month after month and donates to local food pantry. He organizes and works the annual toy drive in December, along with playing Santa. He's also Colt and Winnie's uncle.

"What can I get ya, son?"

"Can I get whatever IPA's on tap tonight?"

"You got it." I glance around the room to see if I recognize more faces in here. Colt's sitting at a table closer to the corner and it looks like he's got a couple of women I don't recognize sitting across from him. I'm really not wanting to chat up anyone for him tonight but here we are. Buck sets my beer on the bartop and I nod.

"Thanks, Buck." He nods back and moves on to the couple at the end of the counter. I take a sip, then amble over to Colt's table. He's tapping on his phone, but looks up when I reach the table.

"Hey, man!" I set my beer down just in time for Colt to slam into me and lock me in a bear hug. I return the hug and pat his back a few times.

"Hey Colt, how have you been?"

"Good, good. Business has really taken off the last couple of years, so I can't complain."

Colt started his own white water rafting business about five years ago. He takes groups to raft all over the state.

"That's great. Think you'll have time to get out on the river with me in the next couple weeks? I've been itching to get back in a boat."

"If we end up with a good rain like we did last season, absolutely! You know I'll make time for you." He turns back to the table then and introduces me. "Rhett, this is Georgia and Lucy, they're passing through on their cross country roadtrip and looking to white water raft while they're here. Ladies, this is Rhett Holloway." Both their mouths drop open.

"Nice to meet you, ladies." They both hold their hands up and say ‘hi'.

"Rhett Holloway as in, Rhett Holloway, the Seattle Hornets Right Winger? What are you doing here?" The one with dark hair, Lucy asks.

"Actually, this is my hometown. I blew my knee out at the end of last season and decided to trade my pads for a whistle. I'll be coaching here in town at the high school this fall."

"Oh, that sucks. I'm so sorry to hear that," she says, sounding genuine. I smile. I see Colt check his phone out of the corner of my eye and whisper something to the blonde.

"It may have happened a little differently than I expected but it's always been the plan to be back here in Silverthorne."

"Are you gonna miss living in Seattle?" The other one, Georgia, asks.

"A bit, It'll be an adjustment going from the city scene to small town living, but to be honest I'm not one for big cities." She smiles brightly.

"I love Seattle!" Lucy interjects, smiling widely. "I've been able to visit quite a few times. I love going to the market and taking the ferry! My cousin lives out on Bainbridge Island." I smile back.

"It was a change of pace for sure. The city is a little too busy for me but I did enjoy the ferry, and getting to hike in Olympic when I actually had some free time. Overall I did enjoy my time there."

As I'm speaking she leans in and puts her hand on my forearm that"s folded on the table next to my beer. I'm trying to think of a way to pull my arm back without it being too awkward.

I notice Colt check his phone again, smile and glance at the door. I follow his line of sight and there standing in the doorway of AJ's is Winnie. She see's Colt, waves and smiles and starts toward our table. Her eyes meet mine and her smile dims a little, then she looks down to see Lucy's hand resting on my arm and it disappears entirely. Great.