“You earned it.” Ellie smiled. “You did really well. I also talked you up to Wanda, and she’s very impressed.”
I grinned back, my chest squeezing. She didn’t have to do that. “Thank you, Ellie.”
“No need to thank me.” She grinned devilishly. “At least not until I introduce you to Ty.”
Before I could protest, she grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the staircase and up the stairs to the bar. There was a guy behind the counter, flitting around as he washed bar glasses and stocked items.
I studied him as Ellie dragged me closer. I supposed I’d caught glimpses of him as I worked, but I hadn’t talked to him or stopped to truly look him over. He was handsome, in a boyish kind of way. His body was strong and lean and tall. He had a similar build to his brother, but not quite as broad and maybe a little taller.
He had deep-olive skin and dark, curly hair that was slightly longer on top and styled into almost perfect ringlets.
Ellie let my hand go and leaned over the bar, rising on her tiptoes to do so.
“I have someone to introduce you to,” she singsonged.
Ty looked up as he slowed his work. He raised an eyebrow. “You do?” His gaze bounced between Ellie and me. His voice was smooth and confident. Something about it was familiar, in a way that set my teeth on edge.
But I shook the sudden feeling off.
Ellie gestured to me. “This is Wren. She’s new to Cypress Falls.”
Ty’s eyes traveled down the length of my body and back up. A flirtatious smile curled his perfectly shaped lips. “Wren?” He gave me a sidelong glance. “Isn’t that a bird or something?”
I shrank back. “Yeah, I suppose so.” Something about him made me feel so unsure, but I didn’t know what it was.
Ty pressed his lips together, as if he sensed my apprehension. He glanced at Ellie, who was frowning for the first time since I met her. When his eyes drifted back to me, they softened, his mouth turning up into that confident, flirty smile I was sure melted all the girls’ hearts. Just not mine.
“Well then.” Ty tugged on the towel draped over his shoulder and tossed it into a sanitizer bucket nearby. “It’s different, but I like it.” He extended his hand to me. “I’m Ty Ranes, and it’s nice to meet you, Wren.”
I hesitated, staring at his hand.
I was being difficult, and I wasn’t exactly sure why. Ty was probably a nice guy. Ellie liked him, and she seemed trustworthy enough. She said she’d known him most of her life.
It was just the way he held himself, that outward confidence and flirtatious draw. It reminded me of—him. And it wasn’t fair of me to compare Ty to that when I didn’t even know him.
I blew out a long breath, steeling myself and shaking off the tension. I reached for Ty’s hand but didn’t hold on to it longer than I had to.
“Nice to meet you too.” I mustered up a small smile.
A thin crease formed between Ty’s brows, but his lips didn’t fall from that boyish half grin. “Glad to have you on the team. I noticed you work hard. You’ll fit in well here.” He winked, and I tried to take his compliment at face value.
I nodded. “I hope so.”
“Tell you what—Ellie and I are off tomorrow night. If you’re off too, how do you feel about coming to a party?”
I blinked. A party?
Ellie straightened, clasping her hands together and bouncing on the balls of her feet. She turned to me. “Oh, yes! You MUST come. Ty’s hosting a party on the houseboat, and they are THE best!” Her ice-blue eyes gleamed, and my stomach flipped.
A party? I hadn’t been to a party in so long. Did I like parties anymore? I used to like them. Back before I’d met…him. I’d been younger and I loved being around people. I’d never had many friends, but everyone was your friend at a party. The energy of all the talking and dancing and happiness had made me feel alive once. It was like getting an escape from the hardness of the real world.
But that was before.
And I wasn’t sure if the person I was now wanted to be around so many people. It made you vulnerable. It put you at risk.
“Wren?” Ellie’s voice snapped me out of my frenzied thoughts. Her smile dimmed as she watched me.
I glanced at Ty, and that crease between his brows deepened.
Damn.
I shook my head, ignoring the doubts and anxiety.
I didn’t want to be the girl who declined party invitations from perfectly nice people. I didn’t want to be the girl who locked herself away and never made friends. I’d been through that already. It was time for me to embrace that I was free.
I looked back at Ellie, putting on the brightest expression I could muster. “I would LOVE to go to a party.”