“What’s wrong munchkin?” Grayson says to me after emptying the bucket of empty bottles in the bigger trash bin. The sound of glass clashing on glass making me cringe.
“Just taking a minute to remember what it feels like to have the sand between my toes, the waves infiltrating the space between my ears. The humidity making my skin glisten in the sun” Don’t get me wrong, humidity sucks, but dry heat? Yuck Grays comes to stand in front of me and drops his head to look into my eyes.
“Maybe someone needs to show you what fun this state can really be.”
“Oh yeah? And who, pray tell, do you suppose is going to do that?”
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“How about Wednesday? It’ll give me a couple of days to plan. I would love to show you what my great state has to offer.” He tucks his hands into his pockets and rocks back on the heel of his brown, worn square-toe boots.
This great state has already offered up this beautiful man to look at and keep me company at work, I’m not sure I could ask for much more. I look him up and down, taking my time to see that his jeans are wranglers, and always so tight around his hips and thighs. His shirt, it’s a regular everyday t-shirt in dark blue, but damn he makes it look good. It stretches across his chest and biceps in a way that makes my lady bits tingle. I shove that aside and bring myself back to reality. Relationships are a no-go. I don’t stay in one place long enough to even think about forming that kind of bond with people. And if I am having these kinds of thoughts, I really shouldn’t pursue this past friendship.
“You up for some fun?”
I nod my head, a warm feeling filling my chest. Usually I explore areas by myself, I’ve never had anyone offer.
“Perfect. Let’s finish closing up. Can I give you a ride…home?”
He says home in a questioning way.
“That would be great. I’m right over at the campground by the river.”
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T. SPEAR
Chapter Ten
Grayson
AFTER WE CLOSE, RILEY takes a seat in my car.
“Seems like an odd car to have in a place where it snows.”
“Well, lucky for me, my apartment is above the bar and the grocery store is within walking distance. Also, I learned how to drive in this car. I can handle it in the snow.”
Maybe she didn’t notice all the bumps and dents.
“That makes sense.”
I start the engine and pull out of the spot.
“Wait,” she turns to me “you live above the bar?”
“Yup.”
“That’s really cool. Is it as old looking up there as it is in the bar?”
“Older” I say, and I drive down into the campground area.
“Where are you parked?”
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T. SPEAR