“How did you not know that?” Bea asks, her brows furrowed.
“What do you mean, how did I not know? We’ve only been friends a couple of months and she’s never been to any of the things!” I wave my hand in Arden’s direction.
“I went to spend some time with my mom for the holidays,” Arden says as she lifts one shoulder and lets it drop.
The holidays seem like a lifetime ago.
“Well, looks like y’all have plenty to talk about at lunch,” Coach says with a nod. “She works extra hard here—never leaves her desk.”
“I thought you were on my side,” I tease and Bea grins.
“I can see that. But yeah, grab your purse and let’s go! I tried to talk Ellison and Cal into coming with us, but apparently their planning period is sacred and they’re already trying to figure out a way to change the locks on their door so no one can access them.”
Arden snorts. “I absolutely believe that.”
“Me too,” Bea agrees. “All right, Coach, don’t get into too much trouble. We’ll have her back soon.”
“Take your time, ladies. I’ve got it all under control.”
“Don’t do anything that’s going to make me have to reschedule your afternoon,” I warn, but he just gives me a toothy smile and a wave as he scoops up the boxes and heads for his office.
Sighing, I grab my jacket and purse as Bea pulls me into a side hug. “Cheer up, buttercup, it won’t be that bad.”
“I left him alone with the supply catalog once, and he ordered like seven boxes of purple highlighters for me because I offhandedly said I like the color.”
“That’s honestly adorable,” Arden says as we push out of the complex and into the parking lot.
“One single highlighter would have been sufficient. I could retire and still not use all of them.”
“I agree with Arden. It’s adorable and Coach’s way of saying he cares.”
“Fine,”I concede, “it’s adorable. Now where are we going? I’m starving.”
Boots on Bar and Grillis lively when we make our way inside. I hadn’t ventured to this side of Blackstone Falls and now I’m wishing I had. Holland and Beck would get a kick out of the place, and from the way Bea was raving about it, the food will be just as good as the atmosphere.
Eclectic memorabilia decorates the walls in a classic dive bar way, but the ceiling is a showstopper.
“What’s with the shirts?” I ask, my eyes scanning the neatly pinned squares of fabric tacked to the ceiling.
“Archer said that people bring them from all over to have them hung up there. I guess the catch is that you have topitchthe story behind the shirt to the owner and then the customers present get to determine whether it’s worthy for ceiling status because the ceiling is full now. If you get approved, you get to pick what shirt you replace.” She shrugs. “It’s apparently averybig deal.”
“That does sounds pretty intense.” I laugh as a gruff-looking man approaches our table. He’s ruggedly handsome, in anunapproachable kind of way, like maybe he’s had a hard life and doesn’t care what anyone else thinks.
It makes me like him immediately.
Not because he’s attractive, but because I’m envious he may possess that kind of freedom from social constraints.
“What can I get you ladies?” he says curtly, his dark beard trimmed but not fussed over with oils and special conditioners.
Jacob would be horrified.
That thought makes me smile. Seriously, how much fun had that man sucked from my life?
“I’ll take a sweet tea, please,” I say with a smile that I hope comes across as warm and genuine. It’s not always easy to put my resting bitch face away, but I’m trying.
“Same, and Jude,” Bea says, sliding a package across the table toward him, “for you.”
He grunts a shortthank youbefore turning his gaze on Arden, who is currently gaping at him. I kick her under the table and she yelps before clearing her throat and muttering, “I’ll have the same.”
