Warmth, music, and laughter spills out of the pub as Jerry pulls the door open. It’s nowhere near the excited chaos that met me and Sean when we did exactly this on New Year’s Eve, but it’s lively and just as welcoming as we walk through the doors.
The inside is as tastefully decorated as the outside—thankfully, no Christmas music is playing yet, because I don’t care what Jerry says, it’s definitely too early for that—but I can’t deny I’m feeling more festive with every twinkling light and shiny bauble I see.
Plenty of heads turn our way, and even though I’m an outsider here, the locals welcome me as enthusiastically as they do Jerry, which is both lovely and a little unnerving.
Jerry must notice, because as we find a spot at the end of the bar, he leans in to whisper. “Word travels fast. You’re a local now.”
I huff. “Hardly. I haven’t even been here a day yet.”
I feel his shoulders rise as he shrugs. “They’re a welcoming bunch.”
They’re also a nosy bunch.
I’m not used to so many people wanting to know my business all at once, even if their curiosity is well-meaning and borne out of a genuine desire to get to know me better. At least that’s what Jerry tells me every time we have to explain thatNo, we’re not a couple. I’ve not moved in with Jerry. I’m renting his spare room while I look for somewhere permanent of my own.
After what feels like the hundredth time I’ve answered this question, I groan and rest my head in my hands on the bar. Hailey’s taken over serving drinks and her laughter makes me glance up enough to glare at her. “Was it this bad when you moved up here?”
She shakes her head. “No, because Char and me were already married, and since I was the size of a house, it was no secret we had a baby on the way.” She scrunches her nose up. “Although it was a bit like that when Vic came to stay with us and people realised he’s my ex-husband.” She leans over the bar, voice lowered. “Thatdidset some tongues wagging. Especially when he hooked up with Sean.”
That makes me grin. “I can imagine.”
“Anyway,” she says, replacing my empty glass with a fresh beer. “You get used to it after a while.” Her smile turns fond. “It’s kind of nice. I never thought I’d like everyone knowing my business, but there’s something to be said for walking downthe high street and being greeted by friendly faces instead of nameless strangers.” She leaves me with that pearl of wisdom and moves down the bar to serve someone else.
I’m not sure it’s something I’ll get used to, or even want. And depending on where I choose to live after leaving Jerry’s, I might not have to. But in the cheery atmosphere of the pub, it’s not something I want to dwell on right now, so I don’t.
I’ve only just moved here, for fuck’s sake. House hunting can wait.
I push it to the back of my mind and tune in to the conversation Jerry’s having with the guy who’s appeared beside him. The ruggedly hot guy who’s looking way too familiar with Jerry for my liking.
“I’ve got some Nordmann firs coming in on Thursday. Good selection of four to seven footers.” He winks at Jerry. “I know you like ’em big.”
Jerry laughs, eyes crinkling at the corners as he shakes his head. “How old are you, Pete? Twelve?”
Pete? That’s not a name I recognise. I wait for Jerry to introduce me, like he has with everyone else who’s come up to say hello. And I speed things up by stepping close enough to Jerry that I bump his arm.
He turns towards me, lips still curved in a smile. “Reed, this is Pete Harbrook.” He moves enough for me to get a better look atPete. “He and his sister Sadie run the Christmas tree farm up the road.”
Pete rolls his eyes. “It’s a little further thanup the road.” He holds out his hand. “Hi, it’s nice to finally meet the guy everyone’s been talking about.”
That makes me flush. I don’t know if he’s teasing me or telling the truth, and honestly, I’m not sure which I want it to be, so I just take his hand and return his smile. “Hey.” I point to thebeautifully decorated tree in the corner of the pub. “Is that one of yours?”
Pete grins. “Yep. So’s the one outside.”
“They’re lovely trees.” They are. I’m not just saying it to be nice. Both trees have thick, full branches, evenly spread out without any noticeable gaps.
“Thanks.” His gaze flicks between me and Jerry and I wish I knew him well enough to read his expression. “You should come with Jerry when he drives over to pick out his tree.”
“Oh... I don’t—” have any idea what to say, so thank god Jerry interrupts.
“That’s a great idea.” Jerry turns his warm brown eyes on me, his gaze meeting mine and holding it. It’s like the rest of the pub disappears for that one moment as I’m the sole focus of his attention.
Then Pete breaks the spell as he snorts. “Maybe it won’t take you forever to pick one out if you have Reed to rein you in.”
Jerry catches my eye again and smiles. “Ignore him, Reed. He’s full of shit.”
Pete laughs and claps Jerry on the shoulder before saying his goodbyes and moving to talk to another group of people sat over in the corner.
Maybe it’s the beer loosening my tongue, but as I watch Pete walk away, I can’t help but wonder... “Soo... you and Pete?” I raise both eyebrows and it’s telling how Jerry gets my meaning immediately. Or maybe it isn’t and I’m just reading into it, because I’m feeling a little territorial, not that I have any right whatsoever, but there you go.
