“Guess this festival brings in more people than I thought,” I mutter, just as my stomach rumbles. “Okay, new plan. Food first. Maybe someone at that bar we passed will know of a room we can rent out.”
I pull up across from The Gallows Tavern, and Jovie and I both groan loudly as we get out of the car and stretch our legs, but the sound quickly morphs into chattering teeth when a cool breeze kicks up.
“Definitely didn’t plan for this kind of weather,” I grumble, grabbing Jovie’s hand and hurrying across the wet street. “We need to get inside where it’s warm, or I might start thinking The Devil Pools don’t actually sound too bad.”
The exterior of the tavern is brightly lit, lights shining skyward, giving each symmetrical window a spooky shadow. It completely fits in with the aura of the town, but they could have at least tried to make it not so gloomy. Maybe a few hanging planters from the windows? Something to give it a pop of color, and not the hunter green that seems to fade into the background. Large gold letters on the hanging sign announce that we are about to enter The Gallows. The only place that didn't look like a tourist trap.
God, I hope it's kid friendly.
A group of tourists bundled up in scarves and winter jackets fall out of the swinging doors, laughter and music drifting out after them. Jovie looks up at me with an excited smile and we duck inside—a welcome rush of heat hitting us like a slap in the face.
Every table is packed, so I usher Jovie toward the far end of the bar where there is a single stool, lifting her up onto it and wiggling in beside her. I lean forward, looking for a staff member, only to find two very overworked servers darting between taps and trays, their faces flushed with panic.
A young girl finally comes this way and the man on the stool beside Jovie leans forward. “Finally!” he snaps, banging his palm on the bar top and almost sending the poor girl shooting straight out of her skin. “I’ve been waiting for ten minutes! You better be ready to give me a discount.”
“I’m sorry, sir!” she answers, her eyes skirting around. The poor girl is young, but when a place gets this busy and doesn’t have enough workers, it’s easy for even the most confident bar staff to lose their minds. “I just…I need to fill another order first, but I’ll be right ba?—”
“Hell no!” he snaps, getting to his feet, clearly trying to intimidate her. “I told you, I’ve been waiting?—”
“And she heard you,” I interrupt loudly, rounding the end of the bar to where the girl is standing. I place myself just slightly in front of her, glancing down at her name tag before looking up again and meeting the annoying man’s dark stare. “Unfortunately, Sarah here is busy right now serving our more polite and unproblematic patrons. I, on the other hand, am happy to deal with assholes like you, so what would you like?”
His fingers curl into meaty fists, sitting atop the bar like a silent threat.
Now, I’m generally a quiet, introverted person who likes to keep to herself.
But I’ve been working as a server since I was seventeen, and behind the bar since I was twenty-one, and there is no way in hell this guy hanging out in Christmas Village here, is scarier than the bastards who infect the place I usually work.
“I want a manager,” he hisses through his teeth, and before I can even open my mouth to comment, a shadow moves at the other end of the bar and catches my eye.
I swallow hard as the broad shoulders wrapped in worn leather turn and there’s suddenly a six-foot-something biker closing the distance between us, his eyes locked on mine as if there's not another single soul in the building. His hair is long and pulled back into a knot at the back of his head, making it easy to see the tattoos climbing the sides of his neck and disappearing down into the crisp white shirt he’s wearing.
The angry customer shifts on his feet, shrinking back a little.
“Problem?” the biker snaps, his tone rough and gravelly.
The other guy stiffens, clearing his throat. “Just waiting on some service,” he mutters, shooting me a sharp glare, as if we’re in elementary school and I’ve just tattled on him.
“Then sit your fucking ass down and wait like everyone else,” the biker orders.
He doesn’t raise his voice.
He doesn’t make a scene.
Just one quiet command and the asshole lowers himself back onto the stool, his face flushed as he grumbles something under his breath.
The biker moves his gaze to Sarah, giving her a sharp nod. “Keep going, let me know if you need help.”
“Thanks, Grizz,” she says with a tired smile before turning to me. “Thanks for having my back.”
She’s gone before I can even say you’re welcome, so I just start to back away. “Apologies, I’ll get out of?—”
“You new in town?” Grizz questions, one brow raised as his eyes slide the length of my body, taking in my jeans, tank top, and thin cardigan.
I clear my throat, drawing his eyes back to mine.
Maybe a mistake, because there’s this sharpness to them that feels like they’re looking through to my damn soul. “I uh,” I say, shaking my head before trying again. “My daughter and I decided to come through here as a last minute thing. We’re hoping to stay but everywhere is full.”
He follows my eyes to where Jovie is sitting quietly, playing games on my phone, in her own little world.
