“Grizz,” she greets simply, wiggling her fingers at him.
He doesn’t even look up, answering with a casual, “Victoria.”
The stark contrast between this slick, city woman and her polished boots and perfect hair, compared to the earthy, casual bar, and the biker sitting in the center—it’s like night and day. Almost as if two worlds have collided.
“You must be Brynn,” the woman greets with a toothy smile, stepping up to the bar while Sarah rounds to stand beside me. “I’m Sarah’s Mom, Victoria. I really hoped I’d see you so I could thank you for standing up for her yesterday. She told me how things had gotten a little crazy, and being only young, she can find it hard to use her voice.”
I smile and shake my head. “No, she was doing perfectly fine on her own,” I explain, busying myself with the coffee machine. “I’m just allergic to jerks, so when I hear one speak, I have to snap back.”
Victoria chuckles, her laughter bubbly like expensive champagne. “Either way, I’m glad she has someone herelooking out for her,” she explains, cupping her hands together. “I honestly thought when she turned twenty-one that I’d be spending time with her at college, but there’s something about this town that she just can’t leave behind.”
Victoria’s eyes flicker to Grizz. Though it’s subtle, it’s intentional, and Sarah instantly turns bright red.
“Mom, stop!” Sarah hisses through her teeth. “You’re doing it again.”
The instant tension has me focusing extra hard on the espresso machine and tapping my foot to try hurry it along. I’m not sure if this is a case of a mom teasing her daughter about her hot boss, or some small-town lore I’m not in on.
Victoria definitely seems the type to look down on the club and its existence, especially if she’s walking around town like she’s just walked out of vogue.
“Here we go!” I announce, a little too brightly. “Latte for you, and one for you.”
I hand them both drinks before returning to the coffee machine and starting my own. Victoria quickly placing it on the counter and dousing her hands in a generous blob of hand sanitizer, the strong alcohol scent cutting through the fresh coffee.
“I could definitely get used to this,” Victoria sighs, her fingers circling the cup as it sits on the bartop. “Do you plan on hanging around, Brynn?”
“Hopefully for a little while,” I say with a polite smile. “Jovie and I really want to look around town, experience some of the Christmas festival, and get to know more about this place. It seems so interesting. Special even.”
Victoria’s eyes gleam and she nods enthusiastically. “Oh yes! I’d be happy to show you around. Give you a personal look at our beautiful Hallowed Springs.”
Sarah nods to the table where Grizz and Jovie are chatting between themselves. “I’m sure if you ask Grizz, him and the boys could give you a tour too. They know the woods around here inside out.”
The way her eyes linger has me wanting to aww out loud as I begin to understand a little more about the tension in the room—a little crush maybe, and a mother who believes they are above certain members of the community.
Victoria clears her throat loudly, and Sarah shrinks back, quickly turning her attention to her coffee.
Smiling at the two women, I nod my head, trying to appease them both. “Wow, that’d be great. Jovie is really interested in hearing the story about the springs.”
“Perfect! I have to get to work, but maybe tomorrow morning we can have a chat about going on a little private tour,” Victoria says, clearly excited about sharing the town's stories. She pulls on her gloves again and straightens her jacket. “If you need anything, let Sarah know. We have spare rooms if you don’t want to pay?—”
“Oh no,” I interrupt, my eyes focused on the pretty pattern I’m trying to create with the hot milk. I was never a whizz at the coffee art stuff, but it’s fun to try. “Grizz has let us stay in the apartment upstairs so I can help here with the bar. He’s?—”
SMASH.
The sharp crack of the ceramic mug on the wooden floors bites through the quiet room like a gunshot. Hot coffee sprays everywhere, soaking Sarah and I, and everything within a six foot radius.
“Sarah!” Victoria scolds, a flash of irritation breaking through the poise.
“I—Sorry!” Sarah stammers, red faced and panicked.
I shake my head, grabbing a towel, and crouch down, carefully picking the pieces off the floor. “Shit happens, it’s fine,” I tell her, offering a smile as she joins me.
“I have to go to work,” Victoria announces, leaning over the bar to glare at her daughter. “You need to be more careful!”
Then she’s gone, the clip clop of her heels disappearing into the distance.
A stool scrapes on the floor a moment later, and Grizz’s slow but heavy footsteps vibrate through the floorboards until he appears at the end of the bar, his arms folded. “Just like your mom to leave on a dramatic note,” he mutters, and Sarah huffs out a sigh.
“I’m sorry, Grizz,” she apologizes, getting to her feet. “She demanded to come in and meet Brynn.”
