“Oh, honey, how are you?”
The place is busier than I expected.
I paste on a smile. “Hi, everyone!” I make my way to the bar and gratefully take the stool between Andi and Everly.
Andi rubs a comforting hand up and down my back, and Everly pushes her half-empty martini glass to me.
The liquid inside is purple. And sparkly.
I look at her with a question, then at my cousin behind the bar.
Violet grins. “I made up a couple of cocktails. That’s the Rougarou. Andi’s trying the Rascal.”
Andi’s martini glass is full of something green and sparkly.
Violet continues. “I figure even though you’re going to have drinks and food at the arena, people might stop down here before or after a game, and we should have some themed stuff going on here, too. And don’t worry, the glitter is edible.”
I pick up the martini glass and sip. It’s really good. And I don’t even care what’s in it. I drain the rest of the glass.
All three of the women look at me with raised eyebrows.
“But you’re totally okay, right?” Everly asks.
“I am,” I nod, glancing around the bar. Everyone here needs not to hate Alex. “I’m so happy for Alex. This is what he wanted all along. Obviously, it happened way sooner than expected, but he’ll be a great coach.”
“Are you going to fly out there for his game and then back for the first Revelers and Rascals game?” A voice calls. I know that voice. “Or are you going to stay here and go to Portland next week?”
I turn to find Muriel and Patty sitting at one of the tables just a few feet away. The sisters often come in for dinner, despite being among the best cooks in town. They don’t like cooking for just one or two, and even more, they like being in the middle of the best spot for gossip and news.
“Oh, I’m not going to Portland,” I say, even as my stomach knots.
Muriel frowns. “Why the hell not?”
I reach for Andi’s drink, which she surrenders easily. I take a sip of the green sparkly liquid. It’s very good too. I give Violet a thumbs up, then say to Muriel, “Alex and I weren’t dating forvery long. It wasn’t that serious. He’s gone back to his life in Portland, and obviously, my life is here.”
Muriel makes a very unladylike snorting noise as she stabs a sausage, and Patty chuckles.
“What?” I ask, aware that the entire bar is listening.
“It doesn’t matter how long you were together. He obviously makes you insanely happy,” Muriel says. “You have to go to Portland.”
“Well, he could come back here,” Patty says. “He was very happy here, too.”
I think he really was, and her words make my chest ache. “He was. And he did make me happy, of course,” I say, not worried about the admission. It’s true. “But this job is exactly what he wants. And it’s in Portland. I live here. And long distance is really hard, especially when we’re both so busy.”
Muriel frowns. “But your life doesn’t have to be here.”
I straighten. “What? Yes, it does. How can I arrange clubs, festivals, and activities for Rebel if I’m notinRebel?” My heart is pounding, and I’m not sure why.
“But you don’t have to dothatfor your life, do you? You could do that somewhere else. Ow!” Muriel frowns at Patty and leans to rub her shin. “Why’d you kick me? I’m just saying she can do clubs and festivals somewhere else.”
“But doing them forRebelis what I want to do,” I say.
“Why?” Muriel asks. Then she glowers at her sister. “I swear to God, Patty, if you kick me again, I’ll dump my grits in your lap.”
“Stop being rude. You know that Nora does those things for Rebel, because of…” She trails off, looking a little chagrined. “You know why doing them in Rebel is important.”
They know why my job is so important to me? I suppose it wouldn’t be hard to figure out. I’m giving back. I’m makingmy hometown a happier, more connected place. Because I love them. That’s obvious. Isn’t it? I frown. Something here feels off.
