“In all the time you’ve known me, I’ve never been the type to lead someone on,” I growled, snatching the bottle of wine from his hands and shoving it, maybe a little too neatly, into the perfectly organized fridge. “Except, you know, that one time I almost married someone to save my bar.”
“So, is it lyrics or the truth? And how do we find out? Stay tuned to the next episode of Savannah Sweethearts! Truly, someone call Hallmark,” Sutton laughed, putting the rest of the dishes into the vintage cabinets.?
“Well, it’s my decision, right? And besides, I don’t know how a relationship, especially with Lee, would even pan out. After everything that happened, what could we possibly have to say to each other?”
Sutton laughed as she shoved a set of pans into the storage under the sink. She turned to me, crossing her arms and leaning on the sink. “Probably, as I’ve said before, a lot of things that were left unsaid.”?
“Alright, enough drama, and if we’re not going to the concert, I have something to announce,” Charlie said, and Sutton and I turned slowly his way.?
“Charlie, if this is another one of your stupid hijinks with Tally and her damn seances, count me out,” Sutton said, throwing her hands up.?
My brother stifled a chuckle and turned toward me, grabbing me by the shoulders and scooting me around the bar. “That was one time, Sutton! We both just really like spooky stuff.”?
Charlie kept guiding me until we reached the front of the inn where guests would check in for their stay. The foyer was straight out of another time,oozing with history and charm. The ceiling stretched high, with crown molding that whispered of old-school craftsmanship. In the center, a massive chandelier sparkled with crystals, throwing a warm, golden light across the shiny hardwood floors. Dark wood paneling lined the walls, broken up by tall, arched windows draped in heavy velvet curtains that looked like they’d seen a century of guests come and go.?
To the left of the entrance, a grand staircase wound its way up, the banister carved with care, practically begging you to see what was upstairs. Antique furniture, like a plush settee Eunice had found at an estate sale and a big mahogany hall table, added to the cozy yet grand feel of the place. The air smelled faintly of polished wood and a hint of lavender, making you feel right at home in this elegant, yet welcoming space where every corner held a piece of the past.
Charlie turned my body toward the check-in desk, and a piece of my past was staring straight down at me. The piece Charlie had created and Lee had commissioned seemed to gaze directly at me, a playful smile on her lips. She looked a bit rough around the edges—didn’t we all in those days?—but it was still so stunning it nearly brought me to my knees.?
“How?” I murmured, and Charlie explained how he not only tried to save me the night of the fire, but also managed to rescue the portrait and Pickle in one heroic sweep. I couldn’t hold back the sob that shook through me as I clung to my brother with Sutton beside us, also fighting back tears. The three of us stood there, tears glistening in our eyes, as we looked up at the artwork. In that moment, the past and future of O’Malley’s finally came together as one.
Chapter forty-eight
LEE
Ryan and I finished our opening act and sat on the outside patio of Moon River Brewing, sipping some beers and debating the rest of the tour. This was our last stop, and we had to decide whether or not to sign up for the second leg or drop off and have another opening act take our place.?
“I love it here,” Ryan said, taking a swig of his beer. “The food’s good, the people are nice, all this shit is haunted. Did you knowthisbar is haunted? Like for real. One of themosthaunted. Plus, Sutton texted me today when she knew I was back and wanted me to stop by.”?
I snickered into my drink, trying to cover my mouth. “Right. I’m sure you miss her.”?
“I do, man. Sutton is a great woman. She’s smart, successful, and she’s funny as shit. And what am I? An asshole backup singer-slash-songwriter that is the first of three acts in a small show. We’re not going anywhere, bro. Years ago, maybe, but now? We’re fluff. We’re the band people pee to while they’re waiting on something better.”?
He wasn’t wrong. While I’d worked so hard to keep myself relevant in Nashville, the last year ruined everything for me, and by proxy, Ryan. I was lucky that he even stuck around with his talent. And now we were starting over. A new band and a new career path, but no place to call home.
But at the end of the day, there were some things left to tie us together. A city, and we were sitting in it. Guitars, and we knew how to use them. And women, who we loved.?
“We gave up our apartments, so where the hell would we stay?”
Ryan chewed on his barbecue chicken nachos thoughtfully. “Hopefully, if it all pans out, with our girls. But for now, well, we’ll figure it out.”?
Chapter forty-nine
MAGNOLIA
Sutton and I were sitting in the kitchen of Maggie’s eating the leftover Eggs Benedict she’d made for the bed and breakfast guests. They’d all gone on their way to explore a beautiful day in Savannah, and our stomachs were growling.?
But our pockets, and more importantly, our hearts were full.?
“The bar opens in an hour, and I still can’t find Pickle,” I said, eyes darting around the kitchen suspiciously. The way the house was laid out, she had free rein if I wasn’t careful about closing her in somewhere. And she knew it, taking full advantage of torturing patrons and guests of the inn.?
Sutton looked around warily. “When I brought breakfast to room B this morning, I heard hissing and yelling, so, maybe check there? She’s the devil.”?
It had been a few weeks since Lee had resurfaced. Charlie was busy holed up in the penthouse with Jordan and Doyle after Tally had her baby, which left him pretty tied up. Meanwhile, Ryan and Lee seemed to be making a habit of stopping by Maggie O’Malley’s for drinks, hanging out with me and Sutton whenever they got the chance.
I still hadn’t made up my mind about Lee. For once, I wanted things to be on my own terms. I was finally in a good place, and I wasn’t sure if tossing a relationship into the mix was the smartest move. But then again, every time I caught a glimpse of him—those curls peeking out from under his hat, the way he’d smile at me from across the bar—it made it hard to think straight.
Right on cue, Sutton had done what she’d done almost every day for the past few weeks. “I’m going to start dinner early so I can go hang out with Ryan. You’ll just need to heat it up, so, yeah… Is that okay with you?”?
