I should note that everyone was fine in the accident, including the driver of the car in front of me. He knew something was up, could read the guilt written all over my face when I stammered and tried to lie about why I was so distracted. And the girl who was riding shotgun in my truck? After being checked out by the responding ambulance, she went off to meet her friends and ended up in the back seat of someone else’s car later that night.
Oh well. You live and you learn.
I jog through the intersection and make a left, heading toward downtown. Since it’s pushing eight, everything is closed, with the exception of the small grocery store, which is getting ready to flip the sign at the top of the hour, and the bars. I spot the bright, flashing lights of The Tall One and recognize a few of the vehicles parked nearby. The place is pretty popular, but mostly with the younger crowd. The loud, upbeat music filters through the crevasses, oozing into the streets and the quiet night sky.
While I don’t negate their success, it’s just not my thing. Even when I was younger, I preferred the quieter, subtle vibe of Chuck’s Place over the lively atmosphere offered at the other end of our downtown. That’s why I panicked when I heard Chuck sold it. I was afraid Lizzie was planning to transform my favorite little dive bar into something catered to the younger generation, like The Tall One.
Now, don’t get me wrong. She may still come in and make changes I’m not a fan of, but so far, that doesn’t seem to be the case. She’s making updates, but keeping the feel the same, and while I respect her business sense and wanting to grow, she seems keener on creating her own vibe and holding true to that than competing with the other bar down the street.
I don’t even realize I had stopped running until I’m standing directly in front of The Tipsy Lizard. The new sign makes me smile, especially after seeing her notebook and discovering how much thought and time she’s invested in the rename and logo design of her business. The windows are clean, something else that’s a positive change from what it was before, and the light reflecting outside is comforting and inviting.
Reaching for the handle on the old door, I slowly pull it open and step inside, not worrying about the fact I’m in shorts and a T-shirt and am a little sweaty.
“Hey,” Jani greets when I step inside. She’s wiping down the small round tables scattered around the outside of the room and straightening the chairs.
“Busy night?” I ask, moving in her direction. I glance around and spot a handful of the regulars at the bar, all who turn and throw me a wave, but also a few new faces too.
“Not bad,” she replies, walking toward me and glancing back to make sure the customers were still okay. “What are you up to?”
“I just went for a run,” I tell her, omitting the part about my legs automatically carrying me to this very place.
“It’s still a little chilly out there, but I can tell the warm nights are right around the corner.”
I nod, but before I can reply, I hear what sounds like a loud thud overhead. My eyes slam to the ceiling and my feet start moving toward the rear of the building.
“She had her new flooring installed today, and I think she’s been trying to move things around up there. I found her earlier pulling stuff out of the moving truck out back,” Jani says.
“I’ll go check on her and see if she needs any help,” I insist, giving Tom and Larry each a squeeze on their shoulders as I walk past.
“We all offered to help, but she refused,” I hear Jani state, but I keep moving.
I push through the back door and head for the stairs, taking them two at a time. When I reach the landing and find the entrance wide open, I step inside the apartment and lift my hand to knock on the doorframe.
Before I can hit the wood, my eyes land on the motionless woman lying on the floor. She’s sprawled out, looking like one of those chalk outlines you see after they remove a dead body. My heart hammers in my chest and panic fills my entire body.
“Jesus,” I holler, practically running toward her.
Her eyes fly open and smash into mine as I drop to my knees beside where she lies. “What are you doing here?” she asks, her words a little breathy.
“What am I doing here? What are you doing on the floor?”
The corners of her lips turn upward as she replies, “Feeling the carpet.”
All I can do is stare down at her and blink. “Are you serious right now? I heard a loud thud and thought you had fallen, and then when I came up here and saw you on the floor like this, I was almost afraid to feel your pulse.”
Lizzie giggles but doesn’t get up. “You have to feel this carpet, Collin. It’s magnificent.”
“Excuse me?”
She reaches for my arm and tugs. “Lie down.”
I do as instructed, lying on the floor beside her.
She moves her arms and legs, and when I glance her way and see her eyes are closed, there’s a smile on her perfectly kissable lips. “This feels so amazing. I don’t ever want to get up.”
My cheeks relax as my own grin slides across my mouth. “It’s carpet.”
She turns her head and opens her eyes, leveling me with a look of outrage. “The most perfect carpet ever!”
