“Gritty?” I suggested. Riverton was an industrial town, with a big factory near the river and a warehouse district.
“Lively,” Jory said.
“Ah, yes. They do have more of a nightlife.”
I’d hit the clubs there a few times, until my priorities changed. Hooking up with strangers was a good way to blow off steam, but commuting for overpriced drinks and orgasms got old. I wanted to build a life with someone.
Besides, I liked Granville. What it lacked in clubs, it made up for in shopping. I should know. One of those cutesy business names was mine.
I shot off a quick message to my group chat with Jamie and Silas.
Maverick:
My first date is Jory. He’s taking me to a club in Riverton.
Jamie:
Jory is that hottie on the landscaping crew, right? OMG, you’re so lucky. Have fun!
Silas:
But send an SOS if you need us to call and give you a reason to end the date early.
Maverick:
Thanks. I think I’ll be all right.
Jamie:
Better than all right!
Jory slanted a look my way as I shifted to pocket my phone. “Did I pass the friend test?”
“Oh, it’s way too early to figure that out,” I teased.
He laughed good-naturedly. “Fair. I guess I better stay on good behavior a while longer then.”
“So, where are you from?” I asked to pass the time on the trip to Riverton. It wasn’t a long drive—about fifty minutes. But I figured once we got to the club, talkingwouldn’t be that easy.
“I’m from Omaha. Hoping to get back there soon, actually.”
“Oh, yeah?”
So much for a love match. There wasn’t much point in getting to know Jory if he had one foot out of town already. I’d worked too hard to open Rainbow Garden to abandon it. Besides, my whole family lived in Granville.
I liked its quaintness. It got a little claustrophobic sometimes, what with everyone in everyone’s business, but I knew from my time at a state university in Omaha that I didn’t like the anonymity of a larger city.
“A buddy of mine tipped me off about an opening on the crew in Granville,” Jory continued. “I needed a job, but between you and me, I also needed a little distance from my clingy ex.”
Clingy.
Jory was just full of red flags, wasn’t he?
“Well, I guess you don’t need to worry about me being clingy,” I said lightly. “Not if you’re leaving Granville soon.”
He grinned. “I guess not.”
“Why’d you do this matchmaking thing?” I asked. “If you’re not planning to stick around?”
