“Driving Blair home.Her car is still in the shop.”
“Still?”Cole frowns.
I squirm at the lie.“Yep.The part is backordered, I guess.”
“Yeah, climb in.We’ll take you home,” Cole says.
“No need.I’m meeting some friends in town tonight, so I’m heading to the bar.”
I wave as they drive off and take a deep breath as I walk down the block toward Murphy’s Bar.
I fell in love with Wolf Valley the moment I moved here.I love the small-town vibe.I grew up in Miami and couldn’t wait to leave.It was so crowded, so expensive, and so… not me.I do better in smaller groups.
My only complaint about this town, aside from the freezing temperatures, is the lack of public transportation.Sure, the town isn’t very big, but it’s hard to navigate without a car.Impossible in the winter.
That wasn’t a problem when I first moved here.I biked or walked everywhere.For the first month, I was living in town, so it was easy.Then I found my house, and I fell in love with it.It’s a cute little two-story house a few miles outside of town.It’s peaceful and quiet, and perfect for me.
When I started making friends here, and they asked me where my car was, I panicked and told them it was in the shop.I was too embarrassed to tell them I was 24 and had never learned to drive.I got made fun of for the last two years of high school for not having my driver’s license, and I don’t want to go through that again.
That lie is starting to wear on me, though.I’m going to need to figure out a solution and fast.The problem is that I don’t know what to do.I can’t join a driving school here without people hearing about it and learning that I lied.This is a small town, and rumors and gossip spread fast.
So where does that leave me?
Screwed, that’s where.
I head into Murphy’s Bar, smiling when I see my friends are already there.Blake and Jade wave at me, and I smile as I weave my way through the crowd to join them at their table.
“Hey, how’s it going?”I ask them as I slip off my coat.
“Good.Busy, but good,” Blake says with a tired smile.
“It’s been a week,” Jade sighs.
“Rough?”I ask.
“Yeah.It’s been a rough month,” Jade grumbles.
I give her a sympathetic smile.
“Tell us that your day was better!”Blake orders.
I laugh.“It was good.Busy day at the bank, but that made the day go by faster.Plus, it’s Friday!Who doesn’t love Fridays?”
“This is true,” Jade says.
I look around the bar.“I’m going to go grab a drink.Do you guys need another?”I ask as I slide out of the booth.
“Yes, please!”they say in unison.
It takes a few minutes to get the bartender’s attention, and I order an old-fashioned for Jade, a gin martini for Blake, and a raspberry martini for me.
I watch as the bartender mixes our drinks, then slide some money onto the bar top and grab the drinks.
“Thanks,” Jade says, taking the old-fashioned.
“My pleasure.So, what’s new with you guys?”
I listen as they tell me about their weeks.Blake is dealing with some family drama, and Jade thinks she’s about to be passed over for another promotion.In between sympathizing with Blake and raging with Jade, I get us another round.
