Prologue
KANE
THREE YEARS AGO
“Another one, son?”the older man behind the bar asks, dragging a rag over the aged wood between us.
My eyes track down to the empty glass in front of me. I didn’t even realize I had finished the drink. My thoughts are far from this hole-in-the-wall bar at the moment, though, so I shouldn’t be surprised.
They’re about three hours away from here with a little brown-haired boy who has my whole heart, but who I can’t be with this weekend.
“Sure,” I tell him, giving him my best attempt at a smile.
With a nod, he turns to grab the whiskey bottle and pours me a few fingers of the amber liquid.
“Hard day?” he asks, settling the bottle back onto the rack. I don’t say anything at first, but my expression must give everything away. He lets out a small chuckle. “I’ve been there. Whatever it is, I’m sure you’ll get through it.”
I look up from my glass and meet his gaze. I don’t know how old he is, but based on his smile lines and heavily graying beard, I would venture to guess he’s in his sixties.
I take a sip of my drink. “I sure hope so because this fucking sucks right now.”
He chuckles, shaking his head. “I’ve been there, kid. Believe me. It will get better.”
Kid.At thirty-six, I am far from the age most would call someone a kid. I haven’t had that word associated with me in over a decade.
I have my own son, for Pete’s sake. He isn’t even a baby. He’s a kindergartener. It’s hard to believe, but it’s true.
The corners of my mouth tilt up when he thrusts his hand toward me. “Benny Barnes,” he says as I shake his hand. He motions around the bar. “This joint here is mine. This bar is more like family than most of my actual blood relatives.”
“Kane Bradley,” I say. He gives my hand one more firm shake before letting me go.
I look around the space, actually taking it in for the first time. I was in a fog when I stepped in here. Getting a drink to help dull some of the ache from missing Oliver was the only thing really on my mind.
This is my first weekend away from my son after his mom and I officially split, and to say I’m not doing well would be an understatement.
I’m grateful that he’s with me most of the time, but today has been a stark reminder of how hard it’s going to be to make him breakfast every morning and tuck him into bed each night.
Jess and I were never married, so the only complicated thing about our split was Ollie. We tried to make it work for Ollie’s sake, but we were never in love.
I care about her, but at a certain point, we both realized trying to stay together for Oliver’s sake wasn’t what was best for any of us, including Oliver.
“That’s a nice bike you rode up on,” Benny says, glancing out the front window where my bike is parked against the curb.
I blink a few times, drawing myself from my thoughts. “Thanks.” The genuine appreciation in his eyes is clear. “Do you ride?”
His head tilts to the side with a small huff. “Not as much as I would like but yes. The weather up here isn’t always the best for riding, but during the summer it’s damn near perfect.”
I can imagine. This tiny little town I landed in for the evening is tucked up high in the Rocky Mountains.
“I hope you weren’t riding for long with the temperatures out there.”
There isn’t any snow on the ground, which is honestly surprising for Colorado in November. Still, the temperatures are far chillier than I would normally choose to ride in. I can’t help but cringe—I’ve been riding for hours.
I was going bonkers in my too-quiet house without Oliver’s presence. I had to get out, and of course, my motorcycle was the escape I gravitated toward.
Next thing I knew, it was three hours later, and I was in Aspen Springs.
“I needed to get away.” That’s all I meant to say, but for whatever reason, I feel the need to share my whole damn story with this man. Maybe it’s the bartender mojo or something. I don’t know. “My son is with his mom, and I couldn’t be there without him anymore.”
