“You … want me to work here?”
“I do, Kayla. I really, really do.” She grinned. “Would you be open to that?”
Her friend’s smile formed slowly but it grew wider as her eyes sparkled. “I’d… Oh, God. That would be fantastic. My car’s about to crap out on me, but this is close enough for me to walk if I have to.” Kayla inhaled deeply. “I can’t thank you enough.”
“No need to thank me. I should be thanking you. Just let me know when you can start and—”
“Two weeks,” Kayla blurted. “I just need to give my notice.”
“That’s perfect.” Bristol opened the bottom drawer in her desk, pulled out the required paperwork, and slid it over. “If you want, you can get started on this before then. I do have to run a background check, as you know.”
“Nothing to worry about on that front.”
Bristol grinned, feeling genuinely happy for the first time since she woke up that morning. “I look forward to having you here in two weeks. In the meantime, I’m going to see if I can find another teacher to replace the one I need to let go.”
She took a deep breath, released it.
Maybe her life wasn’t going into the crapper after all.
Two hours later, Bristol was recanting that thought.
At some point between last night’s debacle and the stress of today, she had completely forgotten that she’d promised to go to Moonshiners with Bianca. Her best friend had texted to remind her about the pre-auction celebration and made it very clear Bristol was not allowed to back out.
Now, as she was walking to her car, having closed up the daycare for the weekend, Bianca’s last text was rattling around in her head. Ever since she’d talked to Bianca a few hours ago and given a noncommittal answer, she’d been checking in to make sure Bristol wasn’t planning on holing up in her house and ignoring everyone.
It was exactly what she wanted to do.
Unfortunately, Bianca was relentless when she wanted something, and it seemed she wasn’t going to let this go. Which meant Bristol had no choice but to take her friend up on her offer of a night out at Moonshiners.
She only hoped Kaden and Keegan wouldn’t be there. She honestly didn’t know if she’d survive an encounter with them.
*
When Keegan stepped into Moonshiners on Friday evening, the place was empty, save for a couple of old cowboys sitting at the bar shooting the shit. An hour after that, the place was packed. There wasn’t a table to be had, the pool tables were crowded, the jukebox blared, and conversations rolled through the room at a dull roar.
Just a perfect Friday night in the sticks as far as Keegan was concerned.
He loved coming to Moonshiners because it felt like home to him. Perhaps he wasn’t from Coyote Ridge, but the people here sure made him feel as though he was. He especially enjoyed nights like tonight when he’d managed to round up a handful of people. Along with his friends and family there to sit back and chill, he noticed a few single ladies lurking about, which meant the possibilities were endless.
And yes, he was determined he was going to keep an open mind, pretend last night had never happened, and fucking move on with his damn life.
After Bristol had stormed out of their house, Keegan never expected to see her again unless absolutely necessary. And fine, he had been an asshole. But he wouldn’t apologize for it. Hell, she’d proven it was true, practically turning green at the thought of the town realizing she was hooking up with two men at the same time. Some women simply couldn’t handle the pressure. Bristol Newton was evidently one of them. It was for the best, really. Deep down, Keegan knew nothing would’ve ever come of that anyway.
And with that, Keegan made a promise not to think on it anymore tonight. It was done and over, the deed successfully completed, and now they could put it behind them.
He would, at least.
“Thanks, Bailey,” Zane told the waitress when she delivered another round of beers to the table.
“No problem, boys. Maybe nurse ’em a little longer, would ya?”
“We’ll give it our best shot,” Keegan assured her, then turned toward Sawyer. “So I’ve got a question for ya.”
“Hit me,” Sawyer said with a smirk, tilting his beer bottle to his lips.
“If a new shop were to open up on Main Street, what do you think would survive there?”
“I have no fuckin’ clue, man. But I can tell you one thing. Snatch up that real estate and do it fast.”
