We set our things in the back room and got ready for our shift.
“As I said, we’re friends. Besides, I have a boyfriend.”
He scoffed, and it was difficult to hold everything in. I adored Neil, but he was terrible at keeping secrets. Plus, he hated Beau. If Beau showed up here, Neil would take great satisfaction in blabbing the whole thing.
“Please,” Neil said with an eyeroll. “There’s no chemistry between you and Beau the Bland. Be honest. Does he make your toes curl?”
My face screwed up in displeasure, and he snickered.
“That’s what I mean. I bet tall, dark, and friendly would make your toes curl.”
“Enough,” I grumbled. “Jake is my friend, and I really need a friend right now.”
Neil dropped his teasing demeanor and rushed to my side.
“Honey, I’m sorry. What’s wrong? Whose ass do I need to kick?”
I gave a watery laugh and thought hard for a plausible response. After worrying Neil would give me away, I almost ruined it myself.
“I’m really tired. I’ve been working so much lately, and it’s never enough. Now my car won’t start, and I hope it’s something easy, but it never is. My dad’s having a rough time, and it’s a lot to deal with.”
“Oh, no. Is your dad okay? Is there anything I can do to help?”
I felt a rush of affection for Neil. He was an inveterate flirt and an unrepentant gossip, but he was also a dear friend who genuinely cared.
“He fell a few days ago,” I repeated the lie my parents and I concocted, “so I’ve been staying with my folks to help out around the house and make sure he doesn’t overdo it. It’s nothing serious, but mom isn’t up to helping him when he’s hurt. Hopefully, he’ll be right as rain again in a few days.”
“Let me know how I can help. Do you need a ride home?”
“That’d be great. Jake said he’d pick me up, but—“
“If that man is giving you a ride, my offer’s retracted.”
I sputtered a laugh.
“What?”
“I’m doing you a favor. Spend more time with Jake and less with your Beau-ring boyfriend.”
“You don’t know Jake. Maybe he’s selfish and boring, too.”
I slapped a hand over my mouth when I realized what I’d admitted. It was hard to remember everyone thought I was still happy with Beau.
“Ah ha,” he crowed.
“Please don’t say anything,” I begged. “I’m serious.”
His face softened.
“Honey, I’m a blabber-mouth, but I don’t say things that would hurt people. Your secret is safe with me, but we’d better get out there before Dakota sends the dayshift after us.”
With a heavy heart, we left the break room and headed for the main bar. Dakota had taken me on with very little experience, and the last thing I wanted was to cause any trouble.
I set everything up the way I liked it on my end of the bar while Neil did the same thing on his end. We had a steady, busy evening. Most of our customers were townsfolk, but we had a few people from further out.
Shortly before dinner service ended at nine, Beau shocked me when he sat down across from me. It had been months since Beau last visited me at work.
“Beau. What are you doing here?”
