Dawn works at a bar, lives with her boyfriend of two years, and leads the most laidback lifestyle I’ve ever witnessed. I wish I could be half as carefree as she is.
They’ve been pestering me to visit soon. I try to get down there once a year to visit Dawn and now them. But after having spent a substantial amount of time recovering at their home, I’ll take the cold weather up here for a bit.
I stand at the window, watching it snow and wondering if Brittany is awake. I wanted to speak with her tonight, to really talk, but instead I got to rescue Niko.
A light comes on from upstairs and a moment later, a half-dressed Parker is standing in the kitchen.
“What’s up?” he asks.
“Can’t sleep.”
“You could take some medicine,” he says.
I shrug. “Just had some herbal tea.”
“Dude, you are such a girl,” he says as he goes and pours himself some.
The sky is just showing signs of morning. The dark blue starting to turn a lighter shade.
“So, you go talk to Brit last night? I heard you come in later than I did.”
I shake my head. “Niko got out. We spent the night looking for him and then pulling him out of the old bear cave off the bunny slopes.”
“Seriously?” Parker’s eyes shoot up.
I nod. “Damn dog, injured its foot. Brit had to climb in there and hoist him up. It was a mess. So no, we didn’t talk.”
“Damn, that plan didn’t go well. You should have just stayed and hooked up with Heather.”
I glare at him. “Parker, we aren’t all players. I swear Harley is right about you.”
“What does Harley say about me?” he asks, raising an eyebrow. Now, we all know that Parker and Harley secretly have this thing for each other but will never act upon it. It’s irritating. I’ve tried to set them up several times when we were kids, but they never took the bait.
“You are a dog.”
He laughs. “Takes one to know one.”
I shake my head and sit down at the table with my mug. “I think I’m just gonna get my stuff and hit the slopes before the shop opens today. I need to clear my head.”
“Any word on the grant for that project?” he asks.
“No. I need to follow up on that.”
“OK, well, I’m going to go wake up my guest and...” He trails off and smirks.
“Lola is here?”
He shrugs. “Maybe.”
I throw a hand towel that’s laying on the table at him.
“You are a dog. Harley has you pegged correctly.”
“Whatever, like you wouldn’t have banged Lola if you weren’t all still obsessed with your ex. Lola is hot.”
“Bye,” I mutter as I get up and head to my room. I need to get out of here. I need to think.
Brittany
I slide onto the barstool.
Zane is there.
“Hey,” I say to him.
“We aren’t open for another hour, but I can grab you coffee,” he says to me as he throws a dishtowel over his shoulder.
“Actually, I was wondering if you are hiring?”
He leans on the counter. The guy is good looking. Of course, Harley’s cousin would be hot. Harley herself looks like a supermodel.
“You want to work here?” he asks, looking around.
I shrug. “I need the money. I can provide references. I worked at two bars while I was in LA.”
Luke is busy prepping tables for the lunch rush. And Zane looks over at him and back at me. He knows that I know they are short-staffed.
“Fine, but on a limited basis. You can help with the happy hour crowd, Monday through Thursday.”
“Perfect!” I squeal. “Thank you! You won’t be disappointed, I promise!”
“You better live up to those high LA standards!” he calls after me as I head back to the cabin to check on Niko.
“I will!” I yell back. I make it halfway down the hill when I see Tyson with some kids on the bunny slope.
I slow my pace and watch as I walk. It’s two little girls, and they are giggling. Tyson smiles at them and then shows them something with his skis.
He looks over at me, and I wave and then turn back toward the cabins, not even seeing if he returns the gesture. I don’t know what to say to him or how to act around him. I still have feelings for him. I mean, how can I not? He was my first love. I’ll probably always have feelings for him. I just wish I could figure out how to keep those feelings in the friend zone.
I groan as I walk up the steps to the cabin. Why does this have to be so complicated?
“What’s complicated?” my dad asks from beside his car where he’s getting ready to scrape ice off the windshield.
“Oh, I didn’t realize I was talking out loud,” I mumble. Then, I plaster on my best fake smile. “Guess what?”
“What?”
“I got a job.”
My dad raises his eyebrows. “Really?”
“Yep. I’m gonna help Zane at the bar with happy hour a few times a week.”
“That’s great.” But Dad’s face doesn’t look like he thinks it’s great.
“Dad, I need this job. I need money.”
“You could come work at the gallery.”
“I know. I just... do you need me to work there?” I ask, suddenly aware that maybe my desire to not work at the gallery is less important than Dad needing help.
“No, no. I have Kevin and Mary helping still. I don’t need anyone else. I’m just saying, if you’d rather not have to pour drinks for happy hour, it’s an option.”
“I like working in bars. I know, it sounds weird. But at least I’m interacting with people.”
Dad nods. The gallery is nice and all, but it can get boring. And paintings aren’t really my thing. I often wonder what Dad will do with the gallery when he retires. He’s talked about selling it to his cousin, Dave, who lives nearby. I know he wants me to have it, or at least I think he does. But I have zero desire, which probably makes me a shitty, ungrateful kid.
“Well, I’m going to go work on some songs. I’ll see you later,” I say as I walk into the house. Niko’s tail thumps on the ground. I crouch down and pet him. “Hey, boy. How’s the foot?” I ask. He does his normal whining, and I sit down next to him as I stroke his soft fur. Something about Niko calms me. Eventually, I lie on the floor and put my head on his side like he’s my own personal pillow.
“What do you think, buddy? What should I do?” I ask him as though he’s my therapist and will dispense intelligent ideas on how to fix my love life.
He sniffs at my face and licks it. “Not helpful.”
I go back to petting him. I decide I need to go find a nice place to sit and work on my song. I had been deep in writing mode just before I left LA.
My phone pings with a text.
Cole: Sorry we missed each other the other night.
Me: Yeah, sort of had an issue with my dog and had to leave.
Cole: Hope everything is OK.
Me: All is fine.
Cole: We should hang out soon.
Me: Definitely.
Cole: Let me know when you are free.
Me: Sometime this week should work. Let me just figure out what’s going on.