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—Simone—
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Banks was the last person I wanted to see. Not just tonight, but ever again.
Knowing he and Reed watched me made unease trickle down my spine. From my position at the bar, they appeared to be having some kind of argument.
Mercifully, the woman behind the bar shifted my focus, and I gladly ordered a glass of light beer and asked for a menu. As I waited, a man in uniform appeared at my side, and I knew exactly who to expect when I glanced his way and shook my head.
“The answer’s no.”
Reed’s smile widened. “You don’t even know what I’m gonna ask.”
My eyes snapped over his shoulder and narrowed when I saw Banks watching carefully. “I do, and I stand by my answer.”
Reed set his elbows on the bar and let out a heavy sigh. “Look, I’m going to level with you. Despite the shitty first impression, my brother’s actually fucking awesome. He’s like a golden retriever: hella impulsive, unwaveringly loyal, and doesn’t take no for an answer. As for me being at the bar with you... we simply didn’t want you to be lonely while eating tonight. You’re welcome to join us but understand if you’d rather not. The offer still stands if you change your mind.”
With that, he slapped the bar, nodded at the barmaid, and left me feeling like a complete fool for my immediate bitchy response. I ordered a simple Caesar salad, then with my beer in hand, I told the woman I’d sit out back. I kept my head down as I hurried past Banks and Reed’s table and exhaled in relief as I entered the grassy backyard.
The fresh evening air eased the claustrophobia that bore down from being close to Banks. He shouldn’t make my pulse skip a beat or my lungs clamp a little tighter, but for some unfathomable reason, he did both of those things.
I bypassed the outdoor tables and chose a spot on the grass near the pebbled shoreline to sit. Knees tucked up, I hugged them hard with one arm while taking a sip of the pale ale.
The peace and serenity of this place was undeniable. The more I sipped and looked out over the sparkling water, the further my soul relaxed.
Eventually, footsteps behind me had me twisting.
“Here’s your food, darlin’. You know we have tables and chairs, right?”
I looked up at the middle-aged, dark-haired woman and smiled. “This spot is perfect, thank you.”
She handed me the large salad bowl plus a cutlery set. “Can I get you anything else, Simone?”
My eyes narrowed. “How do you know my name?”
“Oh—” she waved her hand “—any friend of the Gatlins’ is a friend of mine.”
“I wouldn’t exactly call them friends,” I mumbled. “I literally just arrived in town today.”
Her gaze lit. “Oh, are you the one renting the Lavender Cottage?”
The slight smile on my lips wavered. “I am. Is that a bad thing...?”
She waved her hand again. “My name’s Wendy, and no that’s absolutely not a bad thing. It’s good to see the old cottage being used again after old Ms. Alden passed.”
I swear my eyes almost popped out of my head. “Did she die in there?” If she did, that was a big fucking nope from me.
Wendy smiled yet remained solemn. “No honey, she didn’t. Poor Ms. Alden got dementia and passed away in a care home over a year ago. She’d lived in that cottage her entire life, forever a spinster but with a heart of gold.”
A wash of ease swept through me. Wendy’s explanation also accounted for the dated decor in the cottage.
Before the silence drew out too long, Wendy smoothed down her apron and smiled once more. “If you need anything, you just sing right out.”
“Thank you, Wendy” I said earnestly.
“You’re welcome, darlin’. And welcome to town; I hope you love it here.”
With one last friendly smile, she left me to eat my dinner in solitude.
I stayed out on the lawn, alone with my thoughts as the evening waned. Wendy briefly returned to collect my glass and plate, and I stayed on the grass with my knees tucked up until the last of the twilight turned grainy.
When a chilly night breeze rose off the lake, I got to my feet, brushed the grass off my ass, and made my way inside. The welcoming warmth instantly blanketed me, and my skin heated further as I walked past Reed and Banks.
Banks’s gaze homed in on me and didn’t redirect. I felt him tracing my curves, highlighting how awkward and unnatural each pace felt as I approached the bar.
The younger barmaid turned her attention to me and smiled. “What can I get you, Simone?”
I tucked my chin back and slammed up walls. “How do you know my name?”
Her friendly demeanor didn’t falter. “Wendy told me, plus Banks settled your tab.”
I whipped my head around to find both him and Reed watching our exchange. Despite wanting to be pissed at him, I forced a polite smile and nodded an acknowledgement. It seemed to be all Banks wanted, and after a returned smile and nod, he resumed his conversation with Reed.
“Can I get you another drink? And my name’s Amy,” the barmaid added.
“Thanks, Amy. Nothing else for me, but do you mind calling me a cab?” I then laughed awkwardly. “That’s if you have cabs out here.”
She snickered. “Of course we do, but the pub has a courtesy van; Wendy can drive you home. Give me a moment and I’ll let Wendy know.”
Relief relaxed my shoulders. “Thank you so much.”
Amy’s smile widened. “You’re welcome. She’ll meet you out front in a minute.”
I used the bathroom then made my way outside to wait for Wendy. Leaning against one of the entrance pillars, I inhaled while soaking in the last of the twilight, only to snap upright when two sets of laughing voices emerged into the evening.
“Dammit,” I hissed under my breath, trying my hardest to become invisible.
I managed to blend into the background until Banks arrived at my side. Seeing me in his peripheral vision, his conversation with Reed halted as he did a double take.
“Hiding from me, huh?”
I scoffed at his goofy grin. “Waiting for a ride home, actually.”
Reed thumbed over his shoulder. “Jump in with me and I’ll drop you off.”
I hedged as two pairs of expectant eyes, one dark-brown and the other bright hazel, stared. “Uh... it’s fine. Wendy’s giving me a lift.”
Banks smirked. “If it makes a difference, I’m not riding with my brother.”
“It doesn’t.” I stood a little taller, bringing me to a shade over five foot. “Besides, if it wasn’t my first night here and getting dark, I would walk home.”
Banks tsked. “Not a great idea around these parts.”
Fear tightened my chest. “Why?”
Ignoring Reed’s presence, Banks leaned into my space and whispered, “Because the lake is pretty at night, and it makes you want to swim in it... naked.”
Despite the shudder ricocheting down my spine, I shoved him from my space. “Back off.”
“I—”
The pub door swung open, and Wendy breezed out, none the wiser about me ready to mace Banks again. “Okay, Simone, let’s— Oh, hey guys. Is everything okay?” Her eyes flicked between me and the brothers.
Banks let free a wide, endearing grin. “Of course, Wends.”
Reed cut in before Banks could run his mouth. “I just offered Simone a ride home.”
Wendy’s attention flicked to me. “Is that okay with you?”
Not wanting to turn this into a big deal, I smiled and assured her it was fine. “Absolutely. I mean, it’ll just be Reed, and convenient for you. So, it’s fine with me,” I babbled and waved my hand awkwardly.
Reed chuckled while Wendy gave me a weird look, but she tucked her keys away nonetheless. “Okay, well, this is awkward. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine,” I assured her, managing to pull off bright and breezy to put her mind at ease. “It’s been a long day, and I’m craving my bed.”
She nodded in understanding. “I’m hearing ya, girly. Y’all have a good night, and I’ll see you next time.”
I stifled a yawn, then a touch on my elbow drew my focus back to Banks. The earnestness in his expression replaced the charm from before.
“I can walk you home, if you’d like. It’s honestly no trouble.”
“I’m happy catching a ride with Reed. And thank you for settling my tab. You really didn’t have you, but I appreciate it.”
His genuine smile returned. “You’re welcome, new girl. Now—” He turned to Reed and gave him a playful shove. “—get her home before I take matters into my own hands.”
Reed groaned. “Now there’s an incentive if ever I’ve heard one. C’mon, Simone, let’s get you ridin’ shotgun.”
I thanked him around another yawn, then side-eyed Banks.
He winked and slapped a baseball cap on his head before plucking a BMX off the bike-rack. “See ya later, bro. Simone.”
After one final smirk, he swung his leg over the bike and pedaled across the graveled parking lot, popping a wheelie as he went.
Reed scoffed from the driver’s side of his patrol car. “Fucking show off.”
“Does he normally bike?”
Reed’s dark eyes met mine across the roof, his smile still in place. “Usually. Keeps him fit.”
He climbed into his car, and I followed suit, sliding into the passenger seat and buckling up while he kept talking.
“Banks is my older brother who refuses to grow up,” Reed explained. “I give him shit, but after nearly losing him last year, I’m so fucking glad that he’s around, riding the bike he got when he was fourteen.”
I studied Constable Reed Gatlin’s profile and noticed the wince.
“What happened?”
He cast a glance my way while driving across the parking lot. “A search and rescue went wrong last winter. He ended up with a type of pneumonia that did more damage than it should have. It affected his heart of all things, and uh... he almost didn’t make it.” Reed roughly cleared the sudden hoarseness from his voice.
My hand found his forearm without thinking. “I’m so sorry.”
Chocolate colored eyes flicked to mine, and Reed forced a smile. “Don’t be. It’s a happy ending. I’ve still got my brother and he’s still got all of his.” The car slowed as he pulled up to my quaint little cottage. “And here you are—delivered home safe and sound.”
“Thank you. I’d usually walk but being new to town, knowing me, I would have ended up lost.”
Reed chuckled. “And you’d never hear the end of it from Banks if that happened,” he drawled.
“He’s rather intense.”
“That he is. He’s the one our mom should have returned to sender.”
I couldn’t help but snicker. “I see that the brotherly love runs strong.”
Reed grinned. “Being mean is how six brothers show their love for each other.”
“Six!”
“Yeah, darlin’. Six.”
“Six of you guys around town? Jesus!” I joked, opening the passenger door.
“There’s only four floating around town at the moment,” he assured me.
“Even so!” I paused disembarking and met Reed’s eyes. “Are they like Banks?”
A little smirk tugged his mouth. “There’s no one else ’round here like Banks. He’s one of a kind.”
I failed to suppress a smile as I slid from the seat.
“Have a good night, Simone,” Reed added.
“Thanks for dropping me off.”
“No problem. See ya ’round.” He nodded one last time after I shut the door, then he slowly reversed onto the street.
The little cottage sat dark and quiet as I made my way up the uneven concrete path. The decking timber creaked and protested as I climbed the front steps, and my keys were loud in the lock.
Cool air prickled over my skin when I swung the door wide and stepped into the shadowy interior. The lingering scent of aged furniture greeted me with abundance, and my pulse continued to skyrocket while I searched for a light switch.
The clamp around my lungs released once the entrance and hallway became basked in light, but as I went about my bedtime routine in the strange new surroundings, the crippling sense of loneliness clawed its way back.
Cuddled in the foreign bed wrapped in Reagan’s hoodie, I wished for the millionth time that life after Reagan didn’t have to be so hard.
