Seven Roses (Haremworld)

“I’m not fancy.” I saw a sign that read Hal’s Pub ahead of us.

“Hal’s Pub? Wow, I drank my first beer here.” She chuckled when we pulled up to the small corner bar. “I was also very underage.”

“This is the only place in Chicago that looked like it might be similar to home.” I waited for the driver to open our door.

“This could be fun.” She took my hand and I helped her out of the car.

“HOLY SHIT, IF IT ISN’T Lynette Johnson.” The bartender turned to the door and waved when we walked in.

“Hey Carl!” She smiled and walked towards the bar. He stepped out from behind it and they hugged.

“What brings you back to this side of town?” Carl took a step back. “In such a beautiful dress—and with a bunch of people holding cameras.”

“I’m on a date—it’s for a reality dating show.” She turned to me. “This is my date, John Williams.”

“Hey there, John.” Carl walked over and extended his hand. “Welcome to my bar.”

“I thought the sign out front said Hal’s Pub?” I shook his hand and smiled.

“Yeah, Hal was my father. I took it over a few years ago. You must not be from the South Side.” He released his grasp and started walking back towards the bar, keeping an eye on the camera crew.

“No...” I shook my head back and forth.

Picking a bar in the South Side of Chicago seemed to be a bust if my intentions were to avoid celebrities because I had apparently brought one with me when I walked inside. The bar itself wasn’t that spectacular, but it did remind me of home. The smell of cheap beer and stale cigarettes was in the air, along with the scent of

the people who adorned the barstools and a few of the tables. Carl was the only one who paid any attention to Lyn. The rest of them just ignored her for the most part.

We sat down at the bar and I ordered a beer. Lyn decided to have one as well, but she sipped it while I put my first one away pretty fast. They were cheap, so it didn’t matter how many we went through—plus, Seven Roses was paying the tab. I liked the taste of the cheap stuff regardless—it was what I was used to back home in Granite Falls. I felt like I had stepped into a similar place, with an atmosphere that wasn’t covered by egos and arrogance. I could almost see our locals walking in and feeling right at home.

“So where are you living now, Lyn?” Carl brought me another beer over and leaned against the bar next to us.

“I got an apartment in the city. It’s nothing special.” She smiled and sipped her beer again.

“I guess that television show paid you well—oh!” Carl turned to the wall. “Would you sign this?”

“Oh my god!” Lyn burst out laughing when Carl started to remove a picture I hadn’t noticed earlier. It was a picture of Lyn on the ground, covered in blood.

“You and Jessica are the only celebrities we know.” He popped the picture out of the frame and gave Lyn a pen.

“I’m hardly a celebrity.” She continued laughing as she signed the picture. “Jessica is for sure, but that is the only time I’ve been on television. I make most of my money now doing freelance work and editing manuscripts.”

“It’s better than living here in your old house, right?” He smiled and returned the picture to the wall.

“Yeah, I guess it is.” She nodded as Carl walked off to tend to the other people at the bar.

“I like this side of you.” I reached out and caressed her arm. “You’re not worried about being someone you’re not. This is the real Lyn.”

“Maybe...” She shrugged and lifted her beer, taking another sip. “Life wasn’t so complicated when I lived here. It wasn’t always easy, but it was simple.”

“So what brings someone like you to Seven Roses in the first place?” I took another gulp from my glass of beer.

“An accident, actually.” She smiled and laughed. “My best friend was supposed to be on Seven Roses, not me. She got engaged to a professional football player and had to back out. I just happened to be there at the time—Charles offered me her spot.”

“You were looking for love, right? You weren’t looking for what Charles has offered us.” I nodded my head in understanding.

“No, but I’m not really sure what I want now.” She stared at her glass of beer. “The last few days have been very interesting.”

“To say the least.” I nodded and finished my second glass of beer, motioning to Carl for another one. Lyn’s was almost empty, so I motioned for him to bring her one as well.