“Honey, this is amazing!” Mom said. “You’re going to be on national TV.”
“Well, well, we aren’t there yet,” I said. “They need to interview us first. Check out the bar. Make sure it would be the right fit.”
“Oh, it’ll be the right fit,” Mom said.
I swelled with pride when I saw the excitement on my mother’s face.
When I was first opening Red’s Tavern, I’d asked my mother for loans more than once. It was embarrassing every time, even though I knew that Mom didn’t ever expect the money back. When I was eighteen I’d chosen to go to art school out in LA instead of doing something practical, and for so long, I’d regretted it.
“I really hope it works out,” I said.
“They’re gonna fuckin’ love you guys,” Rock said. “No question.”
“I need to shine up a few things around the place before they come, that’s for sure,” I said. “I know they want a dramatic before-and-after on these renovation shows, but I don’t need them seeing the suck me, Daddy graffiti in the bathroom.”
“Whatever you say,” Rock told me. “If you ask me, the Tavern has always looked like a million bucks, every time I’ve walked in.”
“I agree,” Mom said. “It’s so charming.”
I hummed. “It could use a fresh coat of paint or three, believe me.”
Mom never compared me to Rock out loud, but early on, I’d always felt like he was the poster child and I was the dud. Even though Rock was two years younger than me, he’d always accomplished more. He was a go-getter. He’d had a successful and incredible career as a firefighter, and was well on his way to becoming a lieutenant.
When I was in my early twenties, all I’d had was an art degree I wasn’t using and no money to speak of out in LA. When I couldn’t find a job, I’d begun bartending for quick cash. I’d fallen in love with everything involving bartending, and the rest was history.
Mom had raised me and Rock while working at a haircutting chain. Eventually she’d opened her own salon, and been able to support Red’s Tavern with small loans when I really needed help. I wanted nothing more than to be able to repay her. The idea of asking her for any more money when I was nearly forty years old was a spike to my heart.
If Red’s Tavern could score a chance at being on a TV show like Boozy Destinations, it wouldn’t just be a free renovation. It would also be recognition for everything I’d worked hard for. It would be exposure.
“Elsa,” I scolded, holding her leash firmly as she tugged toward a figure in the distance.
“She okay?” Rock asked.
“I hope so,” I said. “She doesn’t usually tug like this.”
“She sees somebody she likes?” Mom asked.
I squinted as I walked closer to the figure. “Oh,” I said. “She sees a dog she likes.”
There was a guy struggling with a smaller dog up ahead. I watched as the dog pulled a little hard on the leash and the guy fell to his knees.
I couldn’t help but smile. It was clearly someone with a puppy who didn’t know how to control its energy.
“Looks like you’re seeing something you like, too,” Mom said. “I’ll let you boys go. See you Sunday afternoon?”
“We’ll see you then, Ma,” Rock said, nodding once. “Can’t wait.”
“Bye, guys. Love you.”
My shoes crunched along the dirt path and Anna and Elsa panted as we started to run over toward the guy with the puppy. The morning was foggy, but as we’d made our way, the sun had started to peek out. Mornings in Amberfield were always the most beautiful time, even though usually I didn’t catch much of them. It was peaceful, and other than the occasional other runner on my way, the path was ours.
As I approached I realized that the guy with the dog was hot. Hot as hell, actually, at least from behind. His ass was certainly plump.
There weren’t many guys around my age in Amberfield who I hadn’t already met, so it had to be someone new. He was wearing black jeans and a worn-in black hoodie.
Hoodies were always a strange fucking weakness for me. Liam had always worn them back in the day, and always looked so good in them.
I hated that I still carried that craving with me, so many years later. But anyone who looked remotely like Liam got my heart beating way too damn fast.
It had been a long time since I’d been laid. And I’d been inexplicably horny as hell this week. I was sure this random stranger probably wouldn’t turn out to be gay, but a guy can dream, right?
I could hear the man laughing as I approached. The dog looked like a seriously energetic Husky puppy, and was currently on top of the guy, licking him all over as he lay on the grass.