“Snacks?” Keegan pulls out into light traffic.
“Yes. I’m a snacker. I can’t help it. Is there a Target in town?”
“Sure.” He doesn’t have to drive far before he’s pulling into the parking lot.
“This shouldn’t take long.”
“No hurry.”
Once inside, I make a beeline for the shampoo section. I don’t have much money since Dad cut me off, but I have some cash from last night’s tips, and I need a few things. I grab some shampoo and conditioner—not my usual expensive brand, but it will do. I also snag some deodorant before wandering over to the snacks.
I grin when I see that the Goldfish are on sale and toss a bag into my basket.
“Don’t judge me,” I warn Keegan as I grab some graham crackers. “I’m a seven-year-old when it comes to snacks.”
He just laughs, but when we make our way to the pizza Lunchables, and I reach for one, he shakes his head.
“This one, I’ll judge you for. If you want pizza, we’ll buy pizza.”
“Pizza is my favorite.”
“What you have in your hand isn’t real pizza.”
“Fine.” I sigh and put it back, then smile when I see my favorite wine on an end cap. I reach for a bottle and hear Keegan sigh next to me. “What?”
“You know I own a bar, right? There’s no need to buy the wine.”
“Do you serve this brand? Because it’s my favorite.”
“I guess I do now,” he mutters and takes a picture of the bottle with his phone.
“Okay, this will do for today.”
He nods and leads me to the checkout. After the cashier rings up my things, he reaches for his wallet, and I shake my head.
“This is my junk, Keegan.”
“You don’t have any money.”
“Yes, I do. I have tips from last night.” I pass the cash over to the cashier and accept my bags from her. When we’re outside, I glance up at him. “I appreciate you wanting to help. I really do. But you’ve already gone above and beyond. I can pay for my own shampoo and Goldfish.”
“Understood.”
* * *
“You’re done for the day,” Keegan says at around seven in the evening. “You can grab some dinner here, if you like.”
“I’ve been eyeing more of that stew all day,” I say as I untie my apron. “I feel like such an idiot.”
“Because you like stew?”
“No.” I lean on the bar and smile at him. “Because this is just so hard. I feel so clumsy and slow. Maggie breezes around here like some kind of Irish faerie, taking orders and making people smile. She even sang earlier while she delivered drinks. And I can barely carry the tray with a food order without making a fool of myself.”
“You’re being too hard on yourself, lass,” he says. “Now, go get yourself a bowl of stew and come have a seat.”
I nod and walk through the swinging door to where Keegan’s brother, Shawn, mans the kitchen. His wife, Lexi, fills a basket full of fries.
“Whenever you have a moment, I’d love a bowl of stew,” I say when Lexi looks over with a smile.
“Of course.” She reaches for a bowl to ladle a scoop into and then adds a crusty piece of bread to the side. “How was your shift today, Izzy?”
“Oh, just fine, thanks. I’m going to take this to the bar.”
Lexi nods and then gets back to filling orders with Shawn.
I’ve just taken a bite of my stew when Keegan approaches and sets a glass of wine on the bar for me. I take a sip and then stare at him in surprise.
“This is the wine I showed you today.”
“It is, yes.”
“You didn’t have to go back out and get it.”
“It’s not a big deal.” He wipes the bar with his white towel. “You look knackered.”
“If that means exhausted, you’d be right. Maybe the past couple of days finally caught up with me.”
He nods and watches as I eat my dinner. “Well, go on up when you’ve finished here and make yourself at home.”
“Thank you. Really, Keegan.”
“You’re welcome.”
And with that, he wanders away to fill drink orders and chat with the customers. Keegan is an attentive bartender. His patrons enjoy sitting at the bar rather than the high-top tables so they can sit and chat with him as they drink a pint of beer or eat their dinner.
Keegan’s a good listener and knows when to refill a glass or cut someone off who’s had a bit too much. He reads the room well, and he’s quick with a laugh, or even to join Maggie for a song—which surprised me.
He has a wonderful singing voice.
It’s been fun watching Keegan, Maggie, and Shawn together. Their love for each other is evident. I didn’t realize that families got along like this outside of fiction.
Once I’ve finished my dinner, I take my dishes to the kitchen and then climb the stairs to Keegan’s apartment above. Finally, with no eyes on me, I can move a bit slower.