Islam the sealed bottle of vodka against the counter and look at it with trembling hands. On the one hand, I want to drink until she can no longer taste Lana on my tongue. But on the other hand, I feel like I’m letting her down in some way.
Fainting won’t solve anything.
Nor will it be sitting down to read a book to escape my reality. We all have coping strategies, and mine is at the bottom of a bottle.
I hesitate as I pour myself a drink.
You told Lana you’d limit your drinking for her.
Yeah, well, these are desperate times and all.
I give up the glass and drink directly from the bottle. The first sip was meant to wipe the taste of Lana’s guava glaze off my tongue. Alcohol is a poor substitute, but the flavor wiped away any trace of sweetness from my mouth. The second drink was trying, and failing, to forget the way Lana’s lips felt pressed against mine. The rightness of everything. The memories that were awakened by her lips touching mine. The desire I have to repeat the kiss over and over again, this time without any child interrupting us.
The rest of my night is a bit of a blur. The next thing I know, a large amount of vodka is missing and the sun is already starting to rise.
This is the feeling I long for. the numbness The stillness of my thoughts. The ability to disappear into the darkness for a while and escape my problems.
It’s not until I wake up the next day at two in the afternoon with a bad headache that I realize how much I drank.
“Shit.” He closed his eyes tightly.
I can only sleep for one more hour before my empty stomach declares war. I get out of bed and take a quick shower to wash off the alcohol that’s leaking out of every pore.
Although I had plans to finish work on the attic, I think it’s best that I stay away from the lake house today.
Just because you’re afraid.
Hell yeah, I’m scared. The last thing I want to do is confront Lana after last night, especially when I look as hungover as I feel.
So instead of heading home, I get in my car and drive to Main Street in search of food. My options are limited to the coffee shop and the Early Bird Diner, as most of the best spots are packed with summer tourists who have just arrived.
As tempted as I am to avoid Isabelle after the incident with Wyatt, I need to face her eventually. It’s right after the whole scene I caused at her restaurant. Plus, I really don’t want to spend the rest of my summer cooking for myself every day.
I walk into the restaurant with my head held high and a smile on my face. Isabelle turns to the bell ringing above me and frowns. “You’re brave showing your face around here after last time.”
I raise my hands in surrender. “I come in peace.”
His right eyebrow arches. “I’m not sure you know the meaning of the word after you tried to strangle our hometown hero.” It takes everything in me not to roll my eyes at the way she moans about Wyatt. “I’m sorry for causing a scene last time I was here. It was wrong of me to cause problems like that in his workplace, and I vow not to do it again. Explorer’s honor. I hold up three fingers.
He remains silent as he pins me with his gaze.
“Please have mercy on me and my empty stomach.” She pressed my palms together.
She rolls her eyes. She stops moping you down and sit down before you make me look bad. With a wave of her hand, I step toward the booth by the window that faces Main Street. Lamppost banners hang from every lamppost to remind everyone of the quickly approaching Strawberry Festival that I stupidly decided to volunteer for.
Isabelle slaps a menu on my table and leaves to grab my orange juice.
I flip through the menu and decide on a turkey club before pulling out my phone to text Iris.
What are you doing?
Iris
Get a life. My eyes roll.
Nice, Declan. Do you always invade Iris’s privacy like this?
Iris
Only when you text him while he’s napping.
Since when do you take a nap?
Iris
She was not feeling good.
I’ll call her later.
Without Iris to entertain me, I stick with Candy Crush until Isabelle deems me worthy enough to take my order.
“What do you want?” She rests her hand on his hip.
I pass you my menu. “A turkey club and a side of fries, please.”
He scribbles the order on his small pad before leaving.
A white-haired man with a set of crutches struggles to open the front door, so I jump out of my seat to help him.
“You.” He scoffs.
My smile widens. “Sheriff Hank. What a nice surprise.” “I can’t say the same about you.” His eyes narrow.
“Don’t tell me you still hold a grudge against me after the incident Alana and I had with your patrol car.” I just brushed his car with my side mirror, but he never forgave me.
I hold the door open as he limps into the restaurant on his crutches.
he denies with the head. You should have stayed away. That girl. Enough has happened between you and Victor.
My smile falls. “Victor?”
Hank’s eyebrows furrow as his mouth closes.
Who the hell is Victor? I ask quietly.
Is that who you saw kissing Lana near Last Call?
Hank tries to go around me, but I get in his way.
He looks up with a tense expression. “Get out of my way.” Not until you tell me who Victor is and what he has to do with Alana. You know who he is.
My fingers curl in on themselves. Hank huffs and puffs around me, only to be blocked each time.
His gaze fixes on me. “Leave it or I’ll call someone at the station to come arrest you for being a public nuisance.”
“Make sure they’re careful with the handcuffs this time.” I raise my hands in front of her face.
“Do you really want to know?”
The hairs on my arms stand up. “Yeah.”
“Good. Victor was a boy Alana dated for a few months after her mother died.”
There is your answer.
My stomach sinks. Damn _ “And what was wrong with him?”
“What wasn’t it? The man was a walking red flag, although none of us paid much attention until it was too late.”
The acid creeps into my throat. “How is that?” “That’s not my story to tell.” Her thin lips. “Then why mention it in the first place?”
“Because if you mess with Alana, we’ll run you out of this town like Victor.” I swallow the thick lump in my throat. “I’m not here to waste time with her.”
“You better not or else.” “Or else what?”
“Pray you never have to find out.”
