Total pages in book: 10
Estimated words: 8838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 44(@200wpm)___ 35(@250wpm)___ 29(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 8838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 44(@200wpm)___ 35(@250wpm)___ 29(@300wpm)
I blew out a breath. “Now, that sounds good. Let’s do it.”
* * *
“I can’t believe Aunt Susan got arrested for frolicking naked in a city park and never told me.” I grinned and swung my purse over my shoulder. All of the tequila, corn chips, and salsa made for a warm buzz in my belly. A melancholy feeling had replaced the pain of grief. For now, at least. “What a legend she was. I’m glad I got to hear about that.”
“Sounds like your aunt and Miss Lillian got up to all sorts in college.”
“Isn’t it nice how they stayed close all these years?”
Cleo bumped my shoulder with her own again. It was her version of a hug. I hardly stumbled at all. I guess I wasn’t nearly as drunk as first thought. But Cleo laughed at me just the same.
It had been kind of the bar to let us hang out in the function room drinking and telling stories past the designated couple of hours we paid for. My first-ever time playing Drunk Scrabble. I think Aunt Susan would have approved. Stories had been told, and songs had been sung. While a few tears were shed along the way, it had been, on the whole, more about celebrating her life than commiserating over her loss. There hadn’t been a lot of people. But the folk who had been in attendance were fun and kind and full of love for my aunt. You couldn’t ask for more.
“I think she would have liked it,” said Cleo as we were getting ready to leave.
I buttoned up my black woolen coat as we headed for the door. It was almost eight o’clock, and the main part of the bar was crowded with patrons. An old Soundgarden song played over the speakers, and many sang along. My eye caught a familiar face down at the end of the bar. Lars was hard to miss, all tall and blond. No sign of Aaron, thank goodness. It had already been a day without adding him to it. Though, of course he would have left for London already. Jane sat on a stool laughing at something. Lars smiled down at her. He looked besotted. Totally engrossed in her. And the man had a nice smile. The big dude was masculine-pretty. What really hit me, however, was the way they were interacting. How into each other they were. Just happy to be in each other’s company. That’s what I wanted. And if I couldn’t have that, then I was better off alone.
“What are we looking at?” asked Cleo.
“A couple of Aaron’s friends are at the end of the bar.”
She licked her lips. Probably still dealing with the remnants of salt from all of the lip-sip-sucking we had been doing. “The big dude? He’s handsome. Do you want to go over and say hello?”
“No.” I shook my head. “We always got along okay, but...let’s go.”
“Susie,” called a familiar voice. And there was Lars coming after me with his big-ass stride. “Hey.”
“Hi,” I said. This was not awkward at all.
“I’ll just be over here.” Cleo wandered off to stare at the jukebox and give us a moment’s privacy. As much privacy as you could have in the middle of a crowded bar.
And his face—he looked so sincere. “How have you been?”
“Fine. You?”
“Good.”
I just nodded.
“It’s good to see you,” he said. “You look...yeah...great.”
Seriously awkward as awkward could be. Jane was giving me a finger wave, and I smiled back at her. The people you lost after a breakup was a lot. These two I had definitely liked. Jane was fun, and Lars was...well, he was Lars.
“Thanks,” I said. “You two look like you’re on a date. I better let you get back to it.”
“Right,” he said and stood there and stared at me. “Guess I’ll see you around, Susie.”
“Sure. See you around, Lars.”
I hooked my arm through Cleo’s, and we made our way through the crowd to the front door. Outside the sky was clear, the stars shining brightly. A whole universe of them sparkled above our heads. The air was crisp and cold. Holiday lights filled the bar’s front windows.
“What did the big guy have to say?” asked Cleo.
“Not much. He’s Aaron’s best friend. What could he say?”
“True.”
“Christmas is going to suck without her,” I said, out of nowhere.
“You’re coming with me to my mother’s place this year. It’s already been decided,” said Cleo. “She said you’re in charge of the wine.”
“Thank you.”
“Of course.”
“Chosen family is a good thing. I’m so lucky to have you.”
She just smiled.
A woman wearing reindeer antlers walked past arm in arm with a man. They looked happy. Before she left, Miss Lillian had told us we had a responsibility to go out and be in love with the world. To live our lives to the best of our abilities, because Aunt Susan no longer had the opportunity to do so. And honest to God, I was going to keep trying. Starting with no more men. At least for a while. I needed time to deal with recent events. To figure out myself and why the relationships I chose to be in kept combusting. To show myself some love and understanding. All of which would hopefully lead to me making better choices. A girl could only hope. But dealing with Aunt Susan’s house and all of the work it needed would keep me busy for a while. When I thought about the sheer amount of stuff to be dealt with... Oof. There’d be no time for worrying about men and such nonsense for a while. Not a bad thing.