It Was Always You

Chapter 8

Dustin sat at the bar listening ESPN on the television while he typed a reply to an email on his phone. It’d been another hellish day filled with a problematic install. Since he was already in the city, he decided to stop at Reeds.

The family had owned the bar for years and after their father retired Ash and Adler took over the bar. The brothers had spent the last couple years making improvements to the bar making it a huge success. When the store next door became available, the Reeds snatched up the space and knocked out the wall to expand main room. A section of the new floor plan had been turned into a dance floor, the front wall that once housed two large windows was now a wall of windows that could be opened in the summer, and the bar top was extended at least four feet. The Reeds had taken their father’s bar and turned it into a powerhouse, catering to the colleges in the city.

Ash and Adler were the owners and while at least one brother could be found running the bar most nights, Rose also worked at the bar. He lucked out when he walked in and found Adler behind the bar. He hadn’t seen Rose since that night at Trace’s, part of him was thankful that she wasn’t there now.

He tried for days to call her watching her practically run from him. Even thinking now of her curled up on the floor the bathroom shaking like a leaf made his chest ache. She was clearly hurting and he so badly wanted to make it better. She didn’t want his help though. It’s not your job to worry about me Dustin. Her words were like a hit from a two-by-four to the ribs. He eventually gave up and stopped calling he couldn’t force her to turn to him.

He put his phone away and settled back in his seat looking around the bar. For a Tuesday, they weren’t overly busy but it was clear that the bar had no problem getting business during the week.

“Are you going to be home this weekend Dust?” Adler asked bringing his attention back to his friend.

“Was planning on it, why?”

“I should be done with the trailer by then and was going to just swing by after I was done to drop it off.”

“Oh. Well, I was planning on working on the yard, so should be fine.”

Adler thanked him before turning around to refill a drink on the other side of the bar. He was about to ask Adler what he had used the trailer for when a flash of blond caught his eye out of the corner of his eye.

Rose slipped behind the bar talking to Adler a frazzled tone. The oversized red sweater she wore hung off her shoulder giving him a glimpse of her bare skin. Her leather leggings seemed to be painted onto her skin. The black mile-high heeled boots made his mind stray to thoughts of how they’d feel dug into his back.

He looked back up hoping she didn’t catch his stare. As luck would have it she didn’t, she didn’t even seem to notice him. Something was wrong though, he could tell from her flushed cheeks. Her blond hair wasn’t as straight as it commonly was since he came home laid over her shoulders in thick waves. There was no make-up on her face and they dark circles under eyes made him pause.

Adler exchanged keys with her and hugged her close whispering in her ear. Then she was gone before just as quickly as she came with a kiss to Adler’s cheek.

“What was that about?” Dustin asked Adler who was watching his sister’s exit down the hall to the back lot.

“She left Gary,” Adler said wiping down the bar top seemingly shaken by the exchange.

“Well that’s good, right?” It didn’t make sense why Rose finally leaving him would upset her brother.

“Honestly, it’s overdue. She moved out her stuff over the last couple weeks and told him last Friday that she was leaving him. She was staying at a friend’s apartment that was out of town, just temporarily till she figures out what she wants to do next. Everything has been going great for her.”