Elise arrived at the bar early, eager to make a good first impression. The place was quiet, with only a couple of staff milling around, prepping for the day ahead. Taylor was already there, organizing bottles behind the counter. She gave Elise a wide smile as she walked in.
“Look who’s early!” Taylor called out, teasing. “Eager beaver, huh?”
Elise laughed, walking over to the bar. “Well, I figure if I’m going to work at a bar, I better start off on the right foot. Or I’ll get fired before I even clock in.”
Taylor grinned. “Nah, you’ll be fine. Worst-case scenario, we get you slinging drinks, and you’ll charm the tips out of everyone. And if that doesn’t work, you can always take up bartending tricks.”
Elise chuckled, imagining herself awkwardly trying to juggle bottles. “Yeah, I’d probably break everything within five minutes.”
They both shared a laugh, and Taylor handed her a glass of water. “So, first day nerves?”
“A little,” Elise admitted. “But I’m mostly ready to get back to work. Sitting at home all day unpacking boxes can only go so far.”
Taylor leaned against the bar, playfully raising her eyebrows. “Well, this is a bar, so expect some colorful characters. Nothing too crazy, but the regulars are pretty entertaining.”
Elise smirked. “Sounds like I’ll fit right in.”
Just as they were settling into their work routine, the door to the office swung open, and Nate walked in. He didn’t even glance their way, heading straight to his office without so much as a greeting. Elise’s stomach tightened slightly at the sight of him, but she forced herself to focus on wiping down the bar.
Taylor noticed and nudged her. “Don’t take it personally. Nate’s... well, he’s always a little distant. Busy guy, owns a bunch of businesses around here. It’s rare to even see him here during the day.”
Elise raised an eyebrow. “A bunch of businesses?”
“Yeah, between him and his brother, they’ve got a lot of investments,” Taylor explained casually. “His brother used to run this place before he left town.”
Elise froze. “Wait... brother?”
Taylor gave her a curious look. “Yeah, didn’t you know? Nate’s got a brother. Well, had. The guy left town, and no one’s heard much about him since.”
Elise felt a wave of confusion wash over her. As far as she knew, Nate was an only child. Or at least, that’s what she had always believed.
Before she could ask more, Nate’s voice interrupted them from behind. “Elise. In my office. We need to talk.”
Elise glanced at Taylor, who gave her an encouraging nod. “Good luck,” she whispered, clearly amused.
Elise followed Nate into the office, where he closed the door behind them. He motioned for her to sit, and she obliged, already sensing the tension in the air.
“I wanted to go over a few things,” Nate began, his tone professional but clipped. “As manager, you’ll be handling the staff schedules, inventory, and general operations. I’ll drop by occasionally, but I trust you can manage without needing me around.”
Elise nodded, listening but finding his overly serious tone almost comical. “Got it boss,” she muttered under her breath.
Nate stopped mid-sentence, his eyes narrowing as he caught her smirk. “Is something funny?”
Elise quickly shook her head, trying to suppress her smile. “No, no, it’s just... you’re very thorough. Very, um, intense.”
Nate’s annoyance flickered in his eyes. “I don’t take this business lightly, Elise. And neither should you. You may have had some fancy job in the city, but this is different.”
“Right, right,” Elise said, still fighting back her laughter. “I’m serious too, I swear.”
He sighed, clearly irritated by her lighthearted attitude, but continued. “Anyway, I accepted you for this role because your experience aligns with what we need. That’s it.”
Elise, still finding the whole situation slightly absurd, couldn’t help but chuckle. “Got it. No special treatment because we were something in the past?”
Nate’s expression hardened. “We’re not anything, Elise. Not anymore. We’re just people working in the same place. Let’s keep it that way.”
Elise’s smile faltered slightly, the weight of his words settling on her. She wasn’t sure why, but hearing him so coldly dismiss their past stung. She felt a pang of sadness, though she did her best to hide it.
Noticing the tension, Taylor suddenly popped her head in through the office door. “Hey, sorry to interrupt, but we’ve got a shipment coming in soon. Thought you might want to know.”
Elise turned to Taylor, grateful for the distraction. “Thanks. I’ll get on it.”
Taylor flashed a smile and then, turning to Nate, added, “Congrats, Nate. Looks like we’ve got ourselves a new boss. Should be fun.”
Nate didn’t respond, just gave a curt nod before returning to his paperwork. Elise took the opportunity to make her escape, her emotions still swirling from their tense exchange.
As she walked back out to the bar, Taylor grinned. “Tough first meeting?”
“You could say that,” Elise muttered, still processing everything. She felt a mix of relief and frustration. Sure, she was glad to have the job, but working under Nate, of all people, was going to be a challenge.
Taylor nudged her playfully. “Don’t worry. You’ll be fine. And hey, you’re officially the boss now.”
Elise forced a smile, but inside, she was still reeling.
__
The bar was buzzing with energy, the sound of conversations blending with clinking glasses and the occasional cheer from a group of friends. Elise stood behind the bar, trying to stay on top of the orders while keeping an eye on the staff, making sure everything was running smoothly. It was her first real test managing the place, and it was hectic, but she thrived under pressure.
Taylor hurried over, placing a tray of drinks on the counter. “Busy night, huh?” she said, wiping her brow.
“Just a bit,” Elise replied, giving a tired but amused smile. “It’s like the entire town decided to show up tonight.”
“Lucky us,” Taylor quipped. “By the way, saw a familiar face walk in—Olivia’s here. And, oh... Jenna’s with her.”
Elise’s stomach dropped slightly at the mention of Jenna. Jenna. The girl who had a thing for Nate back in high school. The one who never quite forgave Elise for dating him.
Sure enough, Olivia entered, her warm smile cutting through the chaos, and beside her was Jenna, looking as polished as ever. They approached the bar, and Elise forced herself to switch into professional mode.
“Elise!” Olivia greeted warmly, leaning over the bar. “Look at you! This place is packed.”
Elise grinned. “Yeah, it’s been a busy night. What can I get you two?”
Olivia glanced at Jenna, who was surveying the room, clearly unimpressed. “Just a couple of drinks to start, whatever’s your special.”
“Got it,” Elise said and nodded at Taylor. Taylor then started to mix their drinks. Jenna, however, didn’t seem as interested in the order.
Jenna finally spoke, her voice carrying an edge. “Nate here tonight?”
Elise’s paused for a second, but she kept her expression neutral. “He’s around, busy with some business stuff,” she replied.
Jenna frowned, barely touching her glass. “I bet he is. We’re regulars here, you know. He usually stops by to say hi.”
Elise kept her tone polite, trying not to engage with the bitterness she could sense beneath Jenna’s words. “I’ll let him know you’re here.”
Jenna gave a tight smile, not bothering to mask the hostility. “Thanks. We’re old friends, you know. Just thought he’d say hello to people who’ve been supporting this place.”
Elise nodded, biting back a retort. She didn’t have time for petty high school rivalries, not now, but Jenna’s words grated on her. She knew the real reason Jenna was asking for Nate—she had always been hung up on him, even after all these years. And the fact that Elise had dated him back in high school? That wound clearly hadn’t healed for Jenna.
She excused herself from the bar and made her way to the back office, where Nate was going over paperwork. She knocked lightly before stepping inside.
“Nate,” she said, keeping her voice steady. “Jenna and Olivia are here. Jenna’s been asking for you.”
Nate sighed, glancing up from his work. “Jenna...”
“She’s been a bit insistent,” Elise added, hesitating before continuing. “She’s... still hung up on you, I think.”
Nate raised an eyebrow, clearly unbothered by the situation. “I’ll handle it.”
Elise followed him out of the office, her footsteps a few paces behind him, just like they used to walk together back in high school. The memories rushed back—their late-night walks, how he always moved ahead while she trailed slightly behind, laughing at whatever joke he had just made. But now, things were different. Nate wasn’t hers anymore.
They reached the bar, and Nate immediately locked eyes with Jenna. He gave her a polite nod, but his expression remained professional.
“Jenna,” he said, his tone cordial but distant. “Good to see you.”
Jenna’s face lit up when Nate approached, and she flipped her hair, trying to act casual. “Nate! It’s been a while. You don’t stop by as much anymore. Busy, I assume?”
“Yeah,” Nate replied evenly. “The business keeps me busy.”
Elise could see Jenna trying to read Nate’s expression, searching for something more, but Nate kept his distance, both emotionally and physically.
“You know, I’ve been coming here a lot,” Jenna continued, leaning forward slightly. “It’s always nice to see familiar faces.”
Nate nodded politely but didn’t give her much more than that. “Glad you’ve been supporting the place. Let me know if there’s anything you need.”
It was clear to Elise that Jenna was fishing for more—a sign that Nate still cared, that he might reciprocate the feelings she had harbored for years. But Nate was calm, professional, and entirely uninterested in Jenna’s advances.
Jenna’s smile faltered slightly, realizing that Nate wasn’t going to give her the attention she wanted. She masked her disappointment with a laugh. “Of course. Just being a good customer.”
Nate gave her a polite nod before turning to Elise. “If you need anything, let me know. Otherwise, keep things running smoothly.”
Elise nodded, trying to maintain her composure. “Got it.”
Nate walked away, heading back to his office without another glance at Jenna. Once he was out of earshot, Jenna huffed and took a sip of her drink, clearly annoyed.
Olivia, sensing the awkwardness, quickly tried to change the subject. “So, Elise, how’s your first week going? Must be a whirlwind, huh?”
Elise smiled at Olivia’s attempt to smooth things over. “Yeah, it’s been busy, but I think I’m getting the hang of it.”
Taylor, overhearing the conversation, swooped in with her usual charm. “Oh, don’t worry, Elise is a natural. She’ll have this place running better than any of us in no time.”
Jenna, still stewing, muttered something under her breath, but Elise decided to let it go. There was no point in reigniting old grudges, especially when Nate had made it clear where he stood.
As the night went on, Elise found herself replaying the scene with Nate and Jenna in her head. It was like a twisted echo of their past, only this time, the dynamics had shifted. Nate wasn’t the boy she once knew, and yet, seeing him handle Jenna so smoothly reminded her of why she had fallen for him in the first place. He had always been steady, always sure of himself.
But as much as the memories tugged at her, Elise knew better than to dwell on them. This was her life now, and no matter how many times the universe seemed to push them together, she wasn’t going to let herself get tangled in Nate’s world again.
__
The bar had finally cleared out, and the staff were wrapping up the last of the cleanup. Elise leaned back against the bar, a satisfied smile on her face. It had been a busy day, but she was proud of how she managed it. She could feel the exhaustion in her bones, but there was something rewarding about getting through the first day unscathed.
“First day down, and you survived,” Taylor said with a grin, wiping down the last of the glasses. “Feeling celebratory?”
Elise chuckled. “Why not? A small drink to unwind sounds perfect.”
Taylor poured them each a shot, and they clinked their glasses together. “To surviving this crazy place.”
“To survival,” Elise echoed, taking a sip and feeling the warmth of the alcohol settle into her chest. The bar was quiet now, the only sound the faint clinking of glass and the hum of the night outside.
As they sipped their drinks, Elise couldn’t help but circle back to something that had been bugging her all night. “Hey, earlier you mentioned Nate’s brother... I didn’t even know he had a brother,” she said, trying to keep her tone casual.
Taylor shrugged, leaning her elbow on the bar. “Yeah, his brother used to run this place before Nate took over. The two of them handled things together for a while, from what I heard.”
Elise nodded, trying to process that information. Back in high school, she had always known Nate as an only child. He had never mentioned a brother, never talked about anything beyond his mom. The idea of Nate suddenly having a sibling he hadn’t told her about was... unsettling.
Taylor noticed her thoughtful expression and waved it off. “Honestly, I don’t know much more than that. I wasn’t here when his brother was running the place, just heard bits and pieces from the staff.”
Before Elise could say anything more, she felt a presence next to her. Nate had quietly sat down beside her, leaning back in the chair as if he was part of the conversation, though he hadn’t said a word.
He didn’t look at her at first, just nodded at Taylor as if signaling for her to keep talking.
Taylor, sensing the tension, smiled awkwardly. “Well, guess that’s all I got. I’m clocking out.” She slipped away with a quick wave, leaving Elise and Nate sitting in silence.
Elise swallowed, feeling the weight of Nate’s presence beside her. He hadn’t spoken, but she knew he had heard her question about his family. Before she could try to change the subject, Nate’s voice cut through the quiet.
“If you have personal questions,” he said, his tone calm but clipped, “you might want to ask me directly instead of snooping around.”
The words hit Elise harder than she expected. “Snooping?” she said, narrowing her eyes. “I wasn’t—”
Nate finally turned his head toward her, his gaze cool. “You were asking about my family. It’s not a big deal, but if you want answers, just ask me.”
Elise bit her lip, torn between wanting to defend herself and wanting to push for more information. “It’s not like that,” she said, her voice quieter now. “I just didn’t know you had a brother. You never mentioned him before.”
Nate’s expression didn’t change, but something in his posture shifted. He leaned back, looking away again as if the conversation bored him. “I didn’t know about him until college,” he said, his voice still clipped. “Turns out I have a whole different family in a different city.”
Elise blinked, processing the words. A different family? The Nate she had known in high school had been so open with her about his life—at least, that’s what she had thought. Now, it felt like there were entire parts of his past that she had never known.
“So... you didn’t grow up together?” Elise asked, feeling cautious.
“No,” Nate said simply. “We met in college. My mom never told me about him.”
Elise opened her mouth to ask more, but Nate’s tone made it clear he wasn’t interested in expanding on the topic. His answers were sharp, precise, but there was no warmth in them, no openness. It was like talking to a stranger—aloof, distant.
Elise pressed her lips together, unsure of how to respond. She wasn’t used to this version of Nate—the one who shut her out, who seemed annoyed at her very presence.
“I wasn’t trying to pry,” Elise said quietly, feeling a bit stung by his coldness. “I was just... surprised.”
Nate didn’t look at her, but his voice softened ever so slightly. “Yeah, well, a lot’s changed.”
She couldn’t argue with that. Everything felt different now, and no matter how much she tried to push past the awkwardness between them, it lingered like an invisible wall. Elise took another sip of her drink, trying to hide the frustration building inside her.
Taylor, noticing the tension from a distance, reappeared with a cheery grin, obviously attempting to lighten the mood. “Alright, folks, enough of the heavy stuff. Elise, you killed it tonight. First day on the job and you didn’t even break a sweat. You’re gonna fit in here perfectly!”
Elise forced a smile, grateful for Taylor’s intervention. “Thanks, Taylor. I’ll drink to that.”
They clinked their glasses again, but the weight of Nate’s presence beside her remained.
__
Elise drove home in the quiet of the night, the hum of the engine filling the silence as she tried to process everything that had happened that day. Her first day at the bar had gone smoother than expected, but the surprise of seeing Nate, learning more about his life now, still left her unsettled.
She reached for her phone, dialing Sam’s number, hoping to hear a friendly voice. It rang, and rang, but no answer. Sam was probably busy, or maybe just not near her phone. Elise sighed, hanging up and tossing the phone onto the passenger seat. "Guess it's just me tonight," she muttered, glancing out the window at the dark road ahead.
When she finally pulled into the driveway, she took a deep breath. The house—her house now—looked different in the moonlight. There was something haunting about the way the familiar building stood there, a relic of her past, yet somehow alien to her now.
She grabbed her bag and headed inside, the soft creak of the front door reminding her of the countless times she’d come home from school or late nights out, her parents waiting inside. Now, the house felt quieter, lonelier. Everything had been cleaned and arranged from her earlier efforts, the clutter of her memories stacked neatly in boxes, but it still didn’t feel right. She hadn’t yet decided whether she wanted to sell it or stay. Every corner was steeped in memories she wasn’t sure she wanted to keep reliving.
Elise flicked on a light, and the warm glow cast long shadows across the room. She set her keys down and walked through the house, running her hand along the smooth surfaces of the furniture. It was strange—this place held so many pieces of her life, but it felt like someone else’s home now.
She headed upstairs, intending to change and unwind after the long day. But as she walked past the dresser, something caught her eye. There, tucked behind some other frames, was a photo from high school.
Her breath hitched as she pulled it out, her fingers trembling slightly. It was a picture of her and Nate—young, carefree, and in love. She was hugging him from behind, her face pressed against his back as she smiled at the camera. Nate’s expression was softer then, a rare smile pulling at his lips, his eyes crinkling in a way that made her heart squeeze.
Elise stared at the photo, a flood of memories washing over her. She could remember that day so clearly—how they had been inseparable, how being around Nate made everything seem simpler, more vibrant. Back then, their whole world had been wrapped up in each other, and she had never imagined it would end.
But it had.
She exhaled shakily, setting the photo down on the bed. "Why is it that everything keeps bringing you back to me?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
The universe had a funny way of pulling her back to Nate, no matter how much she tried to move on. And now, working at his bar, she was tangled in his life again—something she had vowed never to let happen. But here she was, standing in a house full of memories, staring at a photo that reminded her just how deeply Nate had been woven into her life.
Elise ran a hand through her hair, trying to shake off the nostalgia. "I need to stop doing this," she muttered to herself. But even as she said it, she knew it wouldn’t be that easy.
She carefully placed the photo back on the dresser and turned to change. Tomorrow was another day, and she needed to be focused. Whatever unresolved feelings lingered between her and Nate, she couldn’t let them control her. But as she climbed into bed, the image of that younger, happier version of herself holding Nate stayed with her. Even in sleep, it was hard to let go.