Page 21 of Inside Silence

“Honey, fried is the magic word with me. I came by these curves honestly.”

I notice our server trying to check out said curves covertly. He fails miserably when Ginny catches him staring and points two fingers at her own eyes.

“Up here, my friend. Up here. I’ll do a flight of three as well. The blond ale, your pilsner, and the bock beer.”

With a mumbled, “Of course,” the guy slinks off in the direction of the bar, and I’m about to return my attention to the woman across from me, when I notice the front door opening. In walks Savvy, out of uniform this time. She looks more approachable, younger even, in a simple pair of jeans and an unzipped hoody over a tank top. I’m too busy studying her, it takes me a moment before I catch sight of Auden Maynard behind her. Also no longer in uniform.

“I see…”

I turn my head and find Ginny smiling at me.

“Only one reason a man looks at a woman like that,” she shares.

I shake my head. “Nah, old news. Very old.”

“Maybe so, but I’m thinking there’s a story here.”

I scoff. “Not a pretty one.”

“Well, you’ve got a flight of beers coming, a fried combo platter on the way, and a new friend who happens to be a good listener sitting across from you.”

In the end, it turned out to be exactly that simple. I haven’t really talked about my life before leaving this town with anyone. Why would I? It became a past I didn’t care to remember the moment I walked away.

But being back in town, confronted with everything I thought I’d forgotten, I find I want to talk about it. Especially with someone who seems understanding and kind, and who is new enough to town, she has no preconceived ideas about who I am.

I end up giving this virtual stranger my life’s story. From my rough childhood, my brushes with the law, the support of her uncle Will in finding my path, my relationship with Savannah, and the reason for my abrupt departure from Silence a decade and a half ago.

When I take the last sip of the stout—my preferred beer of the three—and sit back, I’ve even shared how I ended up a single father to a beautiful teenage daughter.

It’s pretty sad when you can sum up your whole life in less than forty-five minutes.

“I’m sorry, I’ve been yapping off your ear,” I apologize to Ginny, who has been listening attentively, which makes me feel like an ass. I haven’t even asked her a single damn question. “I’m not usually a big talker so I’m not sure what got into me, but let me apologize.”

She ignores what I say, waving it off with a hand, before she pins me with a serious look.

“You need to tell her.”

It takes me a moment to clue in she’s talking about Savvy.

“Water under the bridge.”

“No,” she disagrees, shaking her head. “It isn’t. The whole time you were talking to me, she’s been glancing over here.”

I continue to resist the temptation to turn around I’ve been battling since seeing her walk in.

“Pretty sure that ship has sailed,” I insist. “Clearly, she’s moved on.”

“With Auden? I don’t think so. For one thing, the man is a natural flirt who hits on anything with two legs and a heartbeat. She’d never put up with that. Look, I could tell you all the reasons why, but most of that is hearsay and not mine to share. Which is why I really think you should talk to her. There’s obviously a lot you don’t know about each other.”

She leans forward and places a hand on my arm.

“You don’t want to live the rest of your life wondering what if. Trust me on that.”

Savvy

* * *

I can’t believe I let Auden drag me out here.