Page 3 of No Place Like Home (Orlinda Valley #3)

Rowan

“ H ell yeah, Rowan!” Trevor’s voice rang out above the noise of the small dinner crowd at Jerry’s Pub as he strutted out from behind the bar toward me.

We wrapped each other in a guy hug, with loud claps on each other’s backs and a whoop of excitement.

It had been five years since I last saw him—my oldest friend, my brother from another mother.

Seeing him felt good. I’d needed this more than I realized.

“Come on, let me get you a drink.” He led the way to the bar. I sat on a stool, followed by Kai, Kora, and Summer. “What’s your poison, man?”

“Your best beer that’s not an IPA,” I answered.

“You got it.” He pounded on the bar twice and turned away to fill glasses with beer from the tap.

I took in the bar I’d only ever heard about and seen glimpses of in grainy phone photos.

The firefighter theme was impossible to miss, from the fire hydrant and beer mug logo to the firefighter paraphernalia hung around the room, tastefully combined with Orlinda Valley High School sport memorabilia and a hell of a lot of orange.

Beige walls framed the space, complemented by rich wood fixtures, sturdy booths, and high-top tables scattered throughout.

On the other side of the large room were double garage doors and a wall of windows that looked like additional seating and a covered patio.

The bar stretched along one entire wall, lined with stools that looked well-worn by regulars.

At the far end, the kitchen bustled with activity, sending out mouthwatering aromas that had my stomach growling immediately—a sharp reminder that I hadn’t eaten much all day.

Trevor placed my beer in front of me and went about getting everyone else’s drinks. Kai also got a beer, and the girls ordered that lemon drop thing again. I shook my head and chuckled then picked up my beer and took a long sip. “Y’all did a great job on this place,” I said to Trevor.

“Thanks. It’s been a lot of elbow grease to get it done, but it was well worth it.”

An older man who looked to be in his sixties, with short gray hair cut tightly around his ears and a gray mustache, walked toward us with his arms loaded down with food.

“Here you go. Burgers for the men, and nachos supreme for the beautiful ladies.” He set the nachos in front of the girls.

Kora smiled widely at him. “Thank you, Terry. It looks and smells delicious.”

“You’re more than welcome, Kora.” He placed a burger in front of Kai. “Here you go, son.”

Kai nodded politely, but his face didn’t light up nearly as much as Kora’s. “Thanks, Terry.”

“And this is for you,” he said as he placed a burger in front of me.

Summer made the introductions. “Terry, this is Rowan, Tonya’s youngest son. ”

The older man turned to me. “Well, good to finally meet you. Tonya talks so much about you. Army, right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, welcome home. I’m sure your mom’s glad you’re here.”

“She will be, once she knows,” Kora said. “It’s a secret.”

“Well, she won’t hear it from me.” Terry motioned like he was locking his lips and walked away.

I fixed my burger and took a bite. The flavors melded together into the best burger I think I’d ever tasted. “Damn,” I mumbled as I took another bite, then another.

“Shit, Row. Looks like you haven’t eaten in days,” Summer said.

“No, just today,” I said between bites. “Been on the road all day and only stopped to grab snacks at gas stations, then I got to the house and became distracted by a towel-clad beauty singing like she could be the next Taylor Swift.” I waggled my brows at Summer, which earned me a swat on the shoulder.

Call me crazy, but the glare she shot me sent heat straight to my gut. I couldn’t stop the smile that filled my face, even as I finished the last bite of my burger and washed it down with a sip of beer.

“Good, isn’t it?” Trevor gestured toward my plate. “What else can I get you? Another beer? Summer, Kora—margaritas?”

I finished my beer and nodded. Travis took the empty bottles and plates and left again to refresh our drinks. I turned to Kai. “So, that was your father?”

“Yep,” Kai said. “He helps Nico in the kitchen and is doing a surprisingly good job.”

“You call him Terry, not Dad.”

“Again, yep. Long, boring story. Not worth telling. ”

Just then, Darlene’s voice echoed over everyone else’s. “Oh, my gosh. Rowan?”

I stood from the stool. “Hey, Darlene.” I wrapped her in a hug and wasn’t surprised to see Bryson, my brother—her husband—right behind her.

“It’s so good to see you!” She squeezed me like she meant it, then laid her hands on my shoulders. “When did you get in? Why didn’t you tell us you were coming in so soon? Have you told your mother yet?”

I laughed at her million questions. “I got in a little over an hour ago. I didn’t tell anyone because it was sudden.

And no, not yet.” Then I turned to my brother and my jaw clenched.

The last time we saw each other was our father’s funeral, and we had to try hard not to beat the shit out of each other—but that’s how it always was with us.

We never got along, and as we got older things just kept getting worse.

“Bryson,” Darlene said stepping away from me. “Isn’t this amazing? Rowan’s home.”

Bryson shook his head, his face a mask I couldn’t read. “Well, the prodigal son returns. I’m speechless. I had no idea you’d bless us with your presence this far away from the wedding. I expected you the day before.”

I glanced at Darlene as if to ask, is Bryson for real? She gave a small shrug.

Bryson took a step closer, and a smile crept up his face. “Seriously, bro, I’m glad you’re home, and I know Mom and Jamison will be ecstatic.” He wrapped his arms around me and gave me a couple pats on the back. I did the same .

I didn’t feel any of the love in his hug I had from everyone else’s.

Worse, I didn’t feel much at all. I’m sure he noticed the same thing.

It was ridiculous. We were brothers and grown adults.

We should be ready to bury the hatchet and keep the past in the past. “They will be once they find out,” I said.

He stepped away and gave me a good look-over. “You seriously didn’t tell them? But you talk to Jamison every week.”

I shrugged. “It was last-minute.”

“Well, they’ll know soon enough. This is Orlinda Valley. News travels fast. Anyway, I guess I need to watch how I act this time around. You’re quite a bit bulkier than last time you were home. Not sure I could take you anymore.”

Seriously? We hadn’t seen each other in five years, and that was the first thing he wanted to say to me? “I missed you too, brother.” I stepped away from him, feeling my anger already rising to the surface.

Luckily, Kai distracted us. “Come on, let’s go grab a table on the patio. There will be plenty of room for all of us.”

Everyone grabbed their drinks and followed, but I stayed behind and took a seat at the bar.

“Hey,” Summer pushed her shoulder into mine. “You’re not going to leave me with them, are you? Since you’re home, I need you by my side. They may not pick on me much with you around.”

I pursed my lips. Suddenly I didn’t feel like being with a crowd. “You go ahead. I’m going to hang here with Trevor for a bit. Catch up.”

“Yeah,” Trevor agreed. “You aren’t the only one who hasn’t seen this guy in a while. At least you talk with him more than me. ”

“The phone works both ways, dipshit,” Summer said as she sat on the stool next to me. “Maybe you should get away from this bar or your cows and learn how to socialize.”

I chuckled. Summer never could stand Trevor. He was too country for her, but their banter always made for some good entertainment.

“Trust me, Summer, I socialize just fine. Just because I’m not pissed off at the world and don’t wear a permanent scowl on my face means nothing.”

She narrowed her eyes and took a sip of her margarita. “Good drink, Trevor. At least you have something you’re good at.”

“Yep, you’ve never complained about my ability to make a drink.”

“Damn straight.”

I chuckled at them and said, “It looks like you two finally found some common ground. Guess I have been gone a long time.”