Page 42 of The Havenport Collection

Cecelia

I was booking events faster than I could type. People wanted to use the brewery for graduations, retirement parties, and even a first birthday party. I was busy drafting proposals and emailing caterers. The new year was shaping up to be a busy one at Binnacle.

I was so busy event planning, I was way behind on scheduling my social media posts. As expected, the custom hashtags were blowing up. I had hundreds of photos to upload, edit, and post. It was going to be a long night.

It was hard to believe it had only been three months.

I had accomplished so much and had so many more plans for this place.

Liam had shared that the finances had improved, so things were really looking good.

Week to week, numbers had gone up. We had a lot of weekend traffic, and our specialty weeknight activities were also generating some sales.

Trivia had been a big hit, but the biggest surprise was Senior Night.

Every other Wednesday we hosted Senior Night where the senior citizens of Havenport could join us for discount drafts and themed appetizers.

Tonight we were hosting a very popular bingo caller and were expecting big numbers.

I had worked with a local bakery to offer bingo ball cake pops and cupcakes, and we had hundreds of bingo markers and colorful balloons.

It was embarrassing to admit how excited I was.

The old folks were a loyal and reliable customer base.

They showed up, had a good time, and didn’t get too rowdy.

I loved planning events for them. Our Rat Pack themed night last month was a huge success.

Burt showed up in a fedora and danced with all the ladies to the rotating soundtrack of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin songs.

I was uploading photos from Gourd Fest onto the brewery’s website when Liam stomped in and slammed the door. He was wearing my favorite jeans, the ones that make his ass look bitable, and a backwards brewery hat. Goddamn, he was fine.

“You’re taking Monday off to go to an interview?” It wasn’t a question as much as a growl.

“I emailed you the details. I don’t think it’s that big a deal.” I busied myself packing some folders into my tote, making sure to take home the notes of our latest brainstorming meeting.

“What the fuck, Cece?” I jerked my head up and almost dropped my bag on the floor. What was his problem? He was standing with his fists clenched, and his jaw was set. I had never seen him like this.

“It’s just one interview. I’ll be gone for a few hours. It won’t impact my work here. I have everything ready for the staff meeting presentation on Monday about plans for the spring festivals. All you have to do is press play on the laptop.”

He tossed his hat on his desk and proceeded to run his hands through his thick hair while pacing. If I wasn’t the target of his anger, I would have been really turned on right now.

“I don’t understand why you are interviewing.”

“Because I want to.” That wasn’t the entire truth.

Marissa, who I had worked with for years, had recently started as head of hematology at a huge biotech company in Boston.

She was building a team and wanted to see if I was interested.

I wasn’t particularly excited about the opportunity, but I felt obligated to go out of professional courtesy.

“My old boss called me and I like her a lot. It sounds interesting, so I thought I would go. See what’s out there. ”

Liam looked up at me, his blue eyes burning. “But it’s in Boston.” He said “Boston” like it was a four-letter word. How dare he have an opinion on where I could go and what jobs I could pursue?

I was starting to get really pissed. “Yes. It is less than an hour away. The same city where your brother works. It’s not Antarctica, for Chrissake.”

“I just can’t believe you are going back to that.”

“Going back to what? Gainful employment?”

He stared at me blankly, as though he was shocked by my behavior. What had gotten into him?

“I’m not going back to anything. I’m going to an interview to learn more about a potential opportunity. I thought as my friend you would be happy for me.”

He crossed his arms and glared at me. So I kept talking.

“I am evaluating my options. I am learning more. This is what I want. And you don’t get to tell me what to do. This is the first job in a while that interests me. And I am sure as hell going to go and see if it’s a good fit.”

“I know you, Cece. You will hate it.”

“Maybe I will. But that’s for me to decide. You don’t know me. You don’t know what I want. You don’t know what’s best for me.”

He looked defeated. “You’re right. I have no idea what you want.” I suddenly got the feeling we weren’t talking about this job anymore.

“I came to Havenport to figure my life out, and that’s what I’m doing. If you don’t want to be a good friend and support me, then get the fuck out of my way.” I was pissed. He could not come in here and alpha male all over my career. If I wanted to go to an interview, I would go.

Sensing the intensity of my rage, all the anger drained from his face.

“Cecelia, I am sorry. So sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I know we agreed you would work here until the end of the year, and you deserve to pursue any career opportunities you want. If you’re excited, then I’m excited.”

What? That was a total one-eighty. What is going on with him? Why won’t he talk to me? Maybe I should talk to him? Tell him why I’m really going.

He paced around, not saying anything. I wanted to slap him and then hug him, preferably in that order.

“It just feels like you are trying to run away.”

“Going to a job interview is not running away, Liam.”

“You packed up all your stuff—at my apartment the other night—like you were never coming back.”

“I live out of a suitcase at my mother’s house, Liam. I don’t have that much stuff. What does it matter where I keep it?”

“It matters to me.”

I threw my hands up. “Why, Liam? This is casual, remember?” I gestured between the two of us.

This is what he wants. He told me he didn’t have time for anything serious.

He was honest that the brewery comes first. I was lashing out at him because I was upset.

I would love to have an honest conversation and talk about our feelings, but the mixed signals I was getting from him were making my head spin.

“This was never casual for me,” he said.

The words hung in the air, and I didn’t know how to respond.

On the one hand he had said the words I’d been needing to hear for weeks.

On the other, why couldn’t he just grow up and talk to me?

“I need to go set up for senior night,” he grumbled.

And he walked out the door without another word.

I walked over and sat back down at my laptop.

What had just happened? Liam and I occasionally argued, but nothing like this.

Did he think he could control me? This was a casual relationship.

He had never asked for more. He had never indicated that he had anything beyond casual feelings for me.

He couldn’t walk in here and tell me not to pursue a promising new job.

I had spent the last few weeks wrapping my mind around staying in Havenport and making a life here. I wanted to stick. I wanted to be a part of this community. But getting my heart stomped on by Liam Assface Quinn was making me want to jump in my car and speed off into the sunset.

I knew my feelings were messy right now, but I had not expected Liam’s would be messy too. I hated messy. I had to figure out how to clean this up.