Page 28 of Timid (Lark Cove 2)

“Before someone else comes in, I wanted to ask you again. Would you like to go out for dinner sometime? Maybe hit the diner or even drive up to Kalispell.”

Kalispell was the biggest and closest town to Lark Cove, about thirty miles away on the north side of the lake. I hadn’t been to many of the restaurants up there, but I did know they were fancier than the diner or my bar. And Willa deserved fancy.

“Listen, Jackson.” She hitched her purse over her shoulder and stood from her stool. “I appreciate the offer, but I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“What?”

“I’m not what you’re looking for, and I’m definitely not your type.”

Not my type? She was exactly my type. “Willa—”

She cut me off. “It would probably be best if you just forgot about me. Again.”

With that, she turned and hurried through the door, leaving me and my mouth hanging open behind the bar.

Again.

What the fuck did that mean?

“Any Jackson sightings lately, Willa?” Leighton asked.

It was the night after I’d foolishly gone to the bar and sat with Jackson. I was out at the diner with three friends from high school.

I shook my head. “I’m, um, kind of done with that whole thing.”

Three shocked faces stared my way.

Giving up on Jackson was kind of a huge deal. Leighton, June and Hannah had known about my epic crush from day one. Though, Leighton was the only one who’d ever supported my feelings for Jackson. June and Hannah never spared their comments on how ridiculous it was.

At least one good thing would come from giving up on Jackson. I wouldn’t have to deal with their snide commentary anymore when we met every other week for cheeseburgers.

Leighton set down her burger. “What do you mean, you’re done with that whole thing?”

I shrugged. “I’m just . . . done.”

June and Hannah shared a look.

“Well, I think it’s great.” June smiled. “And about damn time.”

“Me too. Here, here!” Hannah raised up her Diet Coke for a toast.

June hoisted her glass of water right to the middle of the booth, both of them waiting for me and Leighton to join in.

A bruised heart wasn’t something I felt like toasting, but I picked up my Coke anyway, reluctantly lifting it in the air. Leighton didn’t touch her Dr. Pepper. She was too busy studying my profile.

I gave her come on, let’s just get this over with eyes, and she finally joined in.

“Cheers!” June chimed. “Here’s to Willa finally giving up on the hot bartender.”

The hot bartender. They’d always called Jackson the hot bartender.

Their quips about Jackson made no sense. If I declared right now that I wanted to jump in bed with him and use his sculpted body for sex, they’d be all for it. All they saw when they looked at him was a tight ass and muscular arms.

Heaven forbid I actually like the man enough to want a relationship. That was just me being naïve. It didn’t matter to them that he was funny and charming. They didn’t care that he was so good with Charlie it made my heart skip.

He was just the hot bartender.

Maybe it was ridiculous to have feelings for someone I’d never spoken to on the phone or texted even once. I might be ridiculous for letting a high-school crush last beyond college. And it was ridiculous to think I stood a chance with a man who’d called me by the wrong name for years.