Chapter 47

The next evening as I walked into the bar, Jess was standing behind the counter, his fingers tucked into a glass, drying the interior with a cloth. At the sound of my boot heels clattering on the hardwood floor, he looked up. “Hey, Kiddo,” he called.

“Hey, Jess,” I returned.

He studied me closely, his gaze lingering on my face. “You okay?”

I nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of my lips. “Better than I have been in a long time, actually.”

He cocked his head to the side, a knowing glint in his eye. “Someone got some action last night, I see.”

I rolled my eyes, feeling the warmth creep up my neck. “It’s not like that,” I said, though I knew my blush betrayed me.

Jess chuckled. “It’s written all over you. But if you ever need to talk, you know I’m here, right?”

I nodded, grateful for his friendship. “I know. Thanks.”

He slapped the towel down and leaned against the bar. “So, who’s the lucky guy?”

I hesitated for a moment before confiding in him. “Someone you wouldn’t expect,” I