“Wecouldpossibly do Thursdays or Fridays, but I know both nights are short staffed at Seven Stools,” she continues.
See? She even knows what the staffing looks like at the bar.
“I don’t see why Griffin wouldn’t stay late to help.” Lily shrugs.
“Grumpy Griffinhatesthe idea,” Nan says right before she rolls her eyes.
I can’t help the laugh that I practically choke out. “Did you just call himGrumpy Griffin?”
“Yep. I have nicknames for all my town’s children.”
“If you don’t mind me asking…” I raise a brow in question before I speak, knowing this might be a personal question. “Who exactly are your children?”
“No one.” She chuckles. “But everyone.”
“That makes…no sense.”
“We have Grumpy Griffin, Lovely Lily, and Pretty Poppy,” Nan rattles off as she counts on her hand. “Oh, and newly added…Talkative Tucker.”
Lily blushes. “Nan is the best.”
I pause, thinking about the names she just mentioned.
I’ve obviously met Griffin, but who are Poppy and Tucker?
“You have a sister?” I ask Lily.
“Yes. You just haven’t met her yet. She’s the youngest of all of us and a first-grade teacher in town.” Her smile grows as she continues talking about her. “She’s so good with kids. She has the patience of a saint.”
“Why is Griffin the only one with a negative nickname?”
Nan lifts a shoulder. “I call it like I see it.”
“And she’s not wrong,” Lily adds. “He wasn’t always like that, though. I’d give anything to have my old brother back. The happier version of him.”
My curiosity piques. I wonder what she’s talking about. I want to ask more, but I don’t want to invade his privacy. I’m usually good at reading people. Call it growing up around politicians, and from the first few interactions with Griffin, I knew there was a deeper meaning to his burly, grumpy exterior.
“Thursdays really would be ideal,” Lily continues. “It’s a perfect day for it and a good marketing tactic for the bar. If we pitch it that way, he can’t say no.”
“My thoughts too.” Nan jumps from the stool. “Thirsty Thursday. My only issue is that he needs some convincing. He shut me down an hour ago.”
“Between you and me, we’re very persuasive.” Lily laughs, bumping shoulders with Nan. “Let’s go talk to him quickly.” She turns to face me. “Are you good holding down the fort for a little bit?”
“Yep.” I nod. “I got this handled here.”
Lily and Nan leave to go next door.
I start to organize the display of baked goods to make them look less empty, and I keep replaying that conversation in my head, wondering what happened to him to make him that way.
It makes me want to talk to him more and get to know the deeper version of the man. Only because Iknowthere’s a heart in there somewhere. I know he’s not truly that big of an asshole. I mean, he did barrel down the road to pick me up when I was lost.
The bell chimes for the front door and I look up expecting to find Lily and Nan already back after being shut down with their ideas. But my gaze lands on the pretty woman Griffin was with at the General Store.
“Oh, hi.” She smiles at me. “Lil told me she hired a new girl. It’s so nice to finally put a face with the name.”
“Hi, yes.” I stumble over my words slightly. “I actually saw you last week with Griffin at the General Store. Sorry if that sounds creepy. It’s just nice to meet a girl who can actually put up with my neighbor. Sorry if that’s offensive. I tend to talk too much. Okay, I’ll shut up now.”
I don’t know what the hell just came over me.
