“Dirty drink names?” I arch an eyebrow in Blake’s direction. “This I’ve gotta hear.”
“We got our hands on a drink recipe book and found the dirty drink section.” He twists to face me. “Whoever can put the most names together in a sentence that makes sense wins.”
You’d think with all my travels I’d have encountered this game before, but I’ve never heard of it. “What do you win?”
“Bragging rights. Or a warm bed, depending on whether the tourists we try to impress find it funny or disgusting. What’s your name?” He cocks his head, and I get the feeling he’s trying to figure out why I look familiar.
“Axel.”
“That’s right. You won the X Games last year, didn’t you?”
“I did.” There’s no denying it, although I hope he doesn’t say anything to his friends. I don’t feel like reliving that competition right now.
“What brings you to our little town?” He asks as Lennon sets a beer in front of him.
“Blake Irwin, don’t pretend you don’t know exactly why Axel’s here.” Lennon rolls his eyes with a heavy sigh. “I doubt there’s a person in town who doesn’t know what he and his crew are here for.”
“I wasn’t trying to creep him out.” Blake holds his hands up in surrender. “Some people like the illusion their business is their own, even when they visit a town too small to be on a map.”
“His businessishis own. But he also travels with a crew of cameramen and all anyone’s been talking about this week is where these guys are filming. You know that.”
“My crew is big news?” I cast a curious look at Lennon. I thought he was exaggerating when he made a fuss about getting caught doing the walk of shame, but apparently not. This place appealed to me since it’s supposed to be tight knit, like the bike community, but now I’m wondering if it’s more than I bargained for.
“To be fair—” Blake’s voice interrupts my thoughts “—not everyone has cameras following them around. It’d be big news anywhere, but especially here where we don’t have much else to talk about.” He shrugs sheepishly.
That’s a flaw I hadn’t considered.I want a community that takes care of each other, like what I have on the circuit. Not a bunch of nosy neighbors. Maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to get attached to this town, or the man who makes it so enticing.
“You need another?” Lennon points to my nearly empty bottle.
“Uh, sure.” I tip back the last swallow and exchange it for the full one he hands me, wondering what else people are saying. And why he sort of admitted to knowing me just now when he’s been so guarded about that the last few days.
“See something you like?” Blake follows my gaze to Lennon and looks back at me with raised brows.
I don’t know why that sets me on edge, but I’m instantly defensive. “That a problem?”
“Not for me.”
“For someone else, then?” I glance sideways at him so I can watch his reaction.
“Nah, he doesn’t have time for it.”
I nod absently, realizing that while I already knew that about Lennon, it makes me a little sad to think his life revolves around work. But it’s also reassuring, because I’m exactly the same way. I doubt either of us would call our jobs work, which makes it so easy to get immersed in them. At what cost, though? I used to think there wasn’t one. After a few nights with Lennon, I’m not so sure.Damn I’m mixed up.
“It’d be nice to see someone force him to take a break. Help him enjoy life instead of working his way through it.” Blake’s focus leaves the TV just long enough to leave no doubt about his meaning.
“You think that’s me?” I ask cautiously.
“I think he looks at you about as often as you look at him, and I’ve never known Lennon to look at anyone before. Just saying.” He lifts his hands as if to say,“don’t shoot the messenger.”
In my head, I give a little fist pump, relieved by the notion that maybe Lennon’s as intrigued with me as I seem to be with him. Then reality comes crashing down. “I’m not sure that makes me a good choice. I’m only here for a few more days.”
“He’s just a nice piece of ass then, huh?” Blake pops his jaw and takes another sip of his beer, his friendly demeanor eerily absent.
“I didn’t say that.” The venom in my voice surprises me since that’s all Lennon was supposed to be.
“You don’t like him enough to risk getting tied down then?”
My eyes find Lennon at the opposite end of the bar, laughing and smiling down at some kid. The little guy's jaw hits the floor while gawking at the chocolate shake Lennon put in front of him, which is easily the size of the kid’s head. It’s a real Hallmark moment–if there issuch a thing–though it’s Lennon’s face that has my chest feeling tight as he beams down at the kid.
