Chapter 6

Lauren's point of viewIt's 5:05 am, and I'm still 3 hours away, I can't keep my eyes open. The energy drinks don't seem to be working anymore,and no genre of music is keeping me awake. 1 find a closed gas station, and park off to the side, and make sure my doorsare locked. I grab my pillow out of one of my suitcases and recline my chair. I'm actually comfortable all snuggle up withpillow and my coat as a blanket.I sent my mom and brother a text letting them know that I'm stopping to rest for a little. If I can just get an hour or 2 ofsleep in, I should be better. It feels so good to close my eyes, and within seconds, I'm fast asleep. I sleep soundly but wakto my phone ringing. I see the time is 8:57am. Holy crap, I slept almost 4 hours. I can't believe it.Me: Hello!Mom: Hey honey! Were you still sleeping?Me: Yah I was. I can't believe I slept so long. It's sunny out, I don't know how I've been sleeping the last 4 hours in my car.Mom: Well I'm glad you're okay. You should get back on the road. It wouldn't surprise me if he sent a search party out foryou. He was up late in a fit of rage, and I don't know what his plan is. His ego really took a hit. He was questioning me, ansaid I didn't know where you went, and I deleted all your contact information on my phone. You should get going if youcan, hun.Me: I don't know why he would even care? He's the one who wanted nothing to do with me. I thought he would be happythat he can focus on Blair now. It doesn't make sense. Hopefully, he'll come to his senses and realize he doesn't want meand it's better for both of us if I get away. I am going to run into the gas station, and use the washroom, and grab somecoffee, and then I'll be on my way.Mom: Hopefully he'll see that soon enough. Just text me that you're safe when you get there, okay?Me: 1 will. 1 love you. Bye, Mom!I can't believe I slept 4 hours. I haven't slept that long uninterrupted since before my 18th birthday. My mom said the matbond wouldn't be fully severed until the next full moon, but 1 feel like I don't have a fated mate at all. I never thought Iwould think this, but it feels great. I stuff my toothbrush in my purse and head inside. After I use the washroom, and thengrab a coffee, and a muffin, I get back on the road.After 3 more hours of driving, I see a sign “Welcome to Red Riverview! Population 5,600."At first, it looks like I'm driving a paved road in the middle of the woods, but soon I start to see some houses, and then agas station. Then, thankfully, I see a big sign, “PEGGY'S PUB” I send my Mom a quick text when I pull in. The parking lot isempty, but as I expected since it's only 12:30pm, its still kind of early for a pub. The sign says it opens at 3pm. I hope shehere. The front door is locked, but I give it a knock.Soon enough, the door swings open, and a short thin woman in her 60's stands in front of me. Her mostly grey wavy hairtied up into a high ponytail, and she has bangs. She's wearing jeans and a red t-shirt.“Golly, Lauren? You look just like your father” She says and pulls me into a hug.“You knew my Dad?” I ask while I return the embrace.“Oh, of course, Darlin! Your mother was working here when they started dating. He was always in here, keeping an eye onher. He was sweet on her since the moment he laid eyes on her. I guess that's how it works with your kind though... wellusually anyway. Sorry, hun,” she gives me a pained look.“Don’t be. I'm better off” I smile, and it's a genuine smile.“Come on in, and I'll give you a tour! So how long do you think you will be staying?" She asks.“Well, I don't need to stay here long. I don't want to put you out, but I'm not going back.” I admit.“Well seems like I am always looking for good help, 50 as long as you want a job here, I'd be happy to have you. 1 live in atiny home not far from here, and it just wouldn't be big enough for the both of us, but I do have a little bachelor ... orbachelorette pad. I used to live in it to save money, and then I rented it out in the past too, but it's been empty for a whilCome on, it's in the attic,” Peggy says.I'm a little nervous about living in an attic, I imagine it's going to be dark and dreary and full of cobwebs, but anywhere ibetter than where I was.We wolk out the bock door, ond I see o set of steps off to the side. We wolk up to them ond ot the top of the stoirs, Peggyunlocks the door ond opens it. It's not very big, but it hos bright white wolls ond rustic chorming wooden plonk floors. It’not dork with cobwebs, thonkfully. It hos o double bed by the one big window. It hos the tiniest closet I've ever seen. Theis 0 light wood dresser ond o tiny white end toble. There is 0 smoll bothroom with o clow-foot tub, next to o toilet, with otiny free-stonding bosin.Seporoting the kitchenette is on empty white bookshelf. The kitchenette hos o few lower cupboords thot ore pointed lighblue, with 0 smoller single kitchen sink. There ore o few shelves on top with o few dishes, mixing bowls ond mugs. There I0 hot plote ond 0 tooster oven on top of the counter, ond o smoller fridge, with o tiny freezer on top. A smoll round toblewith 2 choirs is pushed up ogoinst the woll.The whole spoce hos to be obout 300 squore feet, it's rustic but chorming, ond it's everything I need. I con see myselfodding o few smoll things to moke it more my own, ond more comfortoble.“This is omozing, Peggy! I love it, ond I really oppreciote this. How much do you usuolly chorge?” I osk.“Well why don't we give you some time to get on your feet before we tolk obout thot,” she smiles.“Reolly, I hove some sovings. I'd like to poy now,” I insist. “Well I usuolly rent it out for 4503 per month,” she soys. I reachmy purse ond grob 900 dollors out.“I'll give you two months now then,” I hond her the money.“Just like your mother, olwoys thinking oheod. Also, I didn’t know whot you like, but I put o few things in the fridge for yoond in the lower cupboord there," she opens the fridge, ond I see some peonut butter, jom, breod, butter, opples, eggs,milk. The cupboord hos o few cons of soup, crockers ond cereol.“Peggy this wos reolly sweet of you, Id like to poy you for the groceries too,” I odmit.“Oh it's no big deol, it's just the bosics. You're Jon's doughter. I'm glod to help,” she insists.“Here is your key! Why don't you toke todoy off, get settled, ond the bor is closed on Sundoy, but we'll get you storted onMondoy?”“Ym okoy to stort tonight if you wont?” I osk. I feel onxious to just jump in ond get to it. If I put it off, I'll just stress obout“Are you sure you don't need more time to get settled ond rest?” She osks.“If you're closed tomorrow, then I con olwoys rest ond get settled then”Peggy nods. “Okoy, well it's 12:30 pm. Why don’t you meet down ot the bor ot 47 It'll be pretty deod until 7pm, itl give usplenty of time to troin you?"“Sounds greot. I con't thonk you enough Peggy. I om so groteful” She smiles ot me ond gives me one lost hug.“Ym glod to hove you, deor,” she soys, before leoving.I pull my cor oround bock ond houl my luggoge upstoirs. It doesn't toke me long to unpock my suitcoses ond stuff myempty bogs under my bed. All my dresses ond coots borely fit in the tiny closet, with oll my shoes. I moke sure everythingis dusted ond cleoned; I don’t know how long it's been since someone lived here.It's only 2pm, ond even though I borely slept in the lost month, 'm still wide owoke ond wired. This whole picking up ondmoving somewhere new is exhiloroting, or moybe thot's onxiety I'm feeling? I decide to toke o reloxing both ond listen tomusic to decompress ond get ready for my new job. I woitressed ot o diner one summer o few yeors ogo, but I've neverbortended before. I wonder if drunkords or toddlers ore more difficult.I get out of my bothtub, ond I feel so good. It's olmost like I've felt like I hove been drowning for the lost month. Borelykeeping my heod obove woter, fighting just to survive, ond suddenly someone hos pulled me into the boot, ond out of thwoter. I hove stich o sense of relief, ond peoce now, ond it oll just hit me.I blow dry my noturolly stroight hoir ond tie it up since 'm working with food ond beveroges. I decide to weor o high-sleeponytoil. 1 put on some block skinny jeons, with o block t-shirt. I put on some brown onkle height cowgirl boots, it seemslike it would be o good fit for this bor.We walk out the back door, and I see a set of steps off to the side. We walk up to them and at the top of the stairs, Peggyunlocks the door and opens it. It's not very big, but it has bright white walls and rustic charming wooden plank floors. It'snot dark with cobwebs, thankfully. It has a double bed by the one big window. It has the tiniest closet I've ever seen. The:is a light wood dresser and a tiny white end table. There is a small bathroom with a claw-foot tub, next to a toilet, with atiny free-standing basin.Separating the kitchenette is an empty white bookshelf. The kitchenette has a few lower cupboards that are painted lightblue, with a smaller single kitchen sink. There are a few shelves on top with a few dishes, mixing bowls and mugs. There ia hot plate and a toaster oven on top of the counter, and a smaller fridge, with a tiny freezer on top. A small round tablewith 2 chairs is pushed up against the wall.The whole space has to be about 300 square feet, it's rustic but charming, and it's everything I need. I can see myselfadding a few small things to make it more my own, and more comfortable.“This is amazing, Peggy! I love it, and I really appreciate this. How much do you usually charge?” I ask.“Well why don't we give you some time to get on your feet before we talk about that,” she smiles.“Really, I have some savings. I'd like to pay now,” I insist. “Well I usually rent it out for 4503 per month,” she says. I reach imy purse and grab 900 dollars out.“rll give you two months now then,” I hand her the money.“Just like your mother, always thinking ahead. Also, I didn’t know what you like, but I put a few things in the fridge for youand in the lower cupboard there,” she opens the fridge, and I see some peanut butter, jam, bread, butter, apples, eggs, mThe cupboard has a few cans of soup, crackers and cereal.“Peggy this was really sweet of you, I'd like to pay you for the groceries too,” I admit.“Oh it's no big deal, it's just the basics. You're Joan's daughter. I'm glad to help,” she insists.“Here is your key! Why don't you take today off, get settled, and the bar is closed on Sunday, but we'll get you started onMonday?"“Ym okay to start tonight if you want?” I ask. I feel anxious to just jump in and get to it. If 1 put it off, Ill just stress about i“Are you sure you don't need more time to get settled and rest?” She asks.“If you're closed tomorrow, then I can always rest and get settled then”Peggy nods. “Okay, well it's 12:30 pm. Why don't you meet down at the bar at 47 Itll be pretty dead until 7pm, itll give usplenty of time to train you?”“Sounds great. I can't thank you enough Peggy. I am so grateful” She smiles at me and gives me one last hug.“Ym glad to have you, dear she says, before leaving.I pull my car around back and haul my luggage upstairs. It doesn't take me long to unpack my suitcases and stuff my embags under my bed. All my dresses and coats barely fit in the tiny closet, with all my shoes. I make sure everything isdusted and cleaned; I don't know how long it's been since someone lived here.It's only 2pm, and even though I barely slept in the last month, I'm still wide awake and wired. This whole picking up andmoving somewhere new is exhilarating, or maybe that's anxiety I'm feeling? I decide to take a relaxing bath and listen tomusic to decompress and get ready for my new job. I waitressed at a diner one summer a few years ago, but I've neverbartended before. I wonder if drunkards or toddlers are more difficult.I get out of my bathtub, and I feel so good. It's almost like I've felt like I have been drowning for the last month. Barelykeeping my head above water, fighting just to survive, and suddenly someone has pulled me into the boat, and out of thewater. I have such a sense of relief, and peace now, and it all just hit me.I blow dry my naturally straight hair and tie it up since I'm working with food and beverages. I decide to wear a high-sleelponytail. I put on some black skinny jeans, with a black t-shirt. I put on some brown ankle height cowgirl boots, it seemslike it would be a good fit for this bar.I put some makeup on. I add a black cat eye, some blush, mascara, and tinted lip stain and I'm ready to go. It's amazinghow much those 4 hours of sleep did for my complexion. I don't look so tired and washed out anymore. I eat a quick PBwith an apple before I head down for 4pm.“Oh, you look nice! The men will be just eyeing you up all night” Peggy laughs.I smile uncomfortably. Attracting men isn't really what 'm going for. Then Peggy gives me a black “Peggy's Pub’ t-shirt tochange into. She introduces me to Jerome, the cook. Jerome is a bulky-looking man. He seems nice, with a “no-nonsense’sort of attitude, which I can totally appreciate. I can imagine being the only cook, he needs to be like that.I spend the next few hours learning the ins and outs of the job. The waitressing is a breeze, and for the most part, Peggyassures me, it's mostly beer and shots being served. Not a lot of mixed drinks in here. She trains me on the cash, and it alseems straightforward. Peggy gets me taking orders for everyone who comes in at first. It's not too busy, and she wants tciron out any kinks before things pick up.Apparently, I picked the busiest night of the week to start, which is a little nerve-wracking. I wonder how Jerome and Peg;manage to keep everyone served on their own in this place. I guess they'll appreciate the extra set of hands tonight.The last few hours have been good. Everyone has been nice, and all the customers are happy to see a new face, buteveryone's got questions. I try and keep it as vague as possible.“My Mom is an old friend of Peggy's, and I've heard so much about the fine people of Red Riverview, and how they're a cuabove the rest, and I needed to see for myself”They always follow up with “AND?” or “What's the verdict?”I of course tell them she wasn't lying. They're all eating it up, but everyone has honestly been very welcoming and kind, sit's not a lie. 1 walk up to a table of 4 ladies, they are all laughing and having a good time. They are all very beautiful andlook to be in their early 20's.“Wait we've never seen you around here before. You're pretty too, what are you doing here? In the middle of nowhere?” 0girl asks.I chuckle at the tell-tale sign that they started drinking before they got here. Women tend to let the compliments fly whe:they're feeling the effects of alcohol.“Uh, thanks. I'm Lauren. My Mom is an old friend of Peggy's, and I needed a change, so here I am,” which is the most honeanswer I have given all night.“So what can I get for you pretty ladies tonight?”“A round of fireball shots for all of us,” one blonde answers.“Should we just get a bottle of wine too?” another ask.They discuss it for a second, and then order a bottle of wine, with 3 glasses, and a Michelob Ultra for one of them. I headback to the bar, and I notice 2 good-looking guys sitting at the bar that weren't there before. One of them is beyondgorgeous. I think I might have froze for a second when I first saw his face. He took my breath away.Peggy is in the back with Jerome, so I say, “Hey guys, Ill be with you in a minute” Trying to control the way my heart spedup when I saw him. I try to seem “chill, so my thoughts aren't written all over my face. They both smile and nod. I startgetting the ladies their drinks when suddenly, I smell it. Werewolves? My head shoots up to the two handsome guys to m,left at the bar, just about 6 feet away.One of them is studying me, and the other one, the really hot one is smiling at me. But smiling like “AHA!” Like he knows Ijust made the connection. I can't even believe how sexy he is. He's tall, very muscular, he has dark short hair, with a shortscruffy beard which is so sexy. He has a defined jawline, and in 2 words, ruggedly sexy. He also has amazing deep browneyes, and a perfect smile. He's got tattoos on both of his arms, too. It just makes him even hotter. He's definitely the bestlooking man I have ever seen in my life! Even sexier than Nathan. I didn't know it was possible to be more attracted tosomeone than your own mate.His friend has lighter hair, is tall and muscular as well, but not nearly as big and sexy as my man. Wait, what? My? What wthat?

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