“How’s this Prosecco?” I tap the menu. “Is it on the dry side, or sweet?”
“It’s, uh…” Tanner scowls. “Okay—confession time. I’m a great bar manager but I’m new to wine. So why don’t I pour you a glass on the house, and you can tell me how to describe it.”
“That’s a deal I can’t refuse.” I can only have one drink, though, since I’m the driver tonight.
Tanner pours me a glass of bubbly, and taps a beer for Kieran. He serves a few more customers, while I taste the wine and look around. “So this is the Vermont edition of a gay bar. Fascinating. Not much leather. Lots of technical fabrics. Rugged. Kinda on the wholesome side. It's a lot like how I’d picture a gay bar in Iceland.”
Kieran glances around. “Nice place.”
“Absolutely.” The singer does a unique, acoustic cover of an old Cranberries song, and I dig it.
“That could be you up there,” Kieran says suddenly. “On your guitar. You’d sound amazing.”
“Nah.” I swat that idea away. “I only play for you. I like music, but I’m not ambitious about it. I’d rather sit next to you than be up on the stage.”
He gives me a warm look that’s only interrupted when Tanner returns. “Okay, Colebury contingent, let’s have those tasting notes.” He taps a notepad with a pen. “Save me from my ignorance.”
I take a taste of the wine and hold it on my tongue. Then I hold up the glass. “The color is straw-yellow with hints of green. The nose is fragrant with notes of citron and honey.”
Tanner blinks. “Something tells me you’ve done this before.”
“I went to culinary school.”
“Around here?” he asks.
I shake my head. “Nashville. Long story. I stayed away from Colebury for eight years.”
“Huh.” Tanner rubs his chin. “I got away from this place, too. But it called me back.”
“I guess it called me, too,” I admit.
“Some of us never left,” Kieran says, resting his burly elbow on the bar.
“How’s Colebury holding up?” Tanner asks. “There’s some new bars, right?”
“Yeah, two of them,” Kieran says. “The Gin Mill and Speakeasy. Plus the coffee shop where Roddy runs the kitchen.”
“Nice. You guys still in touch with anyone from high school?” Tanner asks.
“Just him.” I point at Kieran. “Not that we knew each other back then.”
“Not, uh, well, anyway,” Kieran says, flashing me a secretive smile. He glances at Tanner again. “Do you still have friends in Colebury?”
“Not so much, because I only lived there one year. But there’s a Facebook group for every graduation year. My brother sent it to me. See?” He puts his phone down on the bar in front of me. “Two hundred members.”
“Huh,” I say. “High school wasn’t a great time for me, so I don’t have much urge to relive it. Except…” I squint down at the phone. “Is that—?” I stop myself just in time. Because it’s not cool to bring up your old hookups with your boyfriend sitting beside you.
It’s too late, though. Kieran has leaned over to squint at Tanner’s phone. “Jared Harvey,” he says. “What’s he up to?”
“Soccer player, right?” Tanner says. “The only thing I remember about him is that he was hot.”
I chuckle nervously. “Never mind—”
Tanner taps on Jared’s picture, oblivious to my discomfort. “He lives in Barre, but he teaches at Colebury High School. Huh. Some people couldn’t get enough of that place, I guess. Oh—” He sets the phone on the bar again. “Here. My beer delivery is here. ‘Scuse me, boys.” Tanner slides off to intercept another staff member.
Kieran and I exchange an amused glance. Then he looks down at Tanner’s phone. “Don’t you want to know what subject Jared teaches?”
“Nah.” The truth is I never think about Jared Harvey. That was ten years ago already. And we had nothing in common and barely ever spoke to each other. All he wanted from me was some hasty physical release. And all I wanted from him was sex and rebellion.
Kieran slides the phone over and scrolls the page. Then he lets out a loud, startled bark of laughter. “Oh my God.”
“What?”
Kieran tips his shaggy head back and laughs. “He’s the phys ed teacher.”
“What? No.”
“It’s true!” Kieran laughs harder. “He just couldn’t stay away from that gym. Too many memories.”
“You’re kidding.” I lean over the phone and let out a snort the moment I see the photo of adult Jared in his Colebury spirit-wear, a whistle around his neck. “I can’t believe it.”
“I’m telling you.” Kieran nudges me with his knee. “You leave a big impression on anyone who meets you. Huge.”
“Oh stop.”
“It’s true.” Kieran wraps an arm around me and hugs me even as the music gets louder. “I’m a lucky guy, Roddy.” He kisses me quickly on the side of my face. “Under those bleachers was only the start.”
“It wasn’t even my best work,” I say, soaking up Kieran’s affection. “When we go home later, I’ll show you all my new tricks.”
“I’m counting on it,” he says.
And I know I’m a lucky guy, too.
T H E
E N D
——
Thank you for reading Roommate! There’s even a bonus epilogue right here for you!
Did you know there’s a whole series of books coming your way at the Vino & Veritas bar and bookstore? True story! They’re part of Sarina Bowen’s World of True North. Including:
Featherbed by Annabeth Albert
Heartscape by Garrett Leigh
And many more!
Don’t Miss: The New Vino & Veritas Series
Featherbed by Annabeth Albert
Heartscape by Garrett Leigh
Headstrong by Eden Finley
Undercover by Eliot Grayson
Aftermath by L.A. Witt
And more!