Page 46 of Timid (Lark Cove 2)

“Please.” She nodded and I filled her a glass.

A table of three caught my attention, so I left her to bring them another round. I came back and checked in with Willa just as a table of two signaled for their check.

And that was how the evening went.

When I wasn’t filling a drink or waiting on someone, I’d stand at my post across from Willa. We chatted about nothing major, and while I worked, she watched the ballgame I had on the corner television.

I assumed after an hour of her sipping Coke and me being too busy to really talk much that she’d slip away.

But she stayed.

She sat quietly, taking the moments I had to spare until the place finally cleared out five hours later.

“Sorry.” I set down the last batch of dirty glasses I’d collected from the room. “I haven’t been good company tonight. But I’m glad you stayed.”

“It’s okay.” She slid over her empty glass. “And me too. It’s kind of fun watching you in action.”

“Yeah?”

She nodded. “You work fast. I’m not sure how you keep everything straight, always doing three things at once. It’s impressive.”

Now it was my turn to blush. I don’t think I’d ever been complimented on my bartending skills before. Other than the women who’d come in and compliment me on my body, I didn’t get a lot of praise, even from Hazel and Thea.

Those two loved me, but aside from the occasional hug, razzing me was how they expressed their affection.

Willa’s simple compliment made me feel ten feet tall.

“I like watching you work too,” I told her. “You’ve got a gift with those kids at the camp. You should have been a teacher.”

“That’s what I have my degree in.”

“But you didn’t get a job at the school?”

She shook her head. “There aren’t a lot of openings here. I probably could have moved to Kalispell and gotten a job there, but I wanted to live in Lark Cove. And the camp director position was open, so I took it instead. I figured it was a job I could keep until something else opened up, but then I just never wanted to leave.”

“Then it’s good that it all worked out.”

She smiled. “Exactly. Maybe when my dad retires, I’ll take his spot as the science teacher.”

It was good she had a long-term plan, unlike me. If the bar were to ever close down, I’d be without another skill to fall back on if I wanted to stay in Lark Cove.

“Did you go to college?” she asked.

“Nah. I was lucky to graduate high school.”

“Well, if you ever wanted to go, I’m sure you’d do great.”

I blinked, surprised for the second time in five minutes.

Willa had such confidence in her statement. It was way more than I deserved, especially from a woman who had every right to consider me a cocky ass. But she looked at me like I could do anything in the world.

It was unnerving. It was a rush.

“College isn’t for me,” I told her. “I don’t need anything other than my bar.”

“Have you ever wanted to do anything else?” Her voice was only full of curiosity, not an ounce of judgment. She wasn’t asking because she thought I could do better. She just wanted to know.

“Not really. I’ve been bartending ever since I turned eighteen. Liked it then. Still like it now. Someone has to serve pizza and beer, right?”