Page 32 of Awake in Cheshire Bay
“Too late,” I said sarcastically as I grabbed her empty Coke. “But I see your point. I’ll get you a refill.”
“Don’t do anything foolish.” She cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled it in my direction.
“Says the girl who sent a VIP over to ask for me by name.”
My anger was misplaced. It shouldn’t have been directed at Cedar, but Antonio wasn’t around for me to take it out of him.
Chapter Eleven
I backed the truck up to the side entrance of the pub, the door nearest the storeroom.
Dale met me outside. “I’ve everything ready for ya.”
“Thanks.” I popped the end gate. “We’ll load it up in there.”
The big Thanksgiving bonfire was tonight, the last major one of the season. The weather was promising a great night, minimal clouds, and hardly any breeze. It couldn’t have been more perfect weather wise if we’d begged and danced to the weather Gods, something Cedar joked she was more than ready to do.
At last count, late last night, there were over fifty people in attendance.
I lifted flat after flat of beer into the box. “You think this will be enough?”
Over the past three days, Dale had helped me decide what alcohol to bring. It was a potluck of sorts; everyone chipped in money which went to booze and food. Naturally, I was in charge of the beers and bevvies.
“Ya, and if not, give me a holler. I can bring some over.”
“You’re welcome to attend without being my delivery guy, you know.”
“That’s awfully kinda ya, and I’ll consider it.”
Dale had been a friendly shoulder to lean on especially after he caught me having an outburst in the back room over Antonio. Busted, I’d then spilled how the charming SOB played me and asked him why all guys were jerks. Understandably, he said they weren’t all like that. Knowing I’d offended him, it dug the knife in a little deeper, because he was right – it wasn’t all guys, just the ones I seemed to associate with. Dale probably thought I was a tad crazy for having more emotions over the little bit of time I’d spent with Antonio than there was right to have, but still, he tolerated it, and me, just the same.
“Did ya call him?”
No, I hadn’t. I’d tracked down one of the businesses he ran and had a nastygram ready to fire out to their general email department, but I never hit send. I had to learn it was one night and to let it go. It had been four days already. Besides, if it was real, he would’ve tried to get in contact, since he knew where I worked and lived. It wouldn’t be hard at all to get in touch with me.
Dale grabbed another flat and handed it to me, where I added it on to the small stack I had going. “His mistake.”
I shrugged. That was what Cedar and Mitch had said, and Eric too, who, incidentally, tried his best to get more information as well, and it was all for naught. Their empty plane had sat beside the building for less than twenty-fours when a new crew came in, repaired it priority one, and filed a flight plan to Victoria. There was no passenger manifest for the belly crashed flight.
“That’s kind of you to say.” I positioned the last of the flats. “That should do it.” I hopped out of the bed and slammed the end gate.
Dale picked up a scrap of paper from the ground. “Can I ask ya somethun?”
“Of course.”
“Being that this guy is history, would ya ever think about seeing someone else?” He looked at the ground and brushed his hands down his jeans. “Like say, me?”
Well, that was not quite the question I expected, and I didn’t know how to let the guy down without hurting his feelings. Dale was nice, but I wasn’t attracted to him, and even if I was, I wasn’t ready to move on.
“I know I’m not super educated or anything, but I got me a good paying job at a great local establishment, and I’ve no warrants out for ma arrest or anything.” A small wink came my way, but I wasn’t sure if it was intentional since he rubbed his eye after talking.
“You’re a great guy, Dale, and a fantastic employee.” And that was my in. “But…” I leaned in and whispered. “I can’t date staff. It looks bad, like I’m playing favourites.” I leaked out a half smile.
“Ah, ya, that makes sense.” He tapped his temple. “Don’t tell no one I asked ya out.”
I patted him on the arm. “I promise your secret is safe with me.”
“We good?”