“Remind me why I am here,” I said looking at the bar and packed parking lot.

  “Because Linkin invited us,” Felicity answered plainly.

  The engine clinked off as I watched the busy front door opening and closing with people scurrying in and out. I took off my sunglasses and placed them in the cup holder. I put on my dad’s old Astros cap to block out bright street lights. The sun had already sunk over the horizon, leaving only a few rays of twilight. I chose my jean shorts and a black hoodie with my natural wavy hair pulled into a ponytail. My legs felt so exposed without my sweats or leggings, but Fe has been trying to push me to adjust to my normal habits in case I end up stuck in this in-between state.

  We walked into the Mini Soda Bar around eight p.m., and I felt my anxiety rise. The putrid smell of alcohol was the first scent to hit me. Country music thumped on the stereos all around the bar. Thankfully, I had my earbuds in to keep the music from paralyzing me from its volume. The smell of the sizzling beef on the grill made my mouth water, which covered up the alcohol scent. I wanted to just go into the kitchen and pull a steak off the grill to dig into it. I was torn between the delicious smells and overly loud music on which sense to focus right now. There were about twenty people around our age in the bar, confirming Betty Sue’s insight about where we might find people our age in town.

  Felicity took my hand and dragged me across the room where she spotted Linkin sitting with a group of friends near the pool tables. He had two guys and a girl with him, and they were already snacking on mozzarella sticks and fried pickles. Part of me wanted to gobble up everything on the table, but it wasn’t my food to eat. I tried to smile instead of focusing on the crunchy sounds of food and warm smells around me. Linkin recognized us as we crossed the bar’s dance floor. He stood up and met us by the bar.

  “Hey, the city girls made it,” Linkin grinned. He was wearing clean worn-out jeans with his blue flannel that made his hazel eyes look more blue.

  “City girls?” I questioned. “Hardly.”

  Fe shook her head giggling. “Thanks for inviting us out, Linkin. It’s hard to get Kori to try places like this outside of Texas.”

  “Texas, huh? I guess that makes you guys southern city girls,” Linkin gave awkward side hugs. “Welcome to our little town.”

  My fingers brushed over his muscular back during the hug, and I felt warmth flood my face. His flannel was barely hiding his jacked rancher muscles. Instantly I looked away to hide my pink cheeks. Maybe a drink will calm my nerves. “I’m heading to the bar, do you want anything Fe?”

  She nodded. “Jack and coke.”

  “Got it,” I answered heading toward the bar. I am not sure what happened after I walked away, but Linkin appeared by my side while I waited for the drinks.

  “Here’s your beer, Link,” Sunny, the bartender handed him his drink while he finished making my screwdriver.

  Linkin started being playful asking about my drink of choice as he sipped on his beer. I did my best to keep my emotions in check even though the room was slowly becoming overwhelming. It felt like the music was getting louder and being this close to the alcohol made my nose burn. I was missing the savory smell of steak. I turned and asked the bartender for a shot of rum. I needed to dull my senses if I was going to make it through the evening. Sunny placed my shot on the bar before putting out the rest of my order. Linkin must have taken note of my odd behavior as I took the shot and asked for a second.

  “Everything ok?” He asked, concerned.

  I simply nodded and downed the second shot. “Just need a bit of a jump start on the evening.” I grabbed my screwdriver burning after the taste of rum setting my throat on fire. “Think anyone would mind if I got a steak?” I asked quietly as I grabbed Felicity’s drink.

  Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

  “No, I think some food for you is in order,” He responded, watching me carefully. “I can hear your stomach rumbling again.”

  “High metabolism, “ I said, casually. Being hungry most of the time had become my new normal. It was hard to stay full since I couldn’t cook much in the motel room.

  He nodded and followed me back toward Felicity who was being a natural social butterfly at the table. She usually didn’t socialize like this, but in a strange town where everyone knew each other, it was hard not to talk to everyone.

  Linkin introduced me to everyone while Fe whispered in my ear that she already ordered the biggest steak on the menu for me. I thanked her and handed her the drink she requested. She told me all about Seth, Wylie, and Kat. Spunky Kat is Linkin’s little sister who is home for the summer from her university. Rowdy Wylie is Kat’s boyfriend of three years and Linkin’s friend from high school. Cool guy, Seth is Linkin’s best friend from childhood who is the local DJ in town.

  The night goes on as we are all making small talk, but I hear Fe snort laughing while she’s talking to Seth. I can see her eyes admiring him like he’s a new way to code she just discovered while building a firewall. The waiter returns to the table with my steak and a burger for Fe. She comes to sit next to me at the table to eat. My steak is so satisfying that I almost want another. Fe giggles at my professed love for beef. The alcohol is flowing through my system and muting my senses enough that I breathe a sigh of relief. I gave Fe the keys to my Focus cause there was no way I was going to drive like this. She gives me a nod of understanding as our table mates rejoin the table with their new drinks. Fe glances over at Seth who’s giving the dorkiest smile as she walks right out of his cool guy dreams.

  I whisper to her. “Go get him, Fe.”

  “Who? Seth?” She blushes.

  “Yes, the curly-haired, blonde guy is checking you out,” I point out, and her cheeks turn a deeper shade of red. “Look, we might be here for my weird personal reasons, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a life too.”

  Her eyes looked at me with a bit of guilt. “But-”

  “No,” I shook my head, feeling the intense warmth of alcohol in my head. I looked around and grabbed Linkin’s arm to tug him toward me. “You aren’t leaving me alone. See?” I pointed to the confused rancher standing next to me. “Linkin will make sure everything’s fine while you have fun, right cowboy?”

  Linkin had an amused expression on his face and then turned to Fe. “Don’t worry, Korinne will be here safe and sound.”

  “She better be,” Felicity warned before reluctantly leaving us alone.

  Linkin and I watched as Seth pulled Felicity onto the dance floor where Kat and Wiley were already line dancing. “Does she know how to dance?” He asked.

  “Better than me,” I replied, sipping down my water. Fe ordered me water to go with the steak since I definitely had a buzz going on.

  “Does that mean you won’t dance?” He asked playfully.

  I rolled my eyes at his corny attempt at flirting. “Look cowboy, the only way I am dancing tonight is if I have more shots, but we both know Felicity will flay you like a fish if you bring me more alcohol.”

  Linkin sat down in the chair beside me. “So, no alcohol and no dancing. Any more rules I should know about?”

  “No flirting,” I said with a sly smile. “I am on a dating hiatus.”

  “Oh?” He gave me a charming crooked smile. “Were we flirting?”

  I raised my eyebrow at him. “Did I say we were cowboy?”

  “Just making sure I am not breaking your rules,” He took a sip of his beer cooly.

  I felt like giggling at him. Linkin was trying to be smooth with me in a charming way, and maybe, if I wasn’t only three weeks post-breakup... He started asking about the nature preserve, and how I liked his little town. I told him about Clara introducing us to Winter tomorrow, and he told me about his experience meeting Winter. Winter was an older wolf who was sweet about the people he liked. Linkin told me how Winter would crawl into Clara’s lap when she had treats for him. I hoped meeting Winter would give me insight into my spirit wolf. I almost want to go back to the motel to sleep to make tomorrow come faster.

  “Winter was the first wolf that I got close with at the preserve,” Linkin smiled. “If it wasn’t for him, I would have had the courage to help this injured wolf washed up on the riverbank of my property. At first, I thought this fella was dead, but he quickly warned me away when I approached him. So far, all I can do is bring food while he heals. I knocked him out with a tranquilizer on the first day to have the vet look over him. We got him on medicine that I stick in the food to get rid of his infection. It looked like the wolf had gotten into it with a pack, and just barely survived. The vet mentioned that he should be better by the end of June.”

  I was amazed Linkin had cared enough to help a wolf. He didn’t seem phased when I asked about the wolf eating his animals or destroying his produce. “Why didn’t you just call the preserve to come get him?”

  “I did,” Linkin explained. “But moving him might have made his aggression worse. All he needs to do is heal, which he can do on my land.”

  “Think I could see him some day?” I ask jokingly. This poor wolf was alone and attacked by other wolves. It made me wonder if he was connected to my spirit wolf somehow.

  “Maybe,” Linkin answered. “It’s up to the wolf, not me.”

  Linkin chatted with me about his ranch. They worked with cattle the most, but they did grow produce, too. His mom passed away when he was still a kid, but his dad has been there for him and Kat. I told how I lost both my parents when I was young and Felicity’s family adopted me. We shared some nice things about our moms, but the best story was Linkin’s. He told how his mom was the biggest Linkin Park fan, so she knew once she married his dad, Mr. Park, that she would name her son Linkin Park like the band. It was the perfect combination of touching and silly.

  “I wonder if I should stop calling you cowboy then,” I hummed as my buzz had taken full effect. All the sounds beyond the table were muted. Talking with Linkin was nice. I didn’t feel anxious even though we were in the middle of a bar where Felicity was line dancing with a stranger.

  Maybe, Linkin wasn’t so bad.