Chapter 2:

I blink my eyes open and roll onto my back. I think it’s morning now, but it’s hard to tell since there are no windows in this room. I feel around my bed, but it’s empty and cold beside me. I angrily roll over and pull my blanket over my head. Why does he do that? Didn’t even leave a note. He just left.

Walt and I had never talked about what type of relationship we wanted to have with each other we just sort of fell into the habit of being together. I know Walt doesn’t want people finding out he’s gay. As far as I know the only people who know is Gina and I think his sister, but he doesn’t talk about his family to me too often. I honestly don’t mind keeping our relationship on the down low. I prefer to keep a low profile and stay out of the town gossip. But I also don’t like how Walt will blatantly ignore me in public or just leaves without saying anything like this morning. It makes me feel like I don’t mean anything to him.

I roll back over and throw my blanket off in frustration. I should just tell him I want more, but what if he doesn’t? I sit up and look at my phone for the time. It’s still before noon which is good. I’ll have a little bit of time to work on some projects before I have to be at the bar. I’d rather keep myself busy with woodwork than with thinking about Walt.

The bar is still relatively quiet when I go in to start my shift. It won’t get too busy until after dinner time. Right now the sun is still hovering over the horizon so there’s a few more hours to go.

I find Gina behind the bar keeping up a friendly conversation about football with one of the locals. It’s strange the things you pick up and learn about while working in this kind of 

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setting surrounded by all different types of people. I know in high school Gina didn’t know the first thing about any sports, but now she can openly debate different teams and seasons for any type of sport. I know she can also talk fertilizers and pesticides, types of cars, and just about anything else a person will come in here and want to talk or complain about. Personally, I’m not one for being talkative or even particularly friendly with strangers, but Gina’s got a knack for it. That’s why she bartends and I do the cleaning.

I immediately go to the sink and start on the dishes that Gina’s left to pile up from the afternoon crowd. Once I finish I go back to the cupboard and grab a bag of mixed nuts to refill the bowls we keep at the bar and booths. I walk around doing that and by the time I’m done the one patron that Gina had been chatting with is gone.

She leans against the bar and watches me with inquiring eyes. I ignore her and go back to the pantry to put the snacks away, but when I walk back to the bar she’s still there waiting for me.

“So what’s wrong?” She asks as I stand beside her.

“Why do you think something is wrong?” I question as I wipe down the bar with a clean dishcloth.

She raises an eyebrow and crosses her arms before replying, “Hi Gina, how’s it going? Need anything done? How’s the morning been?”

I roll my eyes, “You looked busy” I answer, “and there was stuff to do.” I say while gesturing to the mostly empty bar.

Gina narrows her eyes, “No, you were finding stuff to keep yourself busy.” She elbows me in the arm. “Come on, you can tell me. What’s eating away at you?”