I clocked in earlier than usual, the kind of early that made even the bar feel unfamiliar; half-lit, silent except for the hum of the coolers. The staff was setting up for an exclusive birthday party, and the sight of balloons felt oddly out of place in a room usually steeped in neon and whiskey.
I wasn't sure why I'd come this early. Maybe it was to avoid staying in my own head too long. Or maybe...
I pushed the thought aside.
"Tyler!" my uncle's voice boomed as he spotted me, his grin as wide as ever. He was juggling a clipboard and a drink, already in celebration mode.
"Kid, you look... different," he said, stopping mid-stride to study me.
I frowned, already bristling. "What are you on about, Gramps?"
"I don't know. Less miserable." He squinted, then his face broke into a teasing smile. "Something good happen?"
"Ridiculous," I muttered, stepping behind the bar to start wiping down the counter. The cloth felt rough against my palm, grounding me.
But he wasn't done. He leaned closer, his grin growing conspiratorial. "Wait. Don't tell me... it's a girl, isn't it? You met someone!"
I froze, my hand gripping the edge of the counter for just a second too long.
"She's not my girlfriend," I said, the words coming out sharper than I intended.
That only encouraged him. He plopped down onto a stool, propping his elbows on the bar like he was settling in for a story. "Okay, but you did meet someone. Spill it."
I sighed, knowing he wouldn't drop it. "It wasn't a big deal. I met her in the park. Tequila found her first."
"Tequila found her?" His voice lost its teasing edge. He leaned back slightly, suddenly serious. "What happened?"
I hesitated, my fingers tracing the seam of my shirt as I tried to find the right words. The memory flickered in my mind; Tequila's tail wagging, her cautious approach melting into trust as if she'd known Kz forever.
"She liked her," I said finally, my voice quieter. "Tequila was calm. She doesn't usually... she doesn't trust people that quickly."
He nodded, his expression softening. "That dog knows you better than anyone, Tyler. If she liked this girl, that's something."
I snorted, shaking my head. "You're reading too much into it, Gramps."
"Am I?" he said, his tone lighter now but still carrying weight. "You've been keeping people out for so long, kid. Maybe it's time to let someone in."
His words hit harder than I wanted them to. I busied myself with lining up bottles, but my movements felt stiff. The truth was, meeting Kz had felt different. Like a faint hum breaking the static.
But that scared me.
Why did I even stop at the park that afternoon? Why didn't I just keep walking like I always do? I'd told myself I didn't need anyone, that keeping my world small was safer.
Yet there I was, thinking about a stranger with a warm laugh and soft eyes that loved her dogs.
The memory of her hand brushing mine flashed in my mind, and I realized I was fidgeting with the corner of my apron. My chest tightened, a mix of something I couldn't name and didn't want to face.
Let someone in.
I glanced from afar as if traveling to the park, the thought lingering like an itch I couldn't scratch.
Could it really be that simple?
"Calm down, Tyler," I muttered. "If it's meant to happen, it will."
But deep down, I hoped fate wasn't done with us yet.