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Garrett

Garrett had walked over to the pier by Monday morning. He had worked nonstop since sunrise, and he had a restless night's sleep because of his inability to settle down his racing thoughts. Things didn't go his way on Sunday. He went back to Imani's house, even more determined than before, only to find that no one was home. After waiting for what felt like decades, he eventually decided that the neighbor was about to take drastic action, either involving the authorities or resorting to violence. And just like that, he left.

Why on Earth had Mani been hanging out in his grandfather's room? And why didn't his grandpa mention anything about her visit?

That question weighed heavily on his mind throughout the day, but he couldn't muster the nerve to ask Eugene. As he nailed the last panel, the sun fell beyond the horizon. Garrett gently wiped away the sweat from his temples using a damp towel. Exhaustion, dirt, and fervent thirst completely overwhelmed him. After returning the towel to the waterfront, he wandered over to the fridge in the boathouse.

He had stocked up the day before and grabbed a water bottle, taking a long pull before heading back out to take a look at his handiwork. The aroma of dirt and newly cut lumber mixed with the undeniable scent of fall filling the air. As he gazed at the lake, he noticed the trees had shifted their hues, hinting at a forthcoming picturesque transformation in the scenery. Instead of green, the colors would burst forth in a vibrant display of reds, oranges, and yellows.

As he took a big sip of his water, Garrett watched an elegant white pelican gracefully skim across the water before disappearing into the forest.

"Pelicans," he murmured. A knot formed in his throat at the sight of more pelicans; he hadn't seen any in years. He missed spending time outdoors like he did as a child because he was too busy working in Washington, D.C. As a grown-up, he had a great fondness for outdoor activities consisting of jogging, skiing, swimming, and hiking. Nevertheless, his life took an unexpected twist. Because of his reliance on gym time for his workout, he had become disconnected from the beauty of the natural world.

As he stood on the port, soaking up the midday sun and observing the gentle sway of the trees, the capital of the United States felt incredibly distant.

After putting in a solid eight hours of work, Garrett finished his water bottle and casually dropped it in the recycling bin. He thought that a nice half-hour dip in the hot tub would work miracles on his sore body.

As he got ready to clean up, he noticed someone heading towards the boathouse. To get a clearer view, Garrett had to strain his eyes.

He said, "Fuckin' hell," as he cautiously stepped around the loose panels. Once he climbed the stairs, he found himself on the upper deck. Without hesitation, he strode over to the man and embraced him tightly. The response was the same—for precisely two seconds—before the newcomer slapped him on the back and shoved him aside, a broad smile spreading across his face.

"Beaumont, Jesus Christ. Please don't get too cozy with me. When did you suddenly start letting your emotions define your actions?"

Garrett couldn't believe what he was hearing and instinctively took a step back. Ramón Ramirez. This man was his closest friend since they were kids, and they kept in touch often, exchanging messages at least once a week, until recently. Then, however, real life interfered. He became completely absorbed in his work after he lost contact with his friend.

He grinned, taking in every detail. Ramón still had bushy locks and a few fresh tattoos, but other than that, he looked pretty much the same. The tall, slender man, who used to play quarterback for Louisiana State University, got released from the team. The fact that he survived long enough to win State was alarming. His unconventional nature and refusal to comply had always set him apart from the rest of their circle of friends. But Ramón was the type of friend you wanted by your side during difficult circumstances.

"Well, well, well, look who we have here. How long has it been since we last saw each other? A year?" Garrett inquired.

"Make that two years, my friend," Ramón replied.

That stung. It took Garrett by surprise. Since when did he allow himself to be so distracted? "Last I heard, you were thinking of flying to India for a job at a hospital."

His friend smiled. "That's correct. It's been more than a year since I settled down in Chennai."

Garrett arched an eyebrow. "That long. How do you like it?"

Ramón had a big grin on his face. "It's absolutely mind-blowing. Everyone there is incredible. Everything is going well."

"That's great. I'm happy for you." Once again, Garrett pulled him close for a hug. "So, what brings you back to Holden?"

Gazing at the boathouse, Ramón offered a subtle gesture of approval. "Well, my friend, that's quite a story. Do you have a beer?"

"Sure."

Garrett grabbed a few more beers from the fridge, and the two men made their way back to the pier, where they relaxed in the comfortable Muskoka chairs.

"Shit, our names are still carved in the seats out here," Ramón said.

He glanced down at his seat and noticed the initials GB engraved on the arm. His smile slowly vanished as he spotted Imani's initials next to his, with a small fire and match illustrated between their names.

"I swung by your place in Georgetown."

"Okay." Garrett lifted his beer and took a sip.

Ramón reclined in his chair. "I spoke with Veronica. She laid it all out for me."

"Oh." He was a little taken aback by that. "She's still hanging around my house."

"I believe so. She packed a moving truck with boxes she took from the garage." Ramón shot him a sideways glance. "Are you okay with it? Separating from her and everything?"

Garrett nodded. "She didn't deserve the shit I put her through."

"At least you made an effort to settle things with her."

"Yep." After a moment of silence, Garrett broke the ice between them. "Imani is back in town."

Ramón took a few seconds to respond. Garrett, always attentive, sensed that something was amiss as he toyed with his drink. "You are not at all surprised to hear that."

"I'm not. Imani and I are close friends." He casually raised his shoulders. "We haven't spoken since she moved back, but we do talk now and then." Ramón kept a close eye on Garrett. "That shocks you."

Garrett was more than shocked. A sudden surge of intense heat hit him. "You've never spoken about her before."

"Bringing up the past during our conversations never appeared to be a wise choice." After taking a small sip of his beer, Ramón leaned in closer. "To be frank, I didn't see the need to keep you in the loop about her. She was my best friend before she became your girlfriend. That's nothing new." He squinted. "Garrett, years have passed. You left her, and she needed somebody to talk to."

Garrett's jaw tightened, and he looked away, shifting his attention back to the water. "I understand where you're coming from. I guess I am just surprised." He experienced a multitude of feelings, yet at the moment, he couldn't quite pinpoint what those other emotions were. Deciding to brush them off, he changed the topic of discussion.

"Tell me. What made you come back to Alabama?"

His friend's face relaxed into a broad smile, lessening the tension. "This may come as a surprise."

"Tell me."

Anything that Ramón Ramirez said didn't surprise Garrett. This man, with no prior experience driving a manual vehicle, bravely accepted the challenge of racing his cousin's car at the Atlanta Motor Speedway just after turning eighteen. Ramón won the race, gained his cousin's respect, and received a fifty thousand dollar award. Since his football setback, he had taken any job that would finance his many adventures, and he had traveled far and wide. His life was unpredictable, and he was constantly on the go.

"You're familiar with Suzanne Nelson, aren't you?"

Garrett nodded. "Yes. She has been sick." Zoe had filled him in the other day.

"Suzanne has listed both her home and business for sale. I'm considering making an offer."

"The Paradise Lounge?" While Garrett savored his alcohol, his friend gave a subtle nod in response. "You're buying the company?"

Ramón chuckled. "I know it's shocking. I'm ready to settle down for the first time in my life. After leaving for college, I had no desire to return to this place. I had some pleasant memories here, but traveling the world made life better."

"I hear that." Garrett thought it was normal that Ramón could operate a bar and grill. He seemed to have a lot of experience in customer service. But running a company? It was very surprising. This was a big commitment, and Ramón had never been one to take things too seriously, wanting to have fun and enjoy the moment. He had an adventurous spirit. Even his own family was aware of that.

"So, let me get this straight. You're saying you'll be settling down here permanently?"

"Looks like it." After drinking his beer, Ramón casually threw the bottle away. "I understand your reservations about my expertise. Maintaining a successful business and avoiding bankruptcy."

Garrett raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "I'm at a loss for words. You sort of surprised me with this."

"Do you honestly believe I'll leave town again? That I lack the necessary dedication it would take to run a company? Or maybe I'll find a reason to go on another trip."

"It's amazing to know you agree with me. I'd give you four months. You may wind up with five months if you avoid becoming involved with anyone and dealing with their drama." Garrett eyed Ramón. "Have you thoroughly explored the ins and outs of operating your business?"

"Not exactly," Ramón confessed. "Still, this venture offers a few advantages. We all had to start somewhere to achieve our dreams, didn't we?"

Garrett remained cool while he assessed Ramón's statements. "Do you have a place to stay?"

"I do. I inherited my aunt and uncle's old farmhouse when they moved to Costa Rica over the summer. It's going to cost me a pretty penny from my savings to get everything fixed, but it will be okay. I can handle it."

"If you need an extra hand, you know where to find me." Garrett looked at the remaining boards. "It feels great to work out here again. It's been too long."

"I'm sure it does." Ramón climbed to his feet and stretched out his arms. "How much longer are you planning to stay in Holden? I've heard that your grandfather is not doing well."

"Eugene has his ups and downs. I decided to take a break from work to deal with everything, and I'm not sure how long I'll be in town."

"You got plans tonight?"

Garrett followed Ramón as they climbed the steps. "Just need to finish lining the boards out here. What do you have in mind?" A gust of wind surged across the lake as they stood at the top of the steps. The sun had dipped beyond the tree line, and the air felt cool.

"The Paradise Lounge offers half-priced wings on Mondays. I thought I'd get a jump on things by seeing how the business functions," Ramón said. "If I buy it, I'll be everyone's boss."

Garrett's stomach twitched. The Paradise Lounge. The food. Booze. Employees. Has it really been a week since he arrived in town?

"Imani will be there," his friend mentioned. "Just thought I'd give you a heads up."

"Yeah, I knew that." Garrett took a second to reply. He had to. He couldn't help but notice his heart pulsating with an almost aggravating intensity. It had been two days since he and Imani had last spoken, and they needed to have a conversation about the status of their relationship.

If Ramón had inside information about Imani, were they...

"Are you guys... um..." Garrett's jaw tightened as he struggled to express his thoughts. "Is there something going on between you and Imani?"

Ramón's eyes widened in surprise. "Are you kidding?" With a slight tilt of his head, he casually slipped his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. "Look, I've made it clear that Imani and I are just friends. That is it. I have never seen her in that light. I swear."

Garrett shifted his attention from overly perceptive eyes and wished he had kept his mouth shut. "How did you even know she would be working later?"

After inhaling deeply, Ramón casually shrugged. "She stays up-to-date on her social media. Mostly her Instagram. I enjoy staying updated on her activities, you know."

"Yeah."

"What's the deal with you two, anyway?" Ramón pondered. "Have you seen her?"

Indeed, Garrett has gone beyond simply coming across Imani. They spent the night together, and he was eager to see her again.

Naked arms and legs. Delicate lips swollen from his kisses. The fiery tattoo decorated her lower hip. The match was on his skin. A sour taste hung around in his mouth; he had spent a restless night with a strong desire to be with her, unable to escape the vivid memories in his mind.

"Oh, we crossed paths," Garrett remarked.

"Are you getting back with her?" Ramón continued.

Well, wasn't that the heart of the matter? After Saturday night, what in the world caused a rift between him and Imani? They could not return to the way things were before. They're stuck with the consequences of what happened that night.

Her letter suggested that Saturday night had been a regrettable decision. As if it were a decision, she deeply lamented. Garrett saw guilt as a mere illusion. He acknowledged that actions have consequences. And he had no trouble walking through the door that Imani had opened for him. That was her decision, and he responded accordingly.

What about the repercussions? The outcome remained an enigma. The depths of desire and longing revealed the effect.

Garrett and Imani's chemistry had always remained strong. Their lovemaking skills skyrocketed, but that was just one of the many things they had in common. Before he left Alabama and ruined their plans, they had an extraordinary bond. He had long held his grandfather responsible for the fact that he wasn't able to stick around. In the end, Garrett understood that this was his fault. Every decision. He was responsible for everything that happened. The excuse that he was naive, immature, and reckless when he started dating Imani wasn't the only conflict. They were now adults, so their actions truly mattered.

Garrett didn't realize it was too late until after the fact. Imani's departure from Holden led her to a modeling job in New York, where she eventually married a popular photographer Garrett had never heard of. Ten months later, she became a mother, and everything was going well until her husband passed away.

Now what? Was Saturday night just a meaningless fling? A brief love affair with a woman who would always hold a special place in his heart? Was there something else that sparked their desire for one another?

What had taken Garrett by surprise was seeing Imani at the hospital, coming from his grandfather's room, and leaving quickly, as if he had little significance in her life. He was completely in the dark about her appearance, and he didn't like being off his game.

"Beaumont?"

With his thoughts racing at full speed, Garrett turned to Ramón. "Let me wash up, and I'll go with you."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, brother. Having some chicken wings and a beer sounds tasty right now." 

It also seemed like a good chance to run into Imani, but Garrett couldn't admit that.

With a nod, Ramón followed him inside the house. "Great. Now, get ready."

Garrett had reservations about whether this was a wise decision. Deep down, he felt an undeniable urge to see her. There was this chance, and she couldn't run from him. As for the consequences, he really couldn't care less. He had a mission, and he was going to succeed.

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