I woke up on the flat inn suite carpet, greeted by the clear, inky black sky and a few speckles of stars.

That Xanax and the time change did a number on my sleep schedule.

I sat up and studied the sky, noticing how stark of a contrast it was from our city highrise apartment.

Everything was so cloudy there. Here, it's clear. But in another way...it wasn't.

I pushed myself off the floor and checked the large digital clock on the nightstand to see there's still plenty of time before bar close.

I dug through my tote and suitcase to put my wallet in a smaller black leather purse and fixed up my makeup before finishing off with a sleek, navy jacket.

Pausing a moment, I ran my thumb and forefinger over the engagement ring on my finger. After practically smearing my thumbprint on the band, I twisted it off and placed it back in the dark velvet ring box in my tote.

I flipped off the light before I left the suite and locked up.

- - -

Back where I had dinner earlier, the establishment was far more lively now. I barely found a spot to park and eeked past some staggering regulars into the packed entryway.

At least Beth won't be here to judge me for my decisions. Not that I'm planning to get into trouble.

I saw an isolated spot at the bar and slid onto the stool, waving my hand to the bartender. I mouthed my order for a vodka neat, unsure he understood, but he headed off to make something.

I drummed my fingers on the bar, looking around, taking in the locals. I'm not sure who graduated with me. Who rememebered me.

I'm not sure if I remember them.

One face in the crowd looks familiar, but not from years ago.

From lunch.

The tall, rugged, man that smirked at me in the middle of his pool game.

I turned back towards the bar to collect my drink just in time for him to grip the edge of the bar to my right.

"I'll have what she's having, Mick." He instructed the bartender. His piercing gray eyes are playful, taunting.

I sure hope he's new in town. I won't be able to live down forgetting someone like him.

"So what are we drinking to? Good drinking? Bad drinking?" He asks, turning his attention to the crowd around us.

I snorted and covered my nose in embarrassment. "Excuse me?"

He laughed and playfully batted my hand away. "There's a big difference between drinking to a new job and drinking to losing a job."

"Well, it's neither of those."

"Different strokes, same tune."

I rolled my eyes and downed my drink, reveling in the burn racing down my throat. I set my glass back towards the bartender and closed my eyes.

"Damn..." He exhaled in awe.

I kept my eyes shut. Part of me was afraid that if he were to look me in the eyes, he could see the sensual visions my imagination readily cooked up.

Me leaned over the pool table...

Him tracing the lines of my body like I watched him run his fingers along the cue stick earlier-

"Well, that was my best attempt at welcoming tourists," he mused, throwing up his hands.

"I'm not a tourist," I clarified, snapped out of my fantasies.

He leaned back, holding his hands up in defeat. "Sorry, my bad. You just don't seem like you're from around here."

I drummed my fingers on the bar top, hoping "Mick" would come back around for another round. "I graduated from high school back here in 2011, thank you very much."

"Ah, I was '05."

Mick stopped back in front of us and he disappeared as soon as the tourism leader gave him a signal.

"I don't remember seeing you around growing up."

He stroked his scruff, studying the collection of liquor cluttering the bar. "Oh, I left as soon as I could. And then moved back 5 years later."

"What made you come back?"

To my surprise, Mick came back with refills and set them in front of us.

"I missed it here. I crammed a lifetime of adventure in 5 years. And then I was ready to come back to the family business."

I nodded, slowly reaching out to grab the new drink.

Until his hand caught mine.

"Uh uh uh, darling. Not until you tell me why you came back."