Critter’s was a much busier place than I’d expected. Most of the time I was there, I helped Critter behind the bar, taking simple food orders and washing glasses while he topped off the drinks.

“Hey Sawyer, do you want to go do something after work?” Sterling asked, setting down his beer.

Sterling was a regular. I’d seen him almost every day since I’d started. He’d introduced himself the second he sat down as the owner of the feed store and made sure I knew that the meatloaf Monday special was his absolute favorite.

Sterling was under six feet. Messy dark brown, almost black hair that worked for his dark grey eyes. His smile was straight whereas Finn’s was slightly crooked. Sterling was softer than Finn’s muscular build, but his biceps filled every bit of room of his short-sleeved, button-down, denim-blue work shirt, probably from tossing feed bags all day.

I inwardly smacked myself for comparing him to Finn. Who I hadn’t seen since the shower incident besides the occasional swaying of his window curtains or the sound of his boat motor echoing over the house.

Even after realizing I was comparing Sterling and Finn I found myself continuing to do it.

Sterling was by far friendlier than Finn. He never scowled at me or made me feel unwelcome. He didn’t seem moody or broody or set on making me feel uncomfortable.

Sterling was exactly the kind of guy I should want to have around. I was twenty-one years old and had never been on an actual date. However, my excitement at the prospect of a real date faded when the obvious hit me. There was no spark between me and Sterling.

No hum of energy.

No connection of any kind.

Everything I didn’t want to feel when Finn was around but DID.

“Thanks, Sterling. You’re…really sweet.”

Sterling’s smile dimmed ever so slightly. “But…”

I leaned a hip on the counter. “But I haven’t been here that long. I’m not really looking for anything right now,” I explained. “Still getting my bearings.”

Sterling laughed and took a sip of his beer.

“And what is so funny?” I asked, finding myself chuckling with him.

“I was thinking about maybe walking you home, not walking you down the aisle, Sawyer.” He leaned over the bar and whispered, “You know, ‘cause that’s what FRIENDS do. They hang out. They go for walks. Ain’t much else to do around here.” His smile grew again and I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment.

“Yeah, I kind of did jump the gun on that one, didn’t I?” I laughed at myself. Feeling ridiculous thinking that his invite was something more than what it really was. “Sorry,” I offered with a wince.

“No harm no foul.”

“All right then, friend,” I said. “I get off in thirty minutes. If the offer still stands, I’d like to take you up on that walk.”

“Then I’ll see you in thirty,” Sterling said with a wink. He stood and pushed back his stool. He walked over to the ting trays at the end of the bar and pulled out a piece of paper and a blue string. He scribbled something down and hung it from the ceiling right above his seat at the bar and sat back down.

Out of curiosity, I stood on my tiptoes and he watched me read what he’d written on his ting.

“Here you go,” Critter said, coming up beside me and shoving a huge wad of cash in my hands at the end of my shift.

“What’s this for?”

“This, is what they call money,” he said sarcastically, laughing at his own joke. “It also happens to be the tips you neglected to pick up so far this week.” When he smiled it was like his mustache was smiling too.

“Oh,” I said. “I’ll have to remember that one.” I tapped my finger on my head. “Pick up the money, Sawyer.”

“There you go. You’ll get the hang of it, kid,” Critter headed over to the far end of the bar when someone called his name.

“Hey,” Sterling called, coming back up to the bar. “I’m going to have to take a raincheck on that walk. One of my employees just ran over a fence on a delivery. Another time though, okay?” He winked.

“Sure,” I said, feeling both relieved and slightly disappointed. Although, overall, I was really enjoying getting to know the people of Outskirts.

Well, MOST of them.