Chapter 11. It's how you manage to meet me

After work, I drove straight to the bar where River and I had met a few days ago. I was still wearing my tweed jacket and jeans from this morning, eager to give the impression that I was just making time for him after work. There was no intention of me preparing or dressing up for our meeting.

The first thing I saw upon entering the bar was Gracie's eyes that immediately caught mine. Her smile and subtle nod gave me the impression that she knew I'd be coming here again.

"To be honest, I'd love to have a chat with you," Gracie said quickly as I was about to sit down on a barstool, "but Mr. Lynch told me not to keep you here anymore."

"As a matter of fact, you didn't keep me the other day," I replied firmly, but in a smooth voice. "It was my own choice."

"That's not important. Come on in. Mr. Lynch is waiting for you in the same place as before," she said. "Want me to take you?"

I smiled and shook my head. "No need, Gracie—may I call you that?" She gave a small nod. "I can find my own w