Winter Jacket Read Free Page B

Nikole a quick kiss – quick for my benefit knowing how much their public endearments made me sick.  It was unnatural to be that happy.
     
     
    While Troian bounced off in the direction of the bar, I stood to give Nikole a quick hug in greeting.  I could tell she’d come straight from work because she smelled like dirt.  It wasn’t an unpleasant scent – on the contrary, it was comforting like warm sunshine and fresh air.  Her long dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she’d changed out of the company logoed clothes in favor of dark jeans, a v-neck shirt, and a fitted leather jacket.
    Nikole owned a small landscaping firm that mostly contracted with private residences, designing and planting flower gardens for some of the town’s wealthiest families.  Even though the ground was currently frozen and covered in at least a foot of snow, she was still busy with her small staff, planting seedlings in small pots and getting ready for Spring.  When the snow melted, she’d have her full staff back again during the growing seasons.  I often steered students her way who were looking for part-time or summer jobs. Troian made more than enough money from her writing to comfortably support them both, but Nikole wasn’t the “kept-woman” type, no matter how much her partner insisted on doting on her.
    "So I hear Troi is trying to hook yo u up with Peggy's new bartender," Nikole said as she sat down. 
    I returned to my seat and looked in the direction where Troian had literally skipped off to get her girlfriend something to drink. She was leaning against the bar and looked to be engaged in a serious conversation with the newest bar employee.  As if sensing my gaze, they both looked in our direction. Troian waved in an exaggerated manner while the dark-haired bartender simply smiled.
    I quickly looked away before I got sucked into one of Troian's set-ups. "She may already be designing the wedding invites," I groaned.
    Nikole smirked and shook her head. "You know she means well; she just wants to see you happy. And for Troi, happiness is a committed relationship."
    I sighed, but nodded. "I know, I know." I took a quick sip from my pint glass. "I just always thought I'd get to choose my future wife.”
    Nikole chuckled, deep and throaty. "Not if my girlfriend has her way."
    “I’m really not into arranged marriages.  How do I distract Troi from this latest quest of hers?”
    “You could always find yourself a new girlfriend before she does it for you,” Nikole pragmatically suggested.
    " Yeah.  That’s not happening.  But enough about my lack of dating life,” I deflected. “How is work these days?"
    She took the bait. "It's going well,” Nikole nodded. “Kind of the calm before the storm. Once the snow melts, things will pick up. I’ve got to hire some new staff before that happens though."
    “I’ll look through my rosters and see if there’s any local kids who might do a good job,” I offered.
    Nikole grinned. “Excellent.  I knew I could count on you.”
    Troian took that moment to skip back to our table. She grandly set a double shot of something ominously amber near my hand.  “What’s this?” I asked, looking down at the miniature drink. “You didn’t order this for me, did you?  You know I don’t do shots.”
    The proud grin on Troian’s face was unmistakable. “It would appear you’ve attracted a fan.”  She nodded in the direction of the bar.
    I swiveled in my chair to see who had bought me the drink. Our eyes met, and Peggy’s new bartender gave me a quick wave; apparently she was my not-so-secret admirer. She smiled and of course there were dimples – there were always dimples.
    I turned back to Nikole and Troian, who had sat down beside her girlfriend.  “What do I do?” I hissed in a panic.
    “Go talk to her,” Troian urged, grinning ear to ear.  She practically bounced in her seat with mildly contained energy.
    “Or just drink up,” Nikole shrugged. “Free