Long Way Home by Neve Cottrell

bedroom listening to her father yell at the television all night was unappealing, to say the least.
    Alexis felt nervous about going to see Ty play. What if, after all his talk of passion and a good life, he was a terrible musician? What would she say? Alexis wasn’t the best liar when it came to putting someone at ease. People skills were not her specialty. On the other hand, if he was terrible, he might look less attractive to her. That would be a bonus. Suddenly, a small part of her hoped that his musical talent would be nonexistent.
    By the time Alexis arrived at Gatsby’s, the bar was reasonably full without being too crowded. A few small tables housed couples while another handful of people stood around with drinks. She was relieved when no one showed a flash of recognition. She didn’t want to engage in mindless conversation, catching up with people she didn’t actually remember. She simply wanted to make good on her promise to Ty and get another breather from her parents.
    By the time she scored a drink at the bar and located a seat at a bistro table, Ty was already on the makeshift stage, strumming away on an acoustic guitar. A smile escaped his lips when he noticed Alexis in the audience of rapt listeners. She gave a small smile in return, her stomach inadvertently performing acrobatic feats. She cast her eyes downward, unwilling to feel a connection. Instead, she listened.
    His voice was smooth but sincere. To her, he sounded the way comfort food tasted. She’d forgotten how much she enjoyed listening to live music and Ty was surprisingly good. He wasn’t exactly hard on the eyes, either. As much as she tried to resist noticing his finer points, Ty’s hour on stage gave her ample opportunity to observe him when he wasn’t making eye contact with her. Alexis found herself fixated on his biceps as they struggled against a tight-fitting, black t-shirt. She straightened up, regaining her composure. Since when was she the kind of woman who drooled over biceps? Mangrove Island was having a primitive effect on her. She gave her head a tiny shake and shifted her gaze back to his face. When he winked at her, she nearly spat out her drink.
    “Aren’t you a lucky lady,” a voice commented and Alexis glanced up to see a petite waitress beside her. She wore her blonde hair pulled back in a tight, high ponytail and Alexis thought she looked like a cheerleader moonlighting as an adult.
    “What makes you think that was for me?” Alexis asked, embarrassed by the attention.
    “Well, it sure wasn’t for me,” she said wistfully. “I’ve made my move more times than I care to admit.”
    “We know each other from high school, so don’t feel too disappointed.”
    “You went to Wilson?”
    Alexis nodded. “Many moons ago. Ty and I graduated together.”
    The waitress sighed. “I wish I had gone to high school with Tyler. I would’ve scooped him up early.”
    “He’s still scoopable from what I understand,” Alexis said.
    The waitress put a friendly hand on her shoulder. “Honey, if I believed that were true, I would sure as hell keep trying, but all I’ve seen is a string of girls who end up in tears when they realize they can’t get their hooks in him. Heck, I’d settle for getting my hooks in him for a single night.” She gestured toward Alexis’s empty glass. “Can I get you a refill? What was it, a whiskey?”
    Alexis handed her the glass. “It was, but I’m going to mix things up a bit. I’ll have a beer. I’ve heard there’s a microbrewery on the island now.”
    “Tropic Turtle. It’s real good. I’ll get you two.”
    Alexis wrinkled her nose. “One’s probably enough for me.”
    “It’s not for you,” she said, nodding toward Ty as she sauntered away. “He’s about to finish.”
    The waitress was right. By the time she returned to the bar, Ty finished his set as the crowd clapped and whooped appreciatively.
    “Thank you,” he said with a slight wave. He barely removed his guitar