Awakening Book One of the Trust Series(2)

Caitlyn’s friend Shannon took a swig of her beer. “This is our last night.”

Nora raised her glass. “To new beginnings.” Shannon, Rachael, and Caitlyn all followed suit by raising their various beverages. “May we all be happy, successful, and exceed everybody’s expectations.”

The others did not notice the cracking in Caitlyn’s voice as they clinked their glasses and repeated, “To new beginnings.”

When she turned so her friends would not see her wipe a tear from her eye, she noticed a man who appeared to be in his mid-twenties watching her curiously. He gave her a brief smile before looking down at his drink. Her friends noticed the action and began whispering amongst themselves.

Rachael murmured, “New beginnings, Caitlyn, remember? And that is one fine beginning sitting there at the bar.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Caitlyn responded before excusing herself to walk over to order another drink. She ignored the catcalls that her supposed friends made to her back. Despite Rachael’s comment, Caitlyn was not looking for that kind of beginning. At least, not yet. Perhaps someday. She smoothed her top down as she leaned over the counter, holding a ten-dollar bill in her hand, attempting to get the bartender’s attention.

The blonde collegiate could not help but sneak a quick glimpse at the man, considering him. At first glance, she verified that he was indeed handsome and could at least admit to herself that she liked the way his dirty blond hair was long enough to fall just slightly in his eyes, which had met hers in that instant.

She turned from him quickly, embarrassed at being caught staring. Caitlyn grabbed her drink from the barkeep, and after a moment, couldn’t help but to try to catch a better look at him. She squinted her eyes. It was as if she could not quite focus on him, the outline of his body appearing fuzzy. Caitlyn sighed internally. Failing eyesight. Just another thing that is going wrong with me, she thought to herself bitterly. She was falling apart.

She smiled coyly at the stranger, realizing she had been caught yet a second time. He took that as a sign of encouragement and got up from his seat, moving over to her. She took in the full appearance of him then. The man was taller than she by a good six inches and his build indicated that he was athletic, or at the very least attended the gym on a regular basis. Yes, Caitlyn surmised, he was definitely one of the more attractive guys she had seen recently.

His eyes lit up at her. “Hi.”

She figured a little conversation wouldn’t hurt. “Hello.”

“I’m Garrett.” He extended his hand, and Caitlyn gave it a firm handshake.

“Caitlyn.”

“Nice to meet you, Caitlyn.”

“Thanks. You too. Are you from around here?” She thought he looked a little older than someone who would be a college student in this town, but it was possible he was working on his master’s or doctorate.

“I moved here recently for my job.”

So he was not a college student. Her eyes were still having difficulty being able to focus on him. Perhaps it was only the alcohol that was impairing her vision. “Do you like it here?”

Garrett shrugged. “It’s alright. What about you, are you from these parts?”

Caitlyn shook her head as she placed her drink back on the bar. It would be best to stop drinking temporarily to keep her wits about her. “I’ve been here the past six years but grew up in Virginia. You?”

“I’m from Colorado originally, although I had lived in New England for the past eight years, until I was relocated.”

There was a slight pause. “So what do you do for a living? This is mostly just a small college town.”

“Recruiting mostly.”

“Military?” She was surprised. His hazel eyes carried a certain mischievousness that did not seem to match a military persona.

He took a sip of his beer. “You could say something like that.”

She eyed him appraisingly as she pondered over his cryptic response. She thought about asking him exactly what he meant by that, but he followed up with a question of his own before she could do so.

“Caitlyn, what is it that you do?”

“Well, my official career for the past six years has been professional college student. In four short days though, I will officially be a graduate from the university with my master’s degree.”

He smiled again at her. “So beautiful and smart. That is a lethal combination. Any job prospects?”