Either way, he was damn lonely. Normally being alone wouldn’t bother him, which was another thing that had changed since coming to Magnolia. He now craved interactions with people.

Even strangers, he thought as he entered the bar. The bartender, an older man with grizzled features and a full beard, called out a friendly greeting, and Gabe walked forward, wondering if he looked as pathetic as he felt on his own.

He ordered a draft beer, but before he could take a seat, a heavy hand landed on his shoulder. “This one’s on me, Mike,” the stranger said to the bartender.

Gabe blinked. “Appreciate the holiday spirit of giving, but do I know you?”

The man, who was tall and broad with a dark head of cropped hair, offered a slow smile. “Gray Atwell,” he said, extending a hand. “I think you know my wife.”

“Avery,” Gabe supplied. “Right.” He shook Gray’s hand. “You have a cute kid, too,” he told Gray, who he knew to be a firefighter for the local department.

“Violet is something special,” Gray agreed.

Mike placed two pint glasses on the scuffed oak bar. “I’ll put it on your tab,” he told Gray.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Gabe said as he lifted his beer. “But you don’t have to buy me a drink. Unless this is a first date and I don’t know it.”

“I’m spoken for,” Gray said with an easy laugh. “Although I’ve been meaning to stop by your grandma’s shop and thank you in person.”

The beer was cool on Gabe’s throat. “For what?”

He didn’t mean for the question to come out as rough as it sounded. He’d gotten a lot better at managing small talk with customers, but he still had a ways to go with being able to function socially in any sort of successful way.

Gray didn’t seem to notice or care, which could be a result of being married to Avery. She was a straight shooter as far as Gabe could tell.

“A couple of reasons.” Gray took a pull from his beer. “First, my wife is over-the-moon relieved at how well you and Angi are managing the holiday activities in town. The festival means a lot to her, but not as much as Carrie does. The fact that her sister is able to relax and take care of herself because everyone trusts the new dynamic Christmas on the Coast duo is huge.”

“Then you should be buying Ang a drink.” Gabe tried not to let any telltale emotion sneak into his voice. “She’s the brains and creativity behind everything.”

“She’s not here, otherwise I would.” Gray blew out a long breath. “I also owe you both a debt of thanks for encouraging her son to stand up to those little jack holes at the elementary school.”

Gabe arched a brow. “I’m not a parent, but pretty sure you’re not allowed to call other kids names.”

“Then those other kids shouldn’t mess with students who are younger than them. I don’t tolerate bullies.”