Fakers (Licking Thicket 1)

“Yes, sir,” Brooks said with a nod. “We can absolutely discuss that. I’ll be back in the office on Monday morning. My flight leaves Nashville at 6:00 a.m., so we can plan a lunch meeting if that suits you?”

The General put his hand on Brooks’s shoulder. “Why don’t you and Paul join me on my plane so you don’t have to get up quite so early? We’re at the airfield just down the road in Presley. That way we can talk on the way and be ready to hit the ground running when we get into the office. I’d suggest meeting at my office in Nashville, but I have several other commitments in New York next week I can’t miss.”

“So do I, sir,” Brooks said with a big smile. “New York works better for us as well. I’m looking forward to getting back there and setting things in motion. I just need to get this parade and the dance behind me, and then I’m all yours.”

“There are a few things I’d like to knock out before then, if you don’t mind, if only so I can get Parrish started on…”

The older man steered Brooks further away from me, closer to the parade route and the crowds, as they continued talking business.

I stared after them. New York. It wasn’t like it was a surprise. The guy lived in New York. Of course he was going back. He had a good job, an apartment, a life.

In New York.

But the reality of it, hearing him talk excitedly about specific plans and how soon he was jetting out of Tennessee… God. It was just… a reality check. Kind of a slap in the face after the night we’d had last night. I’d thought at least he’d sound a little sadder to be leaving…

I blew out a breath and rubbed my hands over my face. Screw what I’d thought. I’d obviously thought wrong. He was looking forward to getting these last two pesky Lickin’ commitments behind him so he could get back to his real life, the one he’d carefully created for himself somewhere else.

“Then I’ll be all yours,” he’d told the General, when I’d thought for a minute there that maybe he could be mine.

I let out a harsh laugh. Since when was I the kind of guy men changed their whole lives for? Did I really expect someone like Brooks Johnson to, what? Quit his job and move back to this town to date a welder?

I shook my head and got angry with myself.

An artist.

The fact I was already putting myself down was a huge red flag that I needed to cut the negative self-talk in the bud right now, and the only way to do that was to stop this thought process. I gritted my teeth and made my way toward the crowds to find a spot where I could watch the parade in peace and try to just… zone out or something. But as soon as I emerged from the narrow alleyway into the crowd, someone called my name.

“Mal! Over here! Come sit with us.”

I glanced up to see Maureen and Latonya waving wildly at me with big smiles on their faces. They sat cross-legged on the sidewalk, and Maureen held a chubby-cheeked baby in her lap who had the same honey-brown eyes as Latonya.

“Hi,” I said, squatting down to smile at the baby. Maybe this was a better distraction than being alone with my thoughts. “And who are you?”

Maureen puffed up with pride. “This is Mollie. She’s ten months now, and her new favorite thing is blowing raspberries with her tongue. Beware when you’re within strawberry distance.”

Mollie’s gummy smile was wide, and the tips of two bottom teeth flashed. I reached out to shake her little hand. “Nice to meet you, sweet girl. Aren’t you a happy baby?”

Latonya handed me a bottle of water from their cooler. “Take this. You have to stay hydrated or you’ll never make it in this sun. Here, have a seat.” She leaned in and whispered. “We always spread out at first so when we see a friend, we can make room for them.”

They shifted things around to make space for me, and I took a seat next to Latonya. When Maureen started talking to someone else, Mollie crawled across Latonya and into my lap to pat my cheeks. She was obviously not shy with strangers which made Latonya laugh. “Excuse you,” she teased her daughter.

“It’s no problem. I needed a good cuddle actually.” I held her chubby body close and inhaled the baby scent of her, wondering what it would be like when I was holding Ava’s baby like this. I’d never particularly liked babies all that much, but maybe it was true what they said about changing over time. It was hard not to notice the happiness these two women had with their daughter, and I knew Ava would be the same way.