“She might think you won’t find her attractive then.”
“I don’t love her for her skin quality.”
“I know, honey. I’m just trying to think like a woman. An older woman.”
“Thirty-seven isn’t that old. Your husband is older and you’re younger than me.”
She nodded. “He worried I hadn’t lived enough to settle with him. Maybe she thinks that too.”
“That’s what she said. How many women do I have to fuck and how many years have to pass before I’m ready to settle down, do you think?”
Brooke let out a laugh. “I don’t know. I see what they’re saying a little bit. I mean, you know people our age. Some of them really haven’t grown up yet. You and I, we grew up when we were teenagers.”
I think she had a point, but it didn’t change anything.
“I went to see Stark the other day.”
“Why?” She gaped at me, and then held her glass out for more whisky. If we were changing subjects, I could handle her sticking around.
“I wanted to find out why he was still blocking the library project and tell him to leave Holly alone.”
“So, you still care about her.”
I gave her a look that said it was time to change subjects. “As it turned out, his goal wasn’t to stop the library. I think he wants his guy Wallace to take it on.”
“So, what was he doing?” she asked, sipping her whiskey.
“He paid Holly’s ex to come back and pretend to love her again so she’d be distracted from influencing parents and teachers from voting for Sinclair.”
“Jesus, he is an asshole. Of course, I knew that, but to bring her ex back. That’s low.”
I nodded. “I think something happened to him or someone did a number on him. All he knows now is pain. All he wants is power and money. It’s sad, really.”
She gaped at me. “He wrecked emotional havoc on the woman you love and you’re sympathizing with him?”
“I can see where betrayal and rejection can make you rethink love.”
She gulped down her drink. “I did that so I didn’t waste it by throwing it on you. Seriously Tucker. You’ve got to get your shit together. Yes, heartache is a bitch, but you’re stronger than to let that turn you into an asshole.”
“I didn’t say I wanted to be him. Only that I understood what could make him that way.”
“Yeah. Weakness. Character flaw.” She shook her head. “Look, I don’t want to dismiss your pain, but the Tucker Marshall I know would pull up his big boy briefs and take on the world.”
“Doing what?”
“Telling Holly that you love her and that she’s a fucking idiot if she passes up on true love.”
I rolled my eyes. “I did that and she walked away.”
“Then go on a date. Find the woman that will appreciate and love you. Tonight, you can wallow. I’ll wallow with you. We can get shitfaced and say mean things about the people who’ve done us wrong. But tomorrow, Tucker, you need to start living again. I’ll kick your ass every day until you do.”
Since I had one night to wallow, I wouldn’t worry about making her not kick my ass tomorrow. “What about Mo?”
“He’s with my dad working on something or other. They do better when I’m not around. My dad still feels weird about us. But it’s getting better.”
“To getting shitfaced,” I said, taking another long swig of my whisky.
Two hours later, Brooke, a prime example of shitfaced, was lifted into Mo’s arms. I, nearly shitfaced, called him to come get her.