I arrive home to Roscoe’s wagging tail and Bea’s pleasant indifference. If I was alone, I would be talking to myself, but since I have furry companions, I talk to them.
“What are the odds of this happening, Roscoe? A million to one? Can you do the math?” He stops to give me a curious look before continuing his search to find just the right patch of grass in our little yard.
Jay and I lived in an entirely different state when we were together, over eight hours away from Four Points. We grew up in a small town in Georgia, high school sweethearts who married much too young.
Brendan said Jay did photography for their business. When we were together, he worked in a grocery store and liked to take pictures as a hobby. I thought his dreams about becoming a photographer were just that — dreams — but I guess he made it happen. Somewhere, tucked deep in a box, I have pictures he took of me, and of us.
I can’t stop thinking about the looks on all of the men’s faces. “You should have seen them,” I tell Bea, as I fill a fresh water bowl for her. “I wonder which one of us had the most shocked expression.”
Jay was the jealous type when we were together. That was one of our issues. Of course, he has no business being jealous now, but what an unfortunate way for us to meet again.
I slept with his friends. And not just one, but three of them.
“I can’t imagine what kinds of conversations they’re having over there today, Bea.” My feline friend walks through my legs, pausing to rub her head against me, and I take it as a gesture of sympathetic support.
I’m not surprised when the Hayes brothers come through Rusty’s doors that night as soon as we open. Their eyes search mine as they approach the counter.
“How are you?” Corbin asks. It’s not a casual greeting. All three of them wait for my answer.
“I’m fine. How are you?” In all honesty, I’m still shaken up, of course, but in the hours that have passed since this morning’s surprise, I’ve started to see the situation more clearly.
Despite the amazing night we shared, the Hayes brothers are essentially strangers to me. After today, odds are strong that I’ll never see them again. And even though I have a history with Jay, I haven’t laid eyes on him in almost two decades, so I shouldn’t be seeing him again either.
There’s no reason for me to feel awkward about things, and whatever issues the men have between them — if any — they can work out themselves.
“We’re good,” Corbin says, “but we’ve been worried about you.”
“Obviously, that wasn’t how we pictured the morning going,” Brendan says.
I shake my head and grin. “No, I don’t think anyone would have imagined that.”
Jonathan settles into one of the barstools. “It never occurred to us that you could be Jay’s Christine.”
Jay’s Christine? Apparently Jay has mentioned me to them by name.
“He told us you lived in Georgia,” Corbin says.
“We’re sorry you were put in that situation,” Brendan adds.
“It’s not your fault. There’s no way you could have known,” I say.
“We know. But still …” Brendan says.
“Well, you’re sweet, but you don’t need to worry about me.” I start checking my supply levels on the wall shelving as I talk, turning my head back to them to say, “I’m fine. Jay and I have been divorced for a long time.”
There’s a beat of silence before Jonathan says, “Are you serving yet? I could really go for another one of those pale ales.”
All three men are on stools now, looking settled in.
“Oh, you’re staying?”
Jonathan frowns and Brendan and Corbin look confused.
“Sure,” Brendan says. “We’re planning to spend the evening here, until you get off. Like last night.”
Now I’m the one who looks confused. I turn to fully face them and search their eyes for a few seconds. “You don’t think I’m still going home with you, do you?”
Corbin leans forward, his big hands resting on the bar, making me remember how it felt to have those hands on my body. “That was the plan, yes.”