Whiskey and Country

“You think?”

“I’m sure. Come on, man. He made a move on the girl you loved. That’s really shitty of him. Best friends don’t do that.”

Chaz’s face lit up. As if I’d shot him with pure caffeine through an IV line.

He cast a glance down, and a deep wrinkle etched on his forehead. I followed his gaze.

I cursed all the saints in my head. Nested underneath the kitchen cupboards, a foot from me, was a piece of fabric.

White lace.

I blinked, urging my brain to think. Fast enough.

With my index finger, I directed Chaz’s attention to my right.

“Look who came to visit me this morning?”

The teen turned his head, and I extended my leg to fish Dahlia’s bra. In a ninja-style movement, I picked it up and shoved it into a drawer.

Chaz huffed a loud breath. “He’s getting weaker by the day. At this pace, I’m not sure he’ll be here by the end of summer. I got him when he was a puppy, you know. He’s been my best friend forever. I’m glad he has you now that I’ll be going away to college.”

Tears glistened in Chaz’s eyes.

I stepped around the kitchen island and clapped his back. “I’m sorry. I know it’s hard. But I’m sure he’s had a great life.”

Chaz shrugged. “I guess.”

“I lost a best friend too. A couple of months ago. I know the pain, believe me.” I forced a tight-lipped smile to my mouth, hoping Chaz wouldn’t ask questions I wasn’t ready to answer.

“I’m sorry. That sucks.”

He brought his focus back, his eyes scanning the kitchen floor, searching for the white piece of lingerie. He arched a brow, stared at me, then shook his head.

“What should I do about Jolie?”

“Life is short, man. Seize the chance or you’ll always wonder what could have been. Face your friend. Tell him the truth. If he’s upset and throws a fit, then he’s not worth your time and friendship, and you don’t need him around.” Chaz listened to me, nodding, as if all of this occurred to him for the first time. “What do you have to lose? You’ll be gone in a few months, anyway. Will—”

"Hank.”

“Will Hank be in Ohio too?”

“No. He’s staying here.”

“Go for it then. Don’t let him ruin what you and Jolie could have.”

Images of Jace and Pam flashed through my mind. Since I moved here, I barely even got a chance to talk to him. Now my friend had no reason to drop by unannounced, and we had no more excuses of poker nights to see one another. Even Tuck mentioned the other day he saw him only a handful of times since I left the city. But hey, if it meant Jace was happy in his marriage, what could I say? It wasn’t my call. But I missed him.

Chaz firmed his back, resolve now flashing in his eyes.

“You’re right. Hank has no right to call bro code on me. Thanks, Nick.”

Without another word, the kid left, his cup half-drunk, confidence radiating from him.

I took the bra out of the cutlery drawer and twisted it between my fingers.

Last night’s memories swirled back in my mind, suffocating me as they replayed in my head.

My dick hardened.

My mouth watered.

Was last night just a one-time thing? An overflow of lust we had to settle? Or was Dahlia serious about us moving forward in our relationship? As much as I did. Wait and see, man. You promised her friendship. Stick to it.Unless she makes a move, the naughty voice in my head added. I breathed out. Could I do that? Wait and see? I had to. For both our sakes. Dahlia already had a complicated past, and she didn’t deserve a fling. She deserved the real thing. Flowers. Date nights. Love. Commitment. And forever.

I was busying myself in one of the bedrooms upstairs, taking measurements to replace the broken window, when an idea hit me.

It planted a little seed of hope in me. One that shot jitters to my stomach.

After I changed, I hurried downstairs, ready to run some errands.

With my phone, I snapped a picture of Buddy, sleeping at the same exact spot he lay with Jack last night, and sent it to Dahlia.

Me: Look who’s missing his new best friend?

She replied minutes later. For my plan to unfold, I had to know if she was at the store right now.

Dahlia: I’m telling you; this dog is a keeper.

Me: I’ll put a lock on his leash to make sure a redhead who’s been seen lurking around him won’t be able to steal him away from me.

Dahlia: I wouldn’t.

Me: Oh yes, you would. I heard you all right last night. And the other times before.

Me: I can tell you have a plan.

Me: Picturing you wearing a ski mask, dropping cookie crumbs to create an evasion path, waiting in a white van while your toddler sidekick eats those chunks, messing with your mission.

Me: What would your thief name be? Firecracker? Red Devil?