I Never Let You Go (I Never 3)

“Oh, that’s right, how was your trip?”

“Wonderful. Amazing.” He drifts off to silence, although I could hear the excitement in his voice. “Right, so anyway. I passed your dad’s office—well, yours—this morning, and thought I might see if you wanted to catch up this evening. I realized I didn’t get your number at the wedding, so I hope it’s okay that I had to call the office.”

“Yeah, no, that’s fine. Feel free to call anytime.” I laugh, realizing that we said we would catch up yet never actually exchanged info—guess we both had more important things on our minds.

“What time works best for you? I’ll be in the area all day,” Kyler says.

“Five thirty work for you?” I look at the time on my phone. That should be plenty of time. I’ve been working so much later these days; then again, not like I have someone to get home to. My sister and brother-in-law have been more than accommodating for me lately, but I want to give them their own time with their family.

“Perfect. How about meeting at Arnold’s Tavern? It’s a few blocks down from your office.”

I know the place—I’ve wanted to check it out, just haven’t had the time. “I look forward to it.”

“Oh shit, I need to get inside for this meeting. I’ll see you in a few hours,” Kyler says in a rushed voice.

“Sounds good, see ya then.” We both hang up, and I set the phone down.

I sense a presence in my doorway, and I don’t even need to look up to know that it’s my sister. “Have something you want to say, Kels? You know you were never good at being sneaky and eavesdropping.”

She chuckles. “What would have happened if that wasn’t me.” She walks toward my desk and sits on the edge.

I lean back in my chair. “See, I don’t have to worry about that because it was you.”

She rolls her eyes. “Anyways, who do you look forward to seeing later? Got a hot date or something?”

“If you mean catching up with Kyler Lawson a hot date, then sure.” I chuckle.

“Hmm, I always wondered why you hadn’t brought a girl home since Lauren. I guess now we know. And look, it’s okay, love is love. But does his wife know about your affair?” She throws her head back in laughter. She holds up her hand, waving it. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself.”

I shake my head at her ridiculousness.

“Well, have fun and tell him I say hey and congrats,” she says over her shoulder as she leaves.

She pops her head back in my office. “Don’t be out too late.”

I wave my middle finger in the air. I adjust the collar of my shirt and turn back to my computer, shaking off her antics.

“Thanks for meeting me, man.” I slap Kyler’s back as I slide into the booth across from him. “This place is great.” I look around at the random décor on the walls. There was a place similar to this that Jax and I had found down the street from the office. It was close enough to beat the happy-hour rush after a shit day, or when the workload ran into the late hours and I just needed something to take the edge off before heading home.

“The food is awesome,” Kyler says, handing me a menu.

A waitress approaches our table. “Hi, I’m Jill. What can I get started for you fellas today?”

“I’ll have a Yuengling,” Kyler tells her before she turns her attention to me.

“I’ll have the same.” Jill nods and walks off to the bar. I relax into the booth. “Wow, I’m not sure I’ll get used to ordering a beer with you. Aren’t you still in diapers?”

“Asshole. I’m twenty-seven, old man.”

I bellow out a laugh. “Wow, a lot has changed since my time in Seattle.” The boy I viewed as a little brother once is now a man. He grew up before my very eyes, or well, I guess not since I wasn’t here to see it happen.

Jill returns, delivering our beers. Kyler holds his bottle up in a toast. “Cheers!”

I tip my drink in his direction before taking a sip.

Kyler does the same before setting his drink down. “I still can’t believe you moved back.”

“Yeah, that makes two of us. But it’s nice being close to my mom and sister.” And Lauren. But of course I don’t say that aloud. “Plus, I get to spend as much time as I want with my nephew. If I were on the West Coast, I would only see him around holidays or through a phone.”