She seems to sober quickly. “You don’t know how much I appreciate you coming by yesterday.”
I nod, uncomfortable with the fact of why I was there. Of course I wanted to check on her, but I’m also checking out her ex. And the fact that she still doesn’t know I’m investigating her ex-husband bothers me a little. I hate that I’m hiding something from her.
Only seconds later, she excuses herself from the table. “I’m going to the ladies’ room.” She holds up her phone. “And I’m going to check on Katie.”
As soon as she walks away, Carrie nearly leaps across the table. “It’s obvious you like Chrissy. You should go for it.”
Scott laughs and puts his hand on Carrie’s shoulder. “Oh, here we go. I don’t think your brother needs help finding a date.”
I could agree with him, but I’m too surprised, to say the least. “You wouldn’t have a problem with it?” I ask Carrie.
She stares back at me, and I can tell she’s honestly thinking about the question. “I mean, I don’t want you to hurt her. You live in Knox, and you’re addicted to your job, and…”
“And nothing. I’m slowing down, and Knox is only an hour and yeah, well, I like Chrissy. There’s no way I would hurt her.”
Carrie doesn’t even hesitate. “Well, then you should do something about it.”
Chrissy
After talking to my mom and having her assure me that Katie is doing okay, Carrie joins me in the bathroom.
“Okay, what’s going on?”
I peak a glance at her in the mirror. “Nothing. I’m fine.”
“You’re not, though. I could tell the instant you walked in the door.”
I just shrug my shoulders and finish washing my hands. “I’m having issues with David, but it’s all right, I have it under control. David and I are not getting back together. No way, no how.”
She watches me closely, and I wait for her next question, but it never comes. “Well, that’s great news! But I still want you to know that if there’s anything Scott or I can do, you know we’re here for you, right?”
I nod my head, and it doesn’t slip past me that she’s talking about her and Scott as a “we.” They’re obviously good together, and I’m sure there will be wedding bells in their future soon. There’s a part of me that’s envious, but another part of me that knows there’s not going to be any time soon for me to settle down.
“We should have done this a long time ago,” she says, interrupting my thoughts. “We should have gone out for drinks and celebrated before tonight. You’re doing great now. The divorce is over, and you have the freedom to find a better guy.”
I laugh because Carrie’s always trying to play matchmaker, but I can’t help but point out, “There aren’t a lot of eligible men in Forest Grove.”
Carrie turns from the mirror and waits for me to look at her. “Yeah, but Bart is available, and you should go for him. It’s not like you haven’t loved him forever.”
I could laugh, but I don’t. Carrie knows I’ve always had a crush on her brother, but she’s never wanted to talk about it before. “You made me promise not to date him when we were teens. Do you remember that?”
Carrie waves that off. “We were just kids. You should go for it if that’s what you want.”
I don’t commit either way. I just walk out of the bathroom and hold the door open for her to follow me. Almost as soon as we get back to the table, Carrie says that she and Scott have to go.
“What? But we—” he starts, but then he and Carrie exchange looks, and she’s pulling him out the door, waving goodbye as they depart.
Bart laughs. “That was subtle. Right?”
“Yeah, well your sister was never really known for being subtle.”
“Yeah. So can I get you another drink?”
I shake my head. “I better not. I need to go and get Katie before I go home, so maybe I’ll just have a water.”
He waves for the server and asks for two waters. When the server leaves, I tell him, “You could have had another one.”
“Nah, I’m not much of a drinker anyway.”
“Well, it looks like me coming ruined your chance to get to know Scott. I had no idea Carrie would barge out of here like she did.”
He shakes his head. “It’s okay. I actually know Scott pretty well. He’s a good guy. But I’m more interested in talking to you anyway.”
I tense up and try not to look nervous. I haven’t been flirted with in I don’t know how long. Is this even flirting? Man, I’m so out of the game.
He gets a big smile on his face, and I move around in my seat. There’s no doubt the man still affects me. “Do you remember the time you and Carrie hid out in the back of my SUV to try to go to a party I was going to?”