8 Weeks (Time for Love 1)

"Anyway," she continued. "I just want you to know that I'm here for you, Cal. I understand that men have needs, and I won't hold your mistakes against you."

Melody ran a finger along my arm, and I felt my body shiver in disgust. I heard her hop off of the stool and giggle.

"See you around," she said before she walked away.

I don't know how long I sat there, scowling at my beer after she left, but was startled when a strong hand clapped on my back.

"What'd that beer do to you, man?" TJ asked with a chuckle. "How long have you been here?"

I shook my head, eager to forget Melody and spend time with my buddies.

"Not that long," I answered as I stood. "Let's go grab a table."

TJ walked up to the hostess, leaned in and said something, then gave her a wink and headed back to a table in the corner with a good view of the big screen.

"You make plans with her later?" I asked with a chuckle as we sat.

"Jealousy doesn't suit you," TJ said wryly, causing me to laugh.

It was a good laugh too, the kind that starts deep in your belly. It felt really good.

We watched the TV in silence, so caught up in the game neither of us noticed when Scott walked up to the table.

"Is someone gonna move over, or am I sitting at the bar?"

I looked up sharply, surprised at Scott's tone, and then the look on his face.

He looked pissed.

I scooted over to give him some room, watching his expression as he told the waitress to grab him a whiskey on the rocks.

"Everything alright, brother?" I asked, seriously concerned. Scott didn't get ruffled very often, and he only drank whiskey when he was really pissed.

Scott just grunted and shook his head.

"Something at work?" TJ prodded.

Scott looked up at TJ, then over at me. "Nah, nothin

g at work."

"What is it?" I asked again.

Scott looked at me and his face lightened up a bit. He rubbed his hand across his face before replying, "It's not that big of a deal, and I hate to complain and sound like a pussy, especially with everything that you're going through right now, Cal ... But, fuck ... Victoria is driving me insane."

TJ and I shared a moment while Scott's head was down, and I knew my eyes were as wide as his were. Scott had never said anything negative to us about Victoria before. It was hard to believe, but it was the truth.

"What's going on?" I asked him, trying not to sound too excited that Victoria may finally get what she deserves.

The boot.

The waitress brought Scott's whiskey, and I motioned to her to bring me another beer, and he took a long sip before saying, "It's all of this wedding stuff. We had agreed to have a medium-sized ceremony, so that we could invite friends and family, and now she's trying to change everything. She says that she wants it to be smaller and more intimate, which is fine, but then ... “He paused and looked at us both again quickly before downing the rest of his drink.

"Then ..." TJ prodded.

"Then she said that she wants it to just be family. She doesn't want our friends to attend."

"What the fuck?" TJ asked.