“That’s why I’m in New York.”
Watching a leggy blonde cross the restaurant has me thinking this city isn’t so bad. “I thought you moved here because Natalie wanted to live in the city?”
“That too.” He leans forward, resting his arms on the table. Lowering his voice, he says, “I know you might not want to hear this, but you could always ask Tatum.”
“That ship has sailed, like four times over.”
“What is it with you two? You’re oil and water. Over what? A one-night stand that didn’t pan out to be more?” He finishes his beer and sets the glass down to spin it between his fingers. “That’s not how I saw things going after how you two spent the night in Catalina, but you fucked up. One text could have changed it from one night—”
“Evening, all night, and sunrise, but who’s counting . . .”
“Apparently, you are.”
“Natalie, actually, since she was the one locked out of her room all night while you two got it on.”
“The operative part of that sentence is ‘the one.’ That’s the same one you married. So, you’re welcome.” Considering three years have passed since the wedding, I doubt Tatum has thought much about me since Catalina, much less from the reception. Even though I’ve thought of her more than once or twice over that time. Nick’s smile makes me chuckle. “Damn, dude, you still have it that bad for your wife?”
“I’ll never get over how lucky I am.” Standing, he adds, “Now that my brother’s life is sorted, according to my mom, she’s turning her attention on you, so be careful, or you just might find yourself in my shoes.”
“Smiling like a loon in the middle of a restaurant? No, thank you. Cookie Christiansen may believe she’s a matchmaker, but fixing her sons’ lives was easy compared to the mess I’ve made of my love life.” I stand and walk around to his side of the table. “Anyway, just because you found your one and only doesn’t mean I have to fall for the same shenanigans.” Although, after looking at my black book, I can’t help wondering. Do I want more than one night as well?
Leading us out of the restaurant, I look up at the skyscrapers blocking the sunshine. “Do you ever get used to this? I’ve been here a day, and I miss the wide blue sky and the ocean.”
Shoving his hands into his pockets, Nick gazes upward. When he looks back at me, he says, “The pros outweigh the cons. Andrew and I can take you to the shore sometime. There’s surfing. Admittedly, the Atlantic isn’t the same as the Pacific, but it works when you need to be with the sea.”
He nods toward the car waiting at the curb. When we start walking, he adds, “I’ll be honest, I felt out of place here for months. Maybe being with Natalie made it easier. She showed me how great this city can be. We can walk to so many places, restaurants, shops, the store. I don’t miss sitting in my car for two to three hours a day.” He stops and opens the door before clapping me on the shoulder. “So yeah, it’s not LA, but New York’s kind of won my heart over. Give it a chance, and you might find it’s not so bad.”
“I’m here. I’m giving it a chance.” I duck into the back, and he follows. For someone who apparently walks so much, it must be nice to have a car on call day and night. “As for Tatum, that’s a hard no. You saw how she reacted when she saw me. The woman hates me. With her, there are no second chances.”
“Maybe give it the night, and you two can become friends. Natalie would like that.”
His wife is cool enough for me to consider the option. “Look, I won’t say no to Natalie, but that means me taking a risk. Tatum is more than bark. She bites.”
“Keep your sexual escapades to yourself, dude.”
It’s a punch to the arm he can handle, especially since it doesn’t seem to faze him from teasing me the rest of the way home. The thing is, I liked Tatum. I fucked up by not calling her despite our agreement. Maybe we could have worked out like Nick and Natalie, given how their relationship started the same night.
Fuck. I run a hand over my head. What am I talking about?
No way am I ready to be married and settled down at twenty-nine. Life’s just getting interesting.
When the car arrives, we head up to the stoop. “I think I should have had another beer before doing this.”
Patting me on the back, he says, “You got this.”
Nick opens the door, and we’re greeted with laughter echoing from deeper inside the house. We walk toward the sound, and when Nick sees Natalie, he opens his arms. “There’s my beautiful wife.” She rushes to him as if they’ve been apart for more than a few hours.