Don't Date Your Brother's Best Friend

“A business card,” I said. I took it out of my wallet. “Max Bond. The new counselor over at the health department.”

“A shrink? That’s why you’re here?”

“I thought maybe Dr. Bond could help with overcoming the divorce and the drinking.”

“You think I’m crazy. And a drunk. You’re as bad as my sister. You know what, maybe I had it wrong. Maybe you two deserve each other. You’re so fucking sanctimonious. Get out, and don’t come back here. You’re no friend of mine.” He said, pointing toward the door.

I left. It wasn’t worth hanging around if he wasn’t going to listen. I had cared enough to try and help him. That had to count for something. In part, I’d done it for Sarah Jo. Because I knew he needed counseling, but he wouldn’t take the suggestion very well. I didn’t want her to have to take the heat for giving him the name of a professional who might actually be able to help him. All I could do was hope he made an appointment.

At Cecil’s, I mixed up a third dirty martini for a woman who said she was in town on business at the factory. Several guys had approached her, but she’d refused them. I pulled a couple of beers for guys from my crew who came in to say hi and warned them it was almost closing. When I gave the woman her bill, she signed it, added a big tip and the number of her room at the B&B down the street. I shook my head.

“That’s kind of you,” I said. “Do you have a ride back to the inn?”

“I’m walking. It’s a small town, I’ll be fine,” she said. I shook my head.

“Jake,” I said. “Would you and Rick walk this young lady back to the B&B?”

“We’d consider it an honor,” Rick said.

“Yeah, we’re the welcome wagon around here,” Jake said. I rolled my eyes at him. For all their bullshit, they were trustworthy to the core.

“So I have the local firefighters acting as my bodyguards?” she said with a giggle.

“At your service,” Jake said, offering her his arm.

“I’ll text you when we drop her off,” Rick said. “And I won’t even let Jake give her his number.”

“Thanks,” I said. “I’ve got to close.”

I closed out the register, wiped down the bar and put mixers back in the refrigerator. The kitchen staff cleaned up and cleared out. I made a note to pick up more lemons tomorrow. Then I called Sarah Jo. I needed to talk to her. I was dying to see her. I missed her so badly. She had become essential so fast, even though she’d been gone for years. Once she was back in my life, I couldn’t get by even just talking to her every day.

“Hello?” I said when she answered. “I know it’s late. Is it too late for you to come by my place? I need to see you. As soon as I’m done closing up at the bar.”

“I’m in the parking lot,” she said. “Trying to decide whether to come inside.”

“Yes. You definitely should,” I answered.

23

Sarah Jo

I was almost queasy about going into the bar. I didn’t want to face Luke and admit the things Ryan had said to me. Or really, to confess the things I’d said back. I’d had a good conversation with my dad after his appointment. I had felt better about where we stood. Then I ran into Luke’s arms on the sidewalk in front of God and everybody. That was my one-way ticket to Slut City, where the men in my family were concerned. So I wanted to see Luke, wanted to be comforted by him, but I felt crappy about the way Ryan and I had both acted at home. I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a tiny germ of guilt in my feelings about sleeping with Luke.

The last of the cars emptied from the parking lot behind Cecil’s. I pocketed my keys and went to the door, Luke’s coat tucked around me. I could still get a whiff of Old Spice off the collar, which I sniffed more than I cared to admit. He pulled me inside and hugged me. His arms and his coat wrapped around me. God, it felt good. So right and warm and perfect.

Then we both started talking at once.

“I have to tell you something,” I began.

“Sarah Jo, I went to see Ryan,” he said at the same time.

“You first,” I said.

“No, you go ahead, please.”

“Okay,” I said, “Ryan knows about us. He came over to Dad’s tonight and put in his two cents about it.”

“If I know the way he’s been acting, it was worth a lot less than two cents,” he said. “I’m sorry. I’m sure he lit into you like you’d committed high crimes. I wish he’d come to me instead.”