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“The women at the bar wouldn’t be?”
“Well, taking advantage of women while they’re sad is a little devious.”
“Not necessarily. If I tell them how gorgeous they are, give them a few orgasms, and send them on their way to fight another day I think I’m doing a community service.”
“You would say that.”
“Nah, I try to stay away from women at my own bar anyway. Then they know where to find me if they want more, and I don’t have more to offer.”
“I know Gin needed your full attention for a long time, but she’s older now you know. She has her own life with school and soccer. You’re allowed to do things for yourself.”
“Well, I’ve been wanting to take a vacation. Might take one this summer to somewhere warm. Your beach getaway sounded amazing. I was looking forward to it.” I stick my foot in my mouth. Because I was. That was my consolation prize at least for her getting married to David, and possibly losing the biannual visits and the long late-night chats we still have every month to catch up. At least I got to watch it all go down somewhere gorgeous with a sugary rum drink and a sunny beach.
“Yeah. I’m sorry I ruined that. I know Gin was looking forward to it too.”
“We’ll live. I’m sorry, that was insensitive. I wasn’t thinking.”
“It’s fine. I’m sure a lot of people are annoyed their vacation plans are canceled because of me.” She offers up a half frown and then gets back to prepping the food.
When we’ve finished eating our food we’re already halfway through a movie she picked out on the TV. I’m only half-watching it though because she’s curled up next to me, her long hair spilling over the edge of the pillow against my hip. Her fingers are wrapped around my knee as she tells me some theory she has about the next twist she thinks is going to happen in the movie. I’ve got a lock of her hair curled around my finger as I skim through my phone, only half-interested because I’m still trying to make sense of what to do with her here. What makes me better or worse—if I try to convince her to go to her wedding or just continue to support her by giving her a place to hide.
My phone dings with a text message.
Nick
We’re at the bar. Any chance you’re coming?
I’m the only single dude here. Could use backup support.
Nick is my long snapper and one of the remaining single guys among my closest friends on the team. We usually defend each other when all the couples try to set us up with random women by the end of the night because they want everyone to be as happy as they are. So I feel bad not being there tonight, but I also don’t want to leave Aurora when she needs me.
“How would you feel about going to the bar?” I ask.
Her eyes lift to meet mine, and she pops up from her spot to grin at me.
“Is that an option?”
She’s been in love with the idea of me running a bar since I told her I opened it, but with everything going on in her life, she hasn’t been out to see it yet.
“Yeah. A bunch of my friends are there tonight. One of them’s asking if I’m coming down.”
“I can throw some makeup on and get ready quickly. I’d love to go.”
“All right. Get ready and I’ll take you down there.”
Yeah. I have company though. My friend’s here from out of town, so I have to wait for her to get ready.
Nick
Her!? Not you too….
It’s not like that. She’s Gin’s aunt. See you in a bit.
It’s another lie. It’d absolutely be like that if she ever saw me that way. Of course, throwing her into the deep end with my friends tonight will probably end any chance of that. I can guess once they see her, they’ll be dying to tell her every last story about me. Including some salacious ones I’d rather not have her know.
CHAPTERFIVE
Aurora
