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I know when I talk with Grayson, he’s going to ask me the most important question: the elephant in the room. He’s the only one who knows about it because he’s my best friend. The issue that irrevocably broke most of my other friendships. The reason, no matter how much I want to believe that being with someone as good as Avery will help my soul, I’m still damned to hell.
Not the Catholic Church, not Avery, no one can save me. I just fucking hope that Avery still wants me when I tell her the truth about the night that set me on this path.
It’s funny, really. I preach about hope being the most powerful weapon out there, and here I am, full of hope for a future that, for years, I couldn’t fathom would be bestowed on me.
Avery has changed me. I know I won’t be willing to take no as an answer from her, and where will that leave us? She’s fallen for a broken man who is praying to God that she’s the one to piece him back together. Her care and spirit are already helping me do just that.
Grayson and I decide to meet at Jackson’s. He was the one to tell me about it when I first moved to Charleston. Now, this bar has become Avery and my secret spot in the open but away from our worlds.
I’m sitting in my favorite spot when I see Grayson walking toward me. His optimism always radiates from him, and I can finally see myself having his outlook. A world where not everything is bleak and full of despair.
“Hey, man,” Grayson says as he slides onto the barstool next to me.
“Hey.” We go in for a handshake hug.
Grayson’s one person I know I can count on. I need to talk to him about what’s been happening.
“How’s the boat business going?” I ask as I sip my whiskey.
Grayson shrugs noncommittally before placing his order. I never know what beer he’ll want to order ahead.
“A shrug, really, man?”
Grayson laughs at my skeptical gaze.
“It’s good, it’s good, no complaints. Just living the dream, one bachelorette party at a time,” he says with a smile.
The bartender slides his drink in front of him as Grayson pulls out his credit card to start a tab.
That’s right. I forgot his primary clientele is all bachelorette parties.
“I think Charleston is the number one destination this year, beating out Nashville. It’s crazy but good. I’m buying another boat or two and hiring more crew members.”
He takes a sip of his craft beer. Grabbing the saltshaker in front of him, he puts some on the coaster so the glass doesn’t stick to the cardboard before setting it back down.
“I’m hoping these new boats will be different styles than the others. Have to experiment to keep the parties coming.”
Grayson glances down at the napkin the bartender gave him. He picks it up and twists it toward me, showing she left her number on it.
“What do you know?”
I laugh, shaking my head.
“Fucking of course, the great hockey player is here,” I say jokingly.
Grayson pockets the number and grins.
“You never know,” he says with a tilt of his head before sipping his beer again.
Grayson is a smart businessman. During his time as a professional hockey player, he didn’t waste the money he was earning at his peak. He turned his money into investments and then, after retirement, wanted something as stress-free as possible. But that didn’t last long. One boat has now turned into more with no stopping in sight.
“Really proud of you, though. What you’ve been able to do since your retirement is just awesome.”
“Thanks, man. It hasn’t always been easy for me to look at retiring as a good decision, but ultimately, it was. Now look at me,” he says as he spreads his arms wide and lets his larger-than-life smile take over.
I laugh at his over-the-top gesture.
“Alright, man, I get it.”
