I didn’t have to be told twice.
Even so, I sat in the armchair. “Reversed positions,” I said. “From Saturday night.”
“I feel like any response to that is going to be taken out of context and turned against me.”
Man, this woman knew me. “Good guess.”
Her legs were crossed, but damn if that did little to stop my imagination from running wild. The second I saw her in a white sundress, all coherent thought went out the window.
“So, O’Malley’s. That was a nice surprise.”
“You approve?”
“Very much. What tipped your hand?”
“You, in part. Despite what you think, I actually have been listening to you. And the guys, honestly. While they’ve all got their shit together—well, everyone but Cole—I’ve been screwing around, pretending I’m still in college. Bartending might have started out as a big middle finger to my father…” I smiled, thinking about how much that had pissed him off. Served him right for treating me like a pawn instead of a son. “It’s not a life plan.”
“Cole? I’d say tenure track at Columbia qualifies as having your shit together.”
“Sure. If he actually wanted that. Dumb fucker is trying to impress his father and making himself miserable in the process. He hates it.”
“He does? I had no idea.”
I shrugged. “Because he hides it well. But we were talking about my suitability as a potential boyfriend.”
I loved making Mae laugh. “I’m sorry. Did the conversation veer away from you for a half second? My sincerest apologies.”
“No worries. I’ll let it slide.”
Mae collapsed backward onto the bed, mumbling something about me being ridiculous.
“Tired?”
“I think the weekend is catching up to me.”
I stood and sat on the edge of the bed. Everything I’d planned to say flew out the window as I looked down at the familiar face that knew me as well as anyone. She was so goddam pretty. And good. There wasn’t a mean bone in Mae’s body.
I loved her. The kind of love that changes throughout the years as we grew from children to adolescents to teens to adults. I loved her so much it actually tugged at my chest to think about how close she came to marrying another man. Living in France. I nearly lost her and wouldn’t take that chance again.
“I can be a better man for you, Mae. If you give me a chance.”
Mae scooted upwards so her legs were on the bed, rolled onto her side and propped her head on her hand.
“I just don’t want to ruin”—she waved her hand toward us—“this.”
I had no good comeback for that. If we tried, and failed, to turn a friendship into something more, I had no idea if it would be possible to go backwards. Seemed unlikely. I was better off with the plan that the guys had helped me formulate.
Show her.
Show Mae I was serious about getting my shit together. I was serious about her. Words would only go so far after Mae had watched me flit around without a care in the world since, well, always.
“I’m gonna make your dad proud,” I said instead. “He won’t regret selling to me. I have so many ideas I want to talk to you about.”
“I know he won’t. My dad adores you. And I’ve seen firsthand how much you care about the customers. You know that was always his number one.”
“What about you? Any thoughts on what’s next?”
I wasn’t stupid. The answer to that question could very well make or break us.
