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This time it was his turn to laugh. For some strange reason, Butch?
?s deep rumble reminded me of the Santa Claus my mother used to take Dustin and me to see at the country club every year.
“I believe it. Like I said, winning personality.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’ve been busy trying to live the perfect life. Working, spending time with friends, and working some more. About the only thing that keeps me sane these days are my friends.”
He nodded. “Good friends are hard to come by. Don’t ever let them go.”
Something caught Butch’s eye, and he turned. He held up a finger and yelled at someone at the other end of the bar. “Stay away from her. Do you hear me?”
When I glanced over to see who Butch was pointing to, my mouth nearly dropped to the bar and my heart felt like it stalled in my chest.
Holy fucking shit. Could it really be her?
“Morgan?”
Butch turned back. “You know Morgan?”
Sighing, I pushed my fingers through my hair.
Jesus. How in the hell do I answer that question? Yeah, Butch. I know Morgan. She’s the girl who stole my heart years ago, and she has no fucking clue.
“Yeah, I know her. She’s my best friend’s sister.”
I turned back to Butch and asked, “How do you know Morgan?”
“She was Mike’s girlfriend.”
My heart dropped to my stomach. “Is that why she’s here? Is today . . .” I let my question slip away.
Nodding, he faced Morgan again, and I followed his gaze. “Yeah, today’s the day. She comes in here once a year and gets shit-faced, just like you. I’m surprised the two of you haven’t run into each other yet, doing the same damn thing year after year.”
I swallowed hard as I continued to look at her. What were the odds Morgan and I would be coming to the same bar each year, during the same time? How had we not run into each other? I felt the heat of Butch’s stare and knew he wanted to say something but was having a hard time. We were both quiet for a good minute before Butch spoke again. This time his voice had a hint of sadness in it.
“She blames herself for his death.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Probably the same reason I do. I let her have her day without any questions, the same as I do for you. Then I make sure she gets home. We used to meet once a month for dinner, but I’ve started backing off of it. She needed to move on, and I felt like that was her way of hanging on to one last piece of Mike.”
I refocused on Morgan.
“You know her well then, I’m guessing, since she’s Nash’s sister?”
Turning back to Butch, I nodded. “You know Nash?”
“I do. We met long ago. Mike and Morgan dated in high school.”
My face heated after I realized what a stupid question that had been. Of course he would know Morgan’s family. Hell, she was engaged to his son.
“I, um, met her in college. Nash had brought her to a party and introduced her to everyone. We’re friends, but for a while I really only saw her when she was with her brother or were at the same party or something. She never hung around with us in college, but her best friend—Kaelynn—is engaged to Nash now, so she comes around more often.”
“Yeah, she told me about that. I’m happy for Nash.”
My eyes swung back over to her and I watched as she downed the rest of the beer she was drinking.
“Damn, Nash wouldn’t be too pleased she was here alone.”
