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Now, he stood at the seventh green trying to line up his shot and cut in to the lead Liam was quickly building. Wes widened his stance, squared his shoulders, drew the nine-iron back above his shoulders and swung hard. He stood back and watched the ball’s ascent.
Liam chuckled as the ball sailed, beautifully, but headed for the pond. It landed with an unceremonious plop, water shooting in the air. A handful of birds flapped their wings in protest to the intrusion. “Impatient as ever, I see. I’ve told you a million times, you can’t rush the shot. Gotta let it come to you. It’s a lesson that works in love, too, my friend.”
Wes cursed under his breath at the wicked angle the ball took, then groaned at Liam’s brotherly advice. “Is that why we’re here today? For Liam Westbrook’s lessons in love?”
Liam laughed. “I don’t plan to lecture you, if that’s what you mean. But what kind of mate would I be if I didn’t state the obvious?”
“That I’m being a general ass where Bree’s concerned?” No point in beating around the bush.
“I’d have put it a bit more delicately.” Liam held back a grin as he climbed behind the wheel of the golf cart. Neither of them were the kind of guys who relished sitting in the passenger seat. But the agreement was the winner of their last round drove the next time. It was a sucker bet. Liam was a far better player. Still, his pride wouldn’t allow him to concede or stop believing he’d win next time. So here he was riding shotgun again.
“Bree’s a great girl, Liam. You know I think the world of her. But I’m not interested in a relationship. A policy we once shared.” He gave his friend a side eye, trying to rein in the green-eyed monster that gave him mixed emotions about his friend’s engagement. He was happy for Liam. They were best friends. Had been since they were thirteen years old.
They trusted each other with their lives. Told each other the truth, whether they wanted to hear it or not. And if they couldn’t tell each other the truth, they’d both learned to avoid the subject altogether.
Like he’d been trying to do now. Not that his friend was picking up on the hint.
“Come on. You act like I betrayed the bro code or something.” Liam pulled alongside the tree and parked in the vicinity of where the ball had crossed over into the water hazard.
Liam was right. He was acting like an overgrown child whose best friend had become friends with the kid next door.
“I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant, you once understood that philosophy. Lived by it faithfully. You were the one person I could count on to never give me grief about it being time for me to settle down.” Wes shrugged. “I miss that luxury.”
“Never thought of that.” Liam folded his arms over the steering wheel. His expression was apologetic.
After a few moments of silence between them, he continued. “Back when I shared your philosophy on relationships, I truly believed we were the smartest guys around. But when I fell for Maya I discovered the truth about myself. I wasn’t being brave all those years, I was afraid of being hurt again. Too cowardly to take the risk.”
Wes climbed out of the cart with his club in hand and dropped his ball. Liam’s revelation didn’t come as a surprise. He remembered how devastated his friend had been when he discovered his off-and-on girlfriend, Meredith, had fallen for his brother, Hunter. Still, it was unsettling to hear Liam admit it.
Wes turned his back to Liam and concentrated on the game. He took his time and drove the ball again. This time it landed closer to the hole than his friend’s had. He slid his club back in the bag and hopped inside the cart.
“Well played, mate.” Liam’s raised eyebrows knitted together, despite his compliment.
Wes laughed. “Look, I appreciate your concern. I do. And you know I couldn’t be happier for you. Maya and the girls are amazing. You’re a lucky guy. So I get that you want to see me happy, too. But you’re assuming I’m not. That my life is somehow incomplete.”
Liam didn’t respond. His silence said more than his words ever could.
Wes couldn’t argue. He was content with his life the way it was, but he couldn’t deny that there were nights when his bed felt cold and empty. Even on nights on the town, in a room brimming with people, he occasionally felt alone. But he’d been content to ignore those moments. To fill the empty space with a warm body or a night of laughter. “I’m focused on growing Adams Promotions and making the Pleasure Cove volleyball tournament a success. Don’t have time for distractions. Got it?”
