Page 24 of It's a Widow Thing

Kendra perused the menu. “I think we have to get the wings. They’re known for them.” Her job of cardiac surgeon was stressful and a matter of life and death, so she was always ready to jump right in and throw caution to the wind.

“Have you been here before?” Sabrina asked.

“Nope. I read an article about it.”

“I’m up for anything.” Sabrina set aside her menu.

“Let’s just order a bunch of appetizers for the table,” Kendra suggested. “Should be plenty of food.”

A guy in dark-framed glasses and wearing a Bad Axe T-shirt approached their table with a tray of waters. “I can already tell this group is a bunch of troublemakers,” he joked with a wide smile. “I’m Marcus. Can I bring you ladies a drink?”

“I’ll have a Brooklyn lager,” Kendra said.

“Same,” Sabrina added.

“What’s a good cocktail to order?” Orla asked.

“What do you normally like?” Marcus replied.

Orla shrugged, pulling her reading glasses out of her purse. “I’m embarrassed to say that the last time I ordered a cocktail, it was the ‘80s and I think I got a fuzzy navel.”

Sabrina snickered.

“We have a killer margarita,” Marcus offered.

Deep creases formed between Orla’s eyes. “Do I want that?”

“She’ll have the margarita and I’ll drink it if she doesn’t like it,” Kendra said.

“Got it. I’ll be right back.” In a flash, Marcus was gone.

Kendra turned to Sabrina and bugged her eyes. “So? We haven’t seen you in two weeks. What happened with Michael?”

“Oh, gosh. A lot has happened since I last saw you all.” Just thinking about him made a smile bloom on her face and a blur of new memories flood her consciousness. They’d been spending so much time together. “We’ve been seeing each other a bunch. Going out to dinner. Sometimes just grabbing a coffee or taking a walk. It’s been really nice.” Nice was such an undersell, it was ridiculous. Time with Michael had been absolutely amazing. He made her laugh. He listened. They were getting comfortable with each other, something Sabrina had really, truly needed before wading in any deeper. She was so thankful that he’d been patient, but she had to wonder how long he could keep it up. Or how long she could keep it up, for that matter. The contents of her brain could be summed up like this: 40% work, 10% song lyrics, 10% random facts that made her good at the crossword, and 40% naughty thoughts about Michael.

“Sounds promising,” Kendra said.

“Are you taking things slow?” Orla asked. “I wouldn’t want to see you get hurt.”

“Very slow. He’s leaving it all up to me.” Sabrina was mulling over whether she actually wanted to share the fact that she and Michael hadn’t had sex. Some things were best kept private, weren’t they? Marcus was heading back to their table with drinks when Sabrina caught sight of something, or more specifically,someonethat made her do a double take. Michael and two men who looked almost exactly like him had walked into the bar. It was like a very handsome mirage. Sabrina clutched Kendra’s arm. “Oh, my God. He’s here.”

“Who?” Kendra sat taller in her seat and began scanning the room.

“Michael. He must be with his brothers.” Just seeing him made her heart start beating like rain pattering against a windowpane. What were the odds that they would end up in the same bar? Maybe this was a sign.

“Where? There?” Kendra pointedexactlywhere they were, which was next to the hostess stand near the door. “It’s perfect. There’s our other three. Invite them over.”

“Are you sure? This is supposed to be our ladies’ night.” Sabrina wasn’t sure why she was in any way hesitant. Perhaps it was because she wasn’t ready to meet the scrutiny of his brothers.

“Wehaveto meet him, Sabrina. Don’t be silly,” Orla said.

Sabrina stood and waved. It took only a second for Michael to spot her. The look on his face as he recognized her warmed her from head to toe. It was amazing to know that their connection could remain strong even across a crowded room. She curled her finger in invitation. He bounced his eyebrows, said something to his brothers, and the next thing she knew, they were on their way over.

He sidled right up to her and kissed her on the cheek, placing his hand at the small of her back and sending a heatwave right through her. “Of the many places I thought I might run into you, this wasnotone of them.”

“I know. Weird, right?”

“I want you to meet my brothers.” He turned to them. “Brian and Daniel, this is Sabrina.”