Page 82 of The Other Half

Matt responded with a laugh. “Look at me.”

I turned, and we locked eyes. “What?”

“Do. You. Love. Her?”

Holding his eyes, I started to look away.

“Ah! Look me in the eye and answer me. Do you love her?”

I stood in silence for a moment while mirth danced in his eyes. When I saw her face flashing through my mind again, I sighed. Matt knew me too well. There was no use in trying to lie when I answered the question I hadn’t known the answer to just a minute ago. “Yes.” The weight of the admission nearly took me to my knees.

“Well? Then what else is there?”

“She lied to me, Matt.”

“Oh, come on, Jake. No one is perfect. God knows I’m not, and you’ve forgiven me.”

“Who said I’ve forgiven you?” I arched a brow.

He only smiled and cast again. “Well, you’re going to have to forgive one of us. If you don’t, both the Ox and the Cornerstone are off limits to you.” Waggling his brows, he grinned wider. “And there you’ll be... loveless. And whiskey-less.”

“Shit.” I laughed. “I suppose I do need to forgive one of you.”

“Or both?” He turned toward me. “Maybe you need to forgive us both.”

Forgiveness didn’t come easy for me. Every time I’d tried in the past, I’d been burned. Nikki was the perfect example. Yet when I stared into those familiar eyes, I wanted nothing more than to forgive him. To have my friend back. My happiness back. Well, at least part of it. The other half of my happiness was still slinging drinks at the Blue Ox.

“I’ll think about it,” I answered, but the look that passed between us was one that needed no other words. After decades of friendship, he knew exactly what I was thinking.

Smiling, he turned back to the water and continued reeling in his line.

A fish bit my line and I snagged it, careful this time not to reel too fast.

“Oh, come on! That one was mine!” Matt teased while I brought it in. This time I was careful not to go too fast, and soon the silvery scales glistened in the dim light when it surfaced by the dock.

“I got it!” Matt said, lying on his stomach and reaching into the water. With a swoop of his hand, he caught it by the gills and lifted it up. We stood grinning at the size of the monster trout he held up.

“Teamwork makes the dream work!” He grinned and pushed it toward me.

“Shit! That thing put up a fight!” I panted as I caught my breath.

“The best things come at the end of the biggest battles.”

His veiled words settled over me while he peered at me from behind the big fish. This time I felt like it was me squirming on the end of the line. I’d waged a battle against my feelings for Cassie. I’d run, she had pulled, I’d swam toward her, and she’d kept the tension just right. Even though I’d thought I’d broken free, when I’d seen her tonight, I’d felt the tension tighten again. She still had me on the end of the line. And now I didn’t think I wanted to toss the hook. This time, I wanted to give up my battle and let her reel me in.

“Are you keeping it?” he asked.

“No. Toss it back. I’ve got to go see about a girl.”

With a growing smile, he nodded. Leaning over the edge, he put the fish back in the water and rocked it until it burst free. He stood and pressed a hand on my shoulder.

“Go get your happy ending, man. You deserve it.”

Staring into the eyes of my oldest friend, a slow nod tipped my head. I felt all my anger and all my hurt dissolving beneath his apologetic gaze. I grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him in for a hug. We embraced for only a moment before I patted his shoulder and stepped back.

“Thanks, Matt. I needed this.”

“Anytime, friend,” he said. “If I can still call myself that?”