Page 67 of Silver Brewer

“It’s just…I think I love her, and it all seems so fast.”

“Well, nothing can be slower than twenty-seven years.” Mati chuckles as that’s how long it took her to reconnect with Denton. I don’t want that much time to pass. I want twenty-seven years with Letty.

“Look, slow, fast—”

“In, out,” Billy interjects, thrusting his hips at the bar. Mati slaps the wooden top.

“Can you try to remember I’m your sister for five seconds? Anyway…” she starts again. “I don’t think there needs to be a time limit on love or grief. Grief ends when you’re done. And love begins when you’re ready.”

You’re so ready for me, Letty. The words drift into my head, reminding me of her on my desk. She is always ready for me, but it’s been more than sex. So much more.

“I think I need to get back to Chicago and do some groveling,” I say, picking up my phone from where it lies on the bar.

“You’ve been to Chicago?” Billy asks.

“Try to keep up,” Mati teases.

“I need to go,” I say, slipping from the stool. My phone buzzes in my hand, notifying me of an email. Hastily, I open it while I stand at the bar because the notification is from her, in response to my last email.

You’re so far away.

+ + +

“Cricket.” I breath her name into the phone when she answers on the second ring.

“Giant.” She sounds equally as breathless.

“Are you okay?” Her email worries me, and I tap my fingers on my steering wheel as I sit in my truck in a parking spot on Main Street.

“I’m…I’m in Tennessee. I know it isn’t exactly next door, but it’s closer than Chicago, and I wondered if you’d be interested in—”

“Yes.”

She giggles, and I smile, a spark of hope flickering before me. “Well, that was easy, but you didn’t let me finish.”

“I’m easy.” I laugh.

“You’re very difficult, Mr. Harrington,” she teases. “Easy is not a word I’d use to describe you.”

“What word would you use?” Say charming. Say anything. Just let me hear your voice. It’s so good to hear her voice.

“Does hard work?”

“Hard?” I choke out. “I can be hard for you.” I don’t know where the flirting comes from. I should be apologizing, groveling…Dammit, I should have sent her flowers. I swipe a hand over the thick hairs on my jaw, but she continues to chuckle.

“Well, maybe we could talk before we get to the hard part.”

I laugh uneasily. “Talking is the hard part.”

“I know.” She sighs. “But I’ve missed your voice.”

“Me too. I mean, I’ve missed yours.” And your smile, your laughter, your arms around me. “So you’re in Tennessee.”

“Yeah, I have a meeting tomorrow to look at a property. My uncle’s giving me a second chance to make up for losing out on yours.” She isn’t upset, and I can hear the smile in her voice. “I thought maybe Saturday, or whenever you’re free, if you’re free…I mean—”

“Just tell me where you are,” I snap, harsher than I intend but desperate to get an answer. I press the ignition starter, then reach for the navigation system in my truck.

“I’m in Appleton, just outside Knoxville. Have you ever heard of it?”