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Nate walked up to Clay and held out his hand. “I will. I’m sorry for everything, man. You’re more important to me than any restaurant, any woman. You know that right?”
Clay nodded slowly. “I know it. But I shouldn’t be.”
“What?” He didn’t understand.
Clay shook his head and looked over at Louis, who’d been sitting in the shadows, watching his two friends. “He means that you shouldn’t give up something you want for anything. Certainly not for us.”
Nate shoved his hands in his pockets, feeling uncomfortable. “This isn’t Amy all over again, Lou. This is us. The three amigos. Bros before—”
“Don’t say it, or I’ll break something else.” Clay’s voice was low, but threatening. Nate didn’t doubt him. The man had a hell of a left.
Clay ran a hand over his face. “You don’t get it do you? I…care about Truly. More than I want to admit. And I won’t lie. I wish things could turn out differently. She’s worth fighting for. She’s worth a little tension between friends.”
Louis nodded, patting Clay on the back. “Yes. She is. And you’re right too, Nate. This isn’t like Amy at all. This is two people in love. With each other this time. Two good people who happen to also love their friends, and hopefully will let them join in on the love fest from time to time.”
Nate was shaking his head when his sister walked into the room, looking spectacular in a little black dress. “Am I on time for the intervention?” she quipped saucily.
Nate groaned. “Not you too.”
“’Fraid so. It’s your own damn fault for being stubborn.” Her expression turned serious. “We are not our parents, Nathaniel. We can love without hurting each other. We can love with open hearts that have room enough to love the rest of our family, children, our friends. Look at Grams. She loves everybody.”
Nate’s throat was closed up, trying to fight back the swell of emotion that had come with her words. Wasn’t that what he’d always been afraid of? To love that obsessively, and in the end, that violently? To love so much that your own children didn’t have a place in your heart?
He felt so much for Truly that sometimes it was hard to think, hard to breathe. And that scared the holy hell out of him.
“Grams is senile, sis. She doesn’t count.”
Jane rolled her eyes. “Whatever, jackass. The point is still valid.”
Louis chimed in. “We are officially stepping aside, my brother. Apart from the aforementioned inviting us over occasionally part of this conversation.”
“And unless you hurt her. Then all bets are off.” Clay turned to go into the kitchen, and Nate felt real regret. His friend hadn’t left him. He was hurting though, and Nate would’ve given anything to take that back.
Anything but Truly, he suddenly realized. Truly was his.
He just had to let her know it.
“We did it, boss.”
“Hello, Robert. Didn’t I fire you?”
Robert grinned charmingly. “Only every day since you came out of hiding. But I’m trying not to take it too personally. Besides,—” he swept out an arm to show her the sea of people lining up outside the restaurant, “—look at the wonders we have wrought.”
Truly smirked, pulling her lace shawl closer around her. “Well, it ain’t the parting of the Red Sea, but it’ll do.”
Robert lowered his voice. “I think Emeril is here.”
Truly chuckled. “He’s everywhere. I wouldn’t take it too personally. More importantly, diners are here. The video and the foodie blogger, as well as that irritating radio host, did wonders for advertising. I may have to put Jane’s son on my payroll.”
“Just as long as you keep me. I hear we have a few new clients in the works.”
She nodded, feeling pleased with herself. Inside her heart was shattered, but she’d managed to pull herself together enough to keep going. Her mother would be proud. Maybe. “I think I should go. You stay and make sure to keep the wheels greased. I’ll tell you all about our new job tomorrow.”
Robert grabbed her arm. “You can’t go yet, Truly. Not after all the work you put in here. We deserve to celebrate.”
She tugged her arm out of his grasp, her smile wobbly. “Not really in a celebrating mood, Bob. I’ve fulfilled my obligations. Now I just want to go home.”
Didn’t he understand? It was over. She had no more excuses to see them. To see Clay or Louis banter in the kitchen. To catch a glimpse of Nate. Nate. Oh God. “I have to go.”
