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He lifted his eyebrows and waited for me to continue.
"I met this girl and kissed her, and I shouldn't have."
"Shit, Jax, what did you do? Was she at least eighteen?"
I glared at him but backed off when I saw he was genuinely concerned. "I guess it does sound bad starting off that way," I grudgingly admitted. I settled back in my chair and summarized meeting Grace at the wedding and again in my office.
Noah burst out laughing. "Shit, man! She could sue your ass for sexual harassment."
I hung my head. "Yeah, not one of my finer moments. I was in a pissy mood, but I know that's not a good excuse." I thought back to that moment, remembering the fire I saw in Grace's eyes just before she fooled me. "But you should have seen her. She held her own."
Noah observed me quietly for several seconds. He must have picked up on the note of admiration I was unable to hide. "I think I'd like to meet the only girl I've heard of who got the better of you."
No, not the only one.
I pushed that thought aside. "You can. On any Sunday morning."
"What do you mean?"
"Her dad's the pastor at Trinity Lutheran downtown."
He sat straight up. "You're joking, right? You made out with a pastor's daughter? Did lightning strike? Oh, my God, this is priceless!" He slapped his thigh, laughing so hard I thought he was going to choke. I almost hoped he would. Seriously, he wasn't kidding when he mentioned needing to get out more if he got this much entertainment out of my story. "Is she looking to sin or are you looking for redemption?"
"It's not that funny." I glared at him.
He swiped at his eyes that were watering. "Yeah, it is."
I was beginning to consider using my fist as a gag when he finally appeared to have exhausted himself.
He leaned back in his chair. "But what does that have to do with being with kids? That doesn't sound like you."
I reluctantly filled him in on the rest of my encounters with Grace.
"Wow." He eyed me speculatively. "You like her, don't you?"
"There's nothing not to like. She's a nice person."
"Nah, it's more than that. This is me. You can be honest."
I closed my eyes and allowed my head to fall back on my chair. "It doesn't matter."
"You know, it's perfectly okay if you like her."
"Thanks for the permission, jackass," I mumbled, wrinkling my nose. I sat back up to grab another beer, halfway wishing for something stronger, more numbing.
Noah gave me a 'duh' look. "It's not my permission you need, dumbass. It's your own. You always keep everything, especially women, within such tight parameters. You don't let anyone close."
"Gee, I wonder why?"
Noah's face gentled into quiet sympathy. "I get it. But that doesn't mean you don't deserve more. You do. Shit, you deserve something good from life more than anyone I know."
"I have a good life."
"You have a lonely life," he countered.
"I'm thinking my quiet life is sounding better than sitting here being lectured."
"That's because you know I'm right."
