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Damn. He really hadn’t meant to call this early. “Tell Julie I’m sorry.”
“Luke is fine,” Ethan reassured his wife, before turning back to their conversation. “So, what’s the scoop?”
The “scoop” was that ever since last night he hadn’t been feeling like himself and he needed his partner to get him back on track. “What’s the word on the Alaskan contract?”
“I was going to call you later, at a decent hour, but I have good news. It’s down to us and one other outfit out of Seattle. We should know by the end of the month.”
“That long?”
“These things take time. The second I hear anything you’ll be the first to know.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
Julie whispered something in the background. “Oh yeah, I almost forgot, Julie and I ran into Victoria last night. Met the fiancé, too.”
“Oh?”
“He’s not as pretty as you, but he seems like a decent enough guy.” Luke ignored the pretty remark. Ethan was a good judge of character and he was relieved that his friend thought Torie’s fiancé was okay.
“Got to admit it was weird seeing her with another guy. And, I have to tell you,” Ethan continued, “for some reason, Victoria thinks you’re going to the wedding. You know where she got that idea?”
“She has it in her head that she wants me there, so my mother RSVP’d for me.”
“Explain.”
“Apparently, my mother and Victoria are texting. Mom is helping plan the reception.”
“That’s fucked up, man.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Julie and I were going to ditch the wedding, but now we wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Glad I could provide some entertainment for you and the wife,” Luke said. “But I’m still not going to the wedding. Speaking of weddings, when does Julie plan to divorce you? It’s been two years. She should be sick of you by now.”
“Never gonna happen, my friend. The woman’s crazy about me. Now go catch some more fish or do whatever it is you’re doing there, and send some positive vibes up the Alaska way. We win this contract and we can probably open up that second office.”
“I’m counting on that,” Luke said before hanging up.
He walked back through the quiet living room. Toby lay sound asleep at the foot of the couch and Cameron was out cold. The kid would probably sleep for another couple of hours. He should get some more shut eye as well.
But sleep didn’t come easy. He lay in his bed, tossing and turning. The Alaska job would be a dream come true. He’d been there a couple of times to fish and hike but never in a professional capacity. Ethan was right. This job could take their company to the next level, and now it was down to just them and one other outfit.
Normally, news this good would have his pulse racing, but all he felt at the moment was…flat. They’d put in bids for Northwestern contracts before, but they’d never gotten down to the last two contenders. Shouldn’t he be more excited?
He thought about it awhile. His caution was probably due to the fact that it was far from a sure thing. Yeah. That was it. No use getting his hopes up yet. There would be plenty of time to celebrate once they got the contract. Then he’d be packing his bags and the first one on the plane.
Chapter Fourteen
If Luke had known that half the town would be at the preschool silent auction, he would have asked his mom for his old high school yearbook so he could have brushed up on putting names to faces. He was currently talking to someone whose name was either Jim or Joe that had been in the class below him. So far, he’d avoided having to call the guy by name. Luckily, after a few minutes of small talk, Jim or Joe had gone off in search of refreshment.
His mother came up and unnecessarily straightened the lapels of his black tuxedo. Why he’d had to wear a tux for the event, he didn’t know, but she’d shown up at the house this morning with the monkey suit, claiming that it was “expected” of him, so he’d gone along with it because, hell, why not? The night couldn’t get any stranger.
The event was taking place in the Methodist church parish hall, which was currently decked out to look like something out of a high school prom scene. There were streamers and twinkling lights and food stations and, just like prom night, no alcohol, which was too bad because he could really use a stiff drink right now.
“Stop fidgeting,” his mother said. “Aren’t you having a good time? Wait. Don’t answer that.”
His sister and Zeke caught the tail end of the conversation. “Nice dodge, Mom. Some things are better not to know.” Mimi handed Luke a cup of overly sweet punch. It was his fourth (or fifth?) of the night. With any luck, he’d go into a diabetic coma.
