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Luke scoffed. “Right, which is why you aren’t interested in hot blondes and why you’re hanging out with us on a Thursday night.”
The bartender came back with his beer and set it on the bar. “Here you go. That will be a buck.”
“Why so cheap?” Chris asked.
She pointed to the chalkboard sign above the liquor shelf. “It’s Thirsty Thursday. Dollar drafts until ten.”
“Nice, thanks.” He handed her a five. “No change.”
She beamed at him. “Thanks.”
She took off again and Chris laughed at the guys’ skeptical expressions. “Jesus, you’re as bad as Kelly. She thinks women hit on me everywhere I go.”
Dustin chuckled. “Hey, we’re both on the hook. We have to live vicariously through our single friends.”
“Trust me, the single life isn’t so great.” Chris held his beer up, as though toasting. “It’s complicated and messy. I’d much rather be with one girl, curled up on the couch watching Netflix.”
Luke shook his head. “So, why are you swearing off women, then, if you want to get shackled like us?”
Chris wasn’t used to discussing his problems with anyone but Kelly. Sometimes he would vent to his lawyer friends, but that was usually about work.
But it might be kind of nice to get other men’s opinion about what was happening with Kelly, without naming names.
“Because I messed up bad with a woman I really liked and now I feel like a jackass.”
“Gotcha.” Dustin took a drink of his beer and continued, “As a former asshole—”
“What do you mean, former?” Luke teased.
Dustin pointed at Luke. “Fuck you.” Luke cracked up and Dustin ignored him, focusing all his attention on Chris. “As I was saying, I messed up a lot with women and if she is the right one, she’ll forgive you. Just tell her how you feel and see where the chips fall. If she tells you hell no, at least you know you tried.”
“What if you aren’t sure how you feel?”
“Then keep your mouth shut until you figure it out. No sense in getting a girl’s hopes up.”
Chris knew he was probably right about figuring out how he felt before bringing Kelly into it, but that was easier said than done. He’d tried to keep his distance and failed.
Which made one thing clear; he didn’t want to stay away from Kelly.
Chapter 24
Kelly sat in Marley’s living room, sipping rosé and waiting impatiently for Luke to get home. Lying next to her on the couch was Marley’s orange-and-white bunny, Butters, his eyes closed contently. She stroked her hand over his soft fur, a soothing gesture that actually seemed to calm her nerves.
Marley had convinced Luke to take Chris out and try to suss out what he was thinking. Luke wanted nothing to do with it, but Marley had convinced him it was in his best interest to play along. Kelly wasn’t sure how and she really didn’t need to know the details.
Rylie hadn’t had to blackmail Dustin; he’d been delighted to go. Rylie joked that Dustin and Luke had a bit of a bromance going on.
Marley grabbed one of the lemon bars Rylie had brought. “So, what book were we supposed to read?”
“Sharla Lovelace’s new one,” Rylie said, holding the trade paperback up. “It was so good.”
Marley spoke around a mouthful of food. “Right. I started it, and loved what I read, but I got two new manuscripts this week and was swamped with editing.”
Rylie set the book down next to her with a sigh. “Why do we have a book club if I’m the only one who reads the books?”
Marley picked up her wine glass and held it up in a toast. “Because a book club is code for wine and girl time.”
Kelly didn’t join in on the fun, still thinking about Chris’s expression today when he’d walked into her office. Maggie at the reception desk had called her office to let her know Chris had pulled in, so she’d jumped up and leaned over Hank, pretending to be showing him something closely. Marley had told her it was trick guys did when they wanted to press up against a girl, but it usually had something to do with sports.
