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Chapter Eighteen
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Drew sat at a corner table of Garrett’s Saloon. Jack had called and asked Drew if he wanted to join him and Josh for a beer. Baylee was going to bed early. She’d said she was tired and needed to get up at the crack of dawn to open the bakery the next day. He had no real reason to doubt her. Her life was busy and the start to her days was earlier than most people could handle. But doubt nudged its way into his mind anyway.
Casey had come into the room the night before, cutting their discussion off. Drew had stayed for dinner and watched some baseball with them, but the tension between him and Baylee was palpable and he hated it. Yes, she’d believed him about the woman in the picture. But was that enough? How many more times in the future would she have to see something untrue in the papers and him have to explain himself?
The irony of it all was that he was the cleanest guy on the team. The others even teased him about it. Called him the nun. Drew didn’t go out and party. He went straight to the hotel or home after games. He rarely even met Monica in public, to protect her reputation as much as his own. She said she didn’t care and insisted on the one dinner out before he came to Silver Bay. She wanted to toast Kate’s wedding. Send him off on a happy note since he’d been, in her words, “such a sour face for so long.” But even that was now biting him in the butt.
When Jack asked if he wanted to meet up for the evening, Drew had said yes. What better way to blow off some steam, as well as get some much needed advice? It would be a good way to get to know his new brother-in-law as well. And seeing as how he’d get an earful from Kate as soon as she talked to Baylee, having Jack on his side could work in Drew’s favor.
He took a sip from his glass, the liquid cool on his tongue but turning warm through his chest. Not that anyone needed to take sides. Drew and Baylee weren’t at odds. It was more like them against the world. Well, at least that was how he saw things. But it couldn’t hurt to have Jack in his camp if it would help Baylee and Kate see things that way as well.
Drew had shown up early. Didn’t have much going on anyway, and wanted to get a seat in the corner, away from people. Hell, to be honest, to make sure he wasn’t in a position where it was easy to photograph him. His time in Silver Bay had been quiet, overall. The few pics only, which was damn near unheard of in his world. But the last thing he wanted was to give anyone more ammo. A night out with the guys was harmless enough but, of course, he knew better. A picture could get twisted around, used against him. Man, he hated that part of his life.
Garrett’s was a cool place though. Drew had introduced himself to Garrett when he came in before he sat down. Nice guy. They chatted as Garrett stood behind the bar, drying glasses and putting them away. When Drew said he’d be at a table in the back, Garrett understood. Ever since, not a single person noticed Drew, not even a glance in his direction. Of course, it was quieter tonight than the evening they’d spent dancing in the saloon. More of a typical Friday night in a small-town bar. Mostly men shooting the breeze about sports and whether the weather would be good for fishing or not. The old school juke box in the corner played country music. Chris Stapleton crooned about his woman firing away, taking her best shot, that he wasn’t afraid of anything because of how much he loved her.
“Getting a head start on us, huh?” Jack took a seat across from Drew. His brother Josh sat beside him.
Drew had been so lost in the lyrics of the song, he hadn’t noticed them arrive.
The men all shook hands, settled into their seats. The waitress came up and took their drink order, the volume of the place rising a bit as a few more people wandered through the door.
“You doin’ okay, man?” Jack leaned back in his chair, stretched one boot clad leg out in front of him.
His dark hair and eyes were a complete contrast to his brother’s blonde hair and blue eyes. But Drew saw the resemblance. Opposites in coloring, but definitely brothers.
“Why do you ask?”
Jack laughed. “I think you already know the answer to that one.”
“Kate.” All three men spoke at the same time.
Drew shook his head and took another sip of his beer. The waitress returned with Josh and Jack’s drinks.
“She means well.” Jack said.
“I know. She just gets worked up more than she should.”
“Worked up. That’s a good way of putting it.” Jack’s tone teased but the smile on his lips showed amusement at his wife and her… concern for others.
That was what she always called it anyway.
“She talked to Baylee today.” Jack offered.
It wasn’t unheard of. The two women were thick as thieves and their shops were right next door to each other. There was no way around the two of them talking about what happened.
“So is this a pity date?” Drew motioned to the three of them.
Josh laughed. “You can call it whatever you want, man. I’m here because my brother said he was buying.”
“Same here.” Drew lifted his glass in a toast. The others did the same then all took a swig.
Of course, he and Baylee were uncertain and she said no to being with him for the first night since they got together. But sure, a free night of drinks was a good reason to say yes to his brother-in-law. Drew drained his glass and signaled the waitress for another.
Jack leaned forward in his chair and put his elbows on the table. “Look. You and I both know that Kate… encouraged me to talk to you. Quite frankly, I’ve been wanting to hang out some anyway, get to know my new family. If you don’t want to talk about Baylee, I’m the last one to push you. But I have to at least be able to go home to my wife and tell her I asked.”
“So are you asking?”
