AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’ll give you a few minutes,” the waitress says before she saunters away.
“You’re not drinking?”
I shrug. “Just not feeling it.” He eyes me suspiciously but doesn’t say anything. I had planned on a cold beer with my wings until I got here.
“So, how’s it been being back at your place?” I ask him as the waitress places our drinks on the table.
“Are you ready to order?” she asks.
“I’ll take a dozen boneless garlic parmesan wings and onion rings,” Linc orders.
She turns to me.
“A dozen boneless mild and cheese sticks.” I hand her the menu and turn my gaze back to my best friend, waiting for his reply.
“It’s strange, man. It’s lonely, and I’m not going to lie and say that I don’t miss her. I do. She’s been my constant, and now she’s not there. I just need to adjust to my new normal without her.”
I nod because what can I say to that? He loved her, but he’s not in love with her. I could continue to give him shit for his decision, but at the end of the day, it was his to make.
“How’s work?” he asks to change the subject.
A grin tilts my lips, and he looks at me with a question in his eyes. “Good. Working on a buyout for a local pediatric office.”
“I thought that was already on lockdown?”
I nod. “Just some fine-print last-minute stuff. The deal is as good as done.” I don’t know why I don’t tell him that it’s the same practice that Charlotte works for. I guess I just want to keep her and that knowledge to myself for a little while longer. Besides, what would I tell him? That I enjoy the hell out of kissing his now ex-future sister-in-law? Nah, Lincoln has been around since the day I met her. He’ll read too much into it.
“Nice— Oh, shit,” he says, his shoulders falling.
“What?”
“Don’t look now, but Charlotte and Audrey just walked in.”
I look because, of course, I fucking do. This is Charlotte we’re talking about. If she’s in my orbit, I have to lay eyes on her. They’re making their way to a table closer to the bar. Charlotte’s long auburn hair hangs in loose waves down her back, and she’s wearing a jean skirt and a tank top. Nothing spectacular. More than half of the women in this bar are dressed the same way, but none of them stand out the way Charlotte does.
“I’m going to go,” Linc says as the waitress appears at our table. “Can I get a to-go box? I’m sorry,” he tells her.
“Sure. I’ll be right back. Do you want one too?” she asks me.
I know that I should go. I know that I should support my best friend, but the woman who has consumed my every thought for the last two weeks is here, and I’m taking that as a sign. “No, thank you.”
“Sorry, man,” Lincoln replies.
“It’s all good. It’s going to be like this for a while, but the two of you talked, right?”
“Yeah, we did. We’re good. We both know this is what was best, but it’s still pretty raw, and I don’t want to put her through that. I’m going to slip out.”
“I got the bill,” I tell him as the server brings him a box.
“You sure?”
“Positive. You can get the next.”
“Thanks, Spence. I’ll call you later.” He quickly dumps his plate into the to-go box, slides off his stool, and moves out the door as quickly as he can.
As for me, I move to his seat so that I can see the girls. I watch as they talk, and Audrey gives Charlie a hug and disappears out the door. Looks like she noticed Lincoln too. My guess is they’re both leaving to avoid the other. I’m picking up my plate and my sweet tea and moving toward her table before I can think better of it.
“Looks like your company bailed too,” I say when I reach her.
