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Drew pays her only a cursory glance, and she focuses her attention on me as a result. ‘Two Johnnie Walker Blue Label, on the rocks,’ I tell her.
She draws one side of her mouth up until a dimple shows. ‘Hard liquor,’ she says, emphasizinghard.
It’s forward, too forward, but I’d be lying if I said my member didn’t twitch. She could be someone to take me out of my head later, when I know I’ll otherwise be lying in bed dwelling on what will never be with Alice.
I watch her set about making our drinks. When she places them in front of us, she says, ‘I’ve never seen you in here.’ As she does, she slips me a napkin on which is the name ‘Jennie’ and a cell number written in lipstick.
‘Try opening your eyes,’ I tell her with a grin, taking the napkin. Her eyes do, in fact, shoot wide.
When she walks away, Drew lifts his drink to his mouth. ‘You’re going to take her home, aren’t you?’
‘She’s like an eight and she’s gagging for it.’
We both watch as Jennie glances back across her shoulder and suddenly laughs. She’s cute.
‘And you tell her to open her eyes? Risky tactic,’ Drew says.
‘Not when you’ve got nothing to lose. If you start with nothing, you can only gain, right?’
Drew’s brows furrow. ‘You okay, bud?’
‘Fine. Just busy.’ I swig from my glass and enjoy the burn of whisky in my chest.
‘That’s what you’ve said the last three times I’ve asked you recently.’
‘So stop asking.’
He raises his glass as if accepting my point, and sips. I shouldn’t have snapped, but goddamn Angie brought my mind back to Alice. I just haven’t shaken it off yet.
‘Speaking of busy,’ Drew begins. ‘I thought we were going to find some time to talk about your franchising the gym?’
I have thought about franchising the gym. Years ago, all I wanted was to be a successful businessman. To make something of myself. To make money for my family, enough to win back Alice. Now…
‘What’s the point? One gym keeps me busy enough. And I have enough money saved to put Cady through college.’
‘You’ve got the best gym in the city, Brooks, and a hell of a reputation to go with it. You’ve wanted to expand for as long as I can remember. I think now is a great time. I can e-mail you some documents, some things to think about.’
I drag my hands roughly across my face. ‘Yeah, send them across. I’ll take a look.’ I drain the liquor in my glass and plant the empty down, too hard.
‘All right, buddy, what’s going on?’
I sigh as I look at Drew, the man who knows me better than anyone, and I cave. ‘Alice is pregnant.’
Drew offers no response other than to hold up two fingers to Jennie, who carries a bottle over to refill our glasses.
‘I don’t know,’ I continue. ‘On some level, I guess I’ve always thought we would end up together. She’s had two failed marriages. She’s older now. It’s not like her parents control her the way they used to. But a kid? I mean, that’s… she’s not going to leave this one.’
I raise my chin to Jennie, who flashes me a coy smile. Then I take a gulp from my freshly topped-off glass.
‘I know how long it’s been. I know we were kids when we had Cady. It’s just still…’
Drew pats my shoulder as he finishes my sentence. ‘A punch in the gut. I can finally understand it, buddy. I thought I’d lost Becky once and it wrecked me. I just hope you don’t stop yourself from ever finding someone. Don’t hold on to it so long you let it ruin your life.’
I laugh. A short, harsh sound.
‘Like another eighteen years?’
* * *
