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“I just…” Cal exhaled and slumped in his chair, eyes on the bar as Millie bent over it to speak to Taz. The sight of them so close together wasn’t a picture he particularly liked.
“Doesn’t Millie Sue deserve to live her life?”
“Of course, she does, but…”
“There are no buts. You can’t come back here and pick up where you left off.” Mike Paul shrugged. “Besides, she’s doing okay from what I can see, so don’t screw this up for her.”
Their server, a girl with colorful hair and piercings, dropped off a couple of menus. Her smile was wide, but her eyes were cool. At least when they were focused on Cal.
“What will you have, boys?”
“Hey, Jen.” Mike Paul was back to his charming self. “I’ll have a beer to wash down a couple of pounds of wings.”
“Not feeling the rib eye?”
“Not tonight.”
“You?” Her eyebrow rose as she waited for Cal to order.
“Same,” he replied, watching her walk away before he’d even got the word out of his mouth. “I don’t think she likes me.”
Mike Paul chuckled. “She’s definitely Team Millie.”
Cal glanced around at the familiar faces of folks he’d known his whole life. Most of them gave a nod or a small wave and then went about their business. None of them approached his table or acted like he was any different from any other cowboy in the place. They were at the Sundowner to hear music, catch up with friends, and eat some good food. They weren’t looking to blow sunshine up his ass, like most of the people in his life—save for Ivy and the band. It was refreshing. Sobering.
And it made him realize a few things.
“I miss this,” he admitted softly. “Being here.”
“It’s a good place for a man to hang his hat,” Mike Paul said.
“Yes. It just wasn’t for me. Not full-time anyway.” He paused. “Millie seems good.”
“She is.” Mike Paul leaned back in his chair. “She’s got her own place now.”
“I know. I was there earlier today.”
“Oh.” Cal could tell Mike Paul was surprised at that. “Then you know she’s settled and happy.”
“Even has a cat.”
“Even has a cat,” Mike Paul replied.
“Is she?” Cal asked.
“Is she what.”
“Happy?” Cal accepted a beer from Jennifer, who dropped it off and winked at Mike Paul before leaving.
Mike Paul didn’t skip a beat. “Yep. She is. Which is why you gotta let her be. In a week or two, or maybe a month, you’ll be gone, but Big Bend is Millie’s home. She isn’t going anywhere.”
“She could have.” The words were out of his mouth before he realized he’d said them.
Mike Paul shook his head. “She never would have gone with you. Not with…”
“Not with what?” Cal asked, sensing something was off.
Mike Paul was silent for a few seconds and then grabbed up his beer. “I don’t want to relive your relationship with Millie. It’s been over for a long time. We all know knocking down that door leads to no good. Let’s just be happy we’re having a cold beer, eating some of the best wings in the state, and leave it at that.”
