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Maybe the ember was the way to go.
Maybe I needed to let it grow.
“What’d we miss?” Lo and Roger arrived at the table, sounding out of breath as they sat. Lo nabbed the drink menu. “I need a drink. It’s Friday night, and the music is starting. Did you guys already order drinks?”
Roger was slower to sit, his gaze trained on the table, right above where our hands were. “You know,” he sounded surprised. “I think we should order a round for the table. Right? I’m right. Where’s our server?” He turned, and I caught his quick smile though he coughed, trying to cover it up.
Lo’s head snapped up. She frowned at him. “We’re already starting?”
He turned back to her, his smile stretched from ear to ear. “It’s Friday night, honey. Let’s do it right and take an Uber home.”
Lo’s mouth nearly fell open because they’d had a whole debate about who’d be driving home. It boiled down to Lo being willing to spend for an Uber and Roger wasn’t. He wanted his truck home and safely in his garage, because like all the females in his life, that truck was his baby.
I’d pointed out that I could drive, which both of them ignored. I was the one they wanted to have a good time.
“What just happened here? What did I miss?” Lo scanned over us, her eyes falling abruptly to the same place Roger’s had been.
Travis squeezed my hand before letting go, and he rested his arms on the edge of the table. “No need. I already put in an order. The bartender said they’d find us.” His eyes moved to a girl carrying two drinks, followed by another girl with another two. “And I think these are ours.”
As they set our drinks down, Lo leaned toward me and mouthed, What did I miss?
I grinned and shrugged.
She gave me a sharp look.
I ignored it, accepting my drink with a thank you.
Roger held his glass in the air. “A toast, please.” It wasn’t a request. It was a command.
We all lifted our drinks and waited.
He raised his higher and said, “To good friendships, to great family, and to always being thankful for the blessings we get each day. Cheers, everyone. Let’s enjoy the night as we continue to be blessed by being here with each other.”
It was a heartfelt toast, and my throat swelled a little. Lo blinked a few times before each of us clinked our glasses and took a sip. Travis watched me over the brim of his glass the whole time.
I liked it.
I also couldn’t stop thinking about Brett’s latest voice message on my phone.
13
BRETT
My phone buzzed just as I was walking inside.
Callie had asked the night before if she could use my place tonight instead of Saturday night for studying. I hadn’t cared. I never did. She was quiet, but tonight as I opened the garage door and headed for the kitchen, there was music playing. Soft piano music, along with the smell of food, which had my stomach growling. It’d been a decent day of practice, but I’d stayed after for another hour in the gym.
“Hey!” Callie was at the stove, in leggings and a yoga sweater that looked more like a blanket wrapped around her, yet still showing a small stripe of her stomach. Her hair was up in a bun, and her cheeks were rosy. I guessed because of whatever she was cooking.
I lifted my chin in a silent greeting, going to the table and putting my bag down.
I pulled my phone out, reading the text from Channing.
Channing: Talked to a buddy who knew a buddy that’s friends with a buddy that’s tight with Detective Travis Dove. According to the last buddy, Detective Dove had a date tonight. Jack’s BBQ. Hope it’s not with your girl.
Another text came through.
Channing: You owe me.
