AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“If you’re not sure, just go,” Ian says.
“Man, I miss the days when he was with Jocelyn. As sure as shit easier. When he’s on the prowl, sometimes you can barely get one beer down before he’s ready to get to the next bar.” Oliver’s complaint rings true. I’ve shared in that experience.
“You want us to believe you’re not prowling right alongside him?” Ian asks.
Oliver looks up and shrugs. “Believe it or not…” He holds his phone up again and taps away. “All right. I’m gonna go.”
“You good to drive?” Ian checks.
“Yeah. This is only my second. I’ll be fine.”
“Did you guys already blow out candles?” Ian asks.
“Candles?” Oliver’s expression is classic. Scrunched up face with a what-the-heck-you-talking-about look.
“You didn’t order her dessert?” Ian asks with a bewildered shake of the head. “Go. Just go.”
Ian waves him on, and after giving me a quick hug, Oliver is on his way. He exits the patio with his trademark cowboy-boot-wearing swagger.
“I suspect he’s seeing someone.” I raise an eyebrow like I’m a snooping detective, and I want Ian to spill. Which is behavior that is very similar to Kara. That thought churns my stomach.
“Oliver?” Ian lifts his shoulders in a way that says he couldn’t care less about his brother’s dating life. “Maybe. It’s your birthday. Pick a dessert. Let’s get you a candle, and you’ve got to open a present.”
“A present? You got me a present?”
“Yes. I got you presents.”
“Why?”
“Did I miss something? It’s your birthday, right?”
“Yeah, but…why are you in town?”
“Are you trying to be obtuse?” He opens his jacket and pulls out two small, wrapped gifts from his inside pocket. “I haven’t been a good friend. And I’m going to change that. Or at least try to.”
“Do you want me to open these here?”
“Nah. Let’s go back to your place.”
On the drive back to my house, I keep checking my mirror, half-expecting Ian’s Tesla to disappear from the rearview. But it doesn’t. It stays right there.
He’s always been a good friend. When my father died, he was the one who waited at the gravesite and drove me home. I’m not sure what he means by being a better friend, but it’s possibly something that’s going on in his world. Maybe he’s the one who needs a friend.
He follows me into the house, and I flip on lights as I kick off my heels.
“Can I get you something to drink?”
He holds up a wine bag. “Already got it.” He bypasses me for my kitchen. Drawers open and close.
“Wine opener is in the everything drawer. Small drawer by the dishwasher.”
I set my tote bag from work on a kitchen chair and join him, watching as he fills two glasses with red. The two small, wrapped presents sit on top of the folders I brought home from work.
It’s been years since anyone gave me a gift on my birthday. Well, no one has since my dad passed. At work, someone might show up with a cake or we’ll all go out for drinks. I lift the presents out of the bag and gently set them on the old kitchen table.
“This is one of my favorites from Napa. Let me know if you like it.” Ian hands me a glass of red wine, and I swirl the dark, maroon liquid.
“Hhmm. Full-bodied. Robust. It’s good. Really good.”
