Page 73 of A Simple Regret

My brother’s words pierce my thoughts like the stab of a knife, but when I open my mouth to argue, I realize I can’t. Do I love her?

Did I ever stop?

“What can I get ya?” Collin asks, thankfully offering a reprieve from the heckling from the idiots beside me.

“All American draft,” I reply. “Just start a tab.”

He nods, walking over to pour my beer. I have him start a tab with the intention of instructing him to put anything Maren wants on it. I’m driving, so I’ll only be having this one beer before switching to something else.

“You know I’m just teasing you, right?”

I stand beside my brother’s stool and scan the room. “I know.”

“Whatever is happening between you and Maren ain’t my business,” he adds, taking a sip of his beer.

I turn my gaze to him. “I know that too.”

He cracks a smile. “Good. But I’m still gonna give you shit.”

I chuckle and take the beer my other brother slides over across the bar. “I know that too.”

“Don’t listen to a word this guy says. It’s all bullshit,” Collin announces, nodding toward his twin brother.

“Hey!” Cade argues.

As if being pulled by an invisible string, all three of us turn our heads, watching as the trio of women walk over to a table toward the back and have a seat. I notice Oaklee sits down beside Maren and immediately pulls her into another conversation. Lizzie goes over and talks to the instructor of the class before taking her seat across from Maren.

“Yo, Miller brothers! Stop staring, stalkers,” Wyatt bellows, breaking the little bubble we were all in.

“You’re an idiot,” Collin mutters, grabbing a bar towel and washing down the wooden bar top.

“Yeah, but you all still love me,” Wyatt adds with a cheeky grin.

“The jury’s still out on that one,” I state. I take the newly empty seat next to Cade, who’s at the bend of the bar, which means my back is to the ladies. I don’t like it, but I don’t want to make a big deal of it either.

“How’s work going?” Cade asks.

“Good. Busy,” I reply. “I’ve had to help plow and tow a few times over the last few weeks, but nothing too bad.”

“That’s good.”

“How about you? Keeping busy?” I ask. My brother is a heavy equipment operator for a local road construction company and is often laid off during the winter months. He helps Wyatt a lot at the farm during the colder months.

“He cracks the whip,” Cade states, nodding toward Wyatt.

“You wish,” Wyatt retorts before drinking some beer. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m ready for some warm weather.”

“I’m craving some fish,” Alex states.

“We can have a fish fry, even in the winter,” Cade suggests.

“We just won’t be able to camp afterward,” I say with a snort.

We are a group who love to camp and four-wheel. We do it as often as we can, considering life can keep us busy with our jobs. But we travel to a riding park in Indiana a few times a year, usually over a long holiday weekend, where we camp for a few days and ride the trails. It’s a blast, and I look forward to it every year.

I think back to high school, and the several times Maren and I would go fishing together. She loved it, though she wouldn’t take the fish off the hook herself. I’m assuming she hasn’t done much fishing since she left town more than seven years ago. I think Theo would enjoy it, if I’m being honest. I’ve only known him a few weeks, but he seems like the kind of kid who loves the outdoors and getting dirty with his hands. Fishing this summer is definitely added to the to-do list, along with four-wheeling.

We all chat for the next couple of hours, while the ladies finish their masterpieces. They’re painting a winter snow scene with trees in the background and a little cabin tucked back in the corner. From the amount of laughter and drink refills I catch; they seem to be having a great time together.