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He gives me a brotherly kick to the shin under the table, and I laugh. “Wrong leg, dumbass.”
One thing I’ve always loved about Sutton is that he’s never treated me differently because of my accident.
He groans. “Fuck, it’s been five years, and I still don’t remember. Kelsey had to work since she’s taking on the manager role at the coffee shop. Bummer though, because the motel suite is definitely not the same without her.”
“You’re welcome, by the way.”
He gives me a funny look, and I tilt my head toward the patio door. “Josie had the suite up until last week. She’s been staying at my place.”
He leans forward over the table, propping his chin on his fist. “Yeah, about that…”
“What about it?” I grumble hesitantly over my beer, still not sure how much I want to talk about this new relationship because neither Josie nor I know how to define it yet.
It’s us or no one.
It’s when it works for both of us. I don’t know if I can even call her my girlfriend, but it feels like this is the last relationship I will ever be in.
“You seem happier than usual. I’d ask why, but I already know.”
“Then why are you bringing it up?”
He kicks me again, this time in the shin that I can most definitely feel. “Because you are bouncing your knee under the table, like me, and keep looking at the door to check on her every five seconds. Really, what do you have to be worried about?”
I look back at said patio door and think about the last week. I know Josie’s been here for me, to keep me company while I’m even more morose than usual around the garage while Dad’s recovering at home. I get the feeling she’s anxious. She loves to be wild and free, going with the wind. I think back to my sister’s recent advice that’s been echoing in my head since that day at the pool.
“I want this to work.” It sounds so simple, but honesty has worked well for me lately.
Sutton lets out a satisfied hum. “There it is.”
“There what is?”
“The truth. Finally,” he says, leaning back on his stool. “Look, Sly, I seem to remember someone giving me some sage advice not that long ago.”
“Yeah, and what was that?”
He takes a swig of his beer and taps it on top of mine, making it foam. “That I needed to stop being a fucking idiot and get the girl. In fact, I think your exact words were… ‘I’m not going to let you make the same mistake I did.’ Sound familiar?”
I shake the foam off my hand and extend my middle finger at him. “Vaguely.”
He snorts a laugh. “Look, man, make it work. You’ll figure this out. Just don’t do the same shit again, and bottle things up in that thick head of yours.”
He tries to flick me on the forehead, but I bat his hand away and scowl at him. “You’re awfully optimistic—like, too optimistic.”
He shrugs one shoulder and finishes his beer. “Well, one of us has to be the optimistic brother.”
I won’t say it, but I’m glad he’s here to be exactly that—the ever-optimistic one, when I need it most. Truthfully, I don’t know what to do with the second chance fate has put in my hands. So, I will take his advice, Sisi’s advice, and any other help I can get to make this work.
“Enough about me. Tell me more about that piece of shit food truck.”
His face lights up at the mention of the second most important thing in his life for the past few years besides Kelsey and his cat, Oscar. “What about it?”
“Has it broken down yet, or did you actually remember how to wrench and be a good mechanic?”
He rolls his eyes and starts to say something right as Sisi and Josie come back in from the patio.
“Yeah, hold that thought,” I say, holding up a hand.
I stand up and head right to my girl, blowing past my sister. Sutton is right. I need to make this work. I step in front of Josie and grab her by the hips. “Missed you.”
