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“I think you were in between college and culinary school. I was home for Christmas break. And then I went back to Virginia and I never heard from you again. Had to nurse a broken heart.”
I’m liking this less and less.
“Now I know you’re full of shit,” she says.
The look he’s giving her makes me move closer to Evie.
Staking my claim.
Brax notices and grins. I’m going to get an earful about this, but I don’t care.
“I doubt Evie gave me a second thought after that date.”
I look to her for confirmation, but she reveals nothing. Time to move on.
“I’m showing her around,” I say, more than ready to leave.
“Cool,” he says, clearly confused. I haven’t said a word about her and am pretty sure Brax doesn’t read the About Town section of theBridgewater Press. But you can be damned sure I’m filling him in later after the appreciative glances he’s been giving her.
“Just don’t go showing her the supersecret recipes,” he says with a flirtatious wink.
If there were a contest between him and my brother Gian for biggest flirt, I really think it would be a draw. Gian might be a little slicker, an occupational hazard, whereas Brax relies on his good looks and down-home country-guy vibe to get women, but they’re both pretty good at it.
A fact that I couldn’t have cared less about until I found out he dated Evie.
“Oohhh, just one teensy-weensy peek?”
“You wish,” Brax shoots back.
Ok, we’re done here. “Let’s hit the bar, and I’ll show you the patio.”
“Have fun, kids,” Brax says as I make my way to the door.
“Good to see you again, Brax.” Evie gives him a little wave, then follows me out to the bar.
“What can I get you?” I say, making my way behind the bar.
“Do you realize we’ve now drank together the last three times we’ve seen one another? I’m not usually such a lush.”
“Yeah, I usually dry out for the week by Tuesday but figured tonight might be an exception.”
She peeks up at me from under those long, thick lashes.
“Oh yeah? Why’s that?”
I pull out a bottle of my brother’s beer.
“Angel Red, please,” she adds.
“Why?” I pull back the cap and grab a wine glass. “Because we need to talk.”
Pouring her wine, I watch Evie closely.
“Actually, that’s why I’m here.”
And for the first time in, well, forever, I imagine myself being dumped. I can’t tell from Evie’s voice exactly what she’s thinking, but it’s clear, one way or another, this limbo we’ve put ourselves in is going to end.
Tonight.
