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I glanced over at her and grinned. “It kind of is, isn’t it? I crawled half-dressed along the foundation of the house through a bunch of bushes.”
She laughed even harder. “Oh my God. That’s a hell of an image. I wish I could have seen that.”
“I’m glad you didn’t see that. You’re embarrassed by Hank telling me you were Little Miss Crawfish and I’m embarrassed by that crawl of shame.” I was pleased that even if Faith was saying we needed to be professional at the office, she wasn’t awkward with me now. She seemed comfortable and friendly.
Maybe it helped that we’d both taken responsibility for what had happened at the wedding. I flexed my foot again.
“Do you want me to drive the rest of the way?” Faith asked. “You could pull over and we can switch.”
“What?” I glanced over at her, startled. “No. Why?”
“Your foot is clearly bothering you.”
It impressed me and made me feel things I shouldn’t that she’d noticed and was concerned. It also annoyed the shit out of me that she would see what I considered an emasculating weakness.
“Thank you, I appreciate it, but I’m fine,” I said, firmly.
“Why are you so stubborn?”
That was a good question. “Probably because like you, I have brothers.”
“But if you’re in pain—
“Nope. Not going to happen.”
She paused, then said, “Okay. But the offer still stands.”
I waited for her to ask me how I’d gotten my injury, but she didn’t. I wasn’t sure if she just didn’t want to pry or if she thought I’d get upset.
“Are you cool with going straight to the distillery?” I asked. “I don’t want to waste today since we’re only staying one night.”
“That’s fine with me. I’m curious how the whole operation works. What made you decide to open a distillery?”
“I’ve always loved bourbon and whiskey.” That was the backdrop, but not the reason. “But I assumed I’d have at least five years playing football, maybe ten. It was a shock to have my career cut short like that. One lone season. Then it was over and I needed to figure out what the hell I was going to do with myself.” Sometimes if I sat and thought about it too long, I still got pissed. I should be out on the field like my buddies, still in the game.
“That must have been really hard. I’m sorry.”
“It sucked. But when it first happened they told me it was possible I’d never be able to run again, and I proved them wrong on that threat.” That moment was etched in my brain forever. I’d stared at that doctor and wanted to punch him in the face. Not only was my career over, he was telling me I might not be able to even be active again? Like fuck golf, fuck running, fuck playing a pickup game of football?
I had refused to accept that.
“Oh, wow, that’s rough.”
“But I’m stubborn, as you’ve pointed out, and I've worked my way back to what I consider full mobility. I limp on occasion, and I’m not an athlete anymore, but I can still work out and someday I’ll be able to toss a football to my kids.”
“You want kids?”
“Well, yes, absolutely.” The way she said it sounded strange, like she didn’t consider it a foregone conclusion. “Don’t you?”
But she nodded. “Yes. In ten years or so. Not anytime soon. And not seven like my mother. Dave and Jenny needed to cool it with the baby making.”
“Then you wouldn’t exist. Aren’t you the youngest?”
“Good point. I was definitely spoiled too as the youngest and a girl. The firstborn is my sister, Patsy. We’re the only two girls.”
“Did your parents really name all of you after country musicians? I was never sure if Cash was just bullshitting us or not.”
“Yes. One hundred percent. Patsy, George, Hank, Cash, Toby, Conway, and me. Can you think of any other explanation for that?”
