Grace didn’t reply and Addie squeezed her hands again. “Look, we all know Gideon likes to be in control, but it’s like Kira says – that doesn’t necessarily make him controlling. Gideon’s known you forever and he knows who you are. Trying to control you would be like trying to stuff an angry cat into a pillowcase. It would just end in blood and sweat and tears.”
Grace laughed. “Cat in a pillowcase? Why on earth would you be putting a cat in a pillowcase?”
Addison giggled. “It’s just an expression.”
“An expression that you just made up.”
“Maybe.”
Grace smiled at her. “I appreciate what you’re saying, I do, but I didn’t mean to whine and complain about how I’m never going to be with the man I love. Gideon and I will never be together, and I need to accept it. But I wanted to ask you not to say anything to anyone about what you saw, especially Kira.”
“I won’t,” Addison said. “I promise. And anytime you want to talk about Gideon, I’m here for you, honey. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Good. Now, let’s get the cheque and get out of here. I need a giant coffee if I’m going to stay awake during Harrison’s ballgame.” Addison checked her phone. “Don’t tell anyone, and I’ll deny it if you do, but I’m kind of over watching baseball games.”
Gracie gasped in mock dismay. “You’re gonna be chased out of Harmony Falls with pitchforks if that gets around.”
“Don’t I know it,” Addison said. “Honestly, the realization that I’m going to spend the next thirty or forty years of my life watching Harrison play baseball three times a week, is almost enough to make me consider cancelling the wedding.”
Gracie laughed and Addison grinned at her. “C’mon, cutie-pie. Coffee’s on me.”
* * *
The Thirsty Beaver, the biggest and most popular pub in Harmony Falls, was slow tonight. Gideon nodded to a few of the seniors who had gathered to drink beer and watch the baseball game and then slipped past a group of women playing darts.
Preacher was sitting in their usual booth, and Gideon slid in across from him. “Hey. Slow in here tonight.”
“Yeah,” Preacher said. “Thought you had a ball game tonight.”
“Tomorrow night,” Gideon said.
He smiled at the curvy redhead who stopped by their table. She was wearing a Thirsty Beaver Pub t-shirt and had a black apron tied around her waist. “Georgia? What are you doing here?”
“Hey, Sheriff. It’s been slow over at Nan’s, so I picked up a few extra shifts at the Beav. What can I get you?”
“I’ll take a beer, whatever’s on tap.”
“Perfect. You want your usual, Preacher?” Georgia said.
Gideon didn’t think it was his imagination that Georgia was looking over his best friend like he was a delicious steak she couldn’t wait to dig into.
“Yeah. Thanks, Georgia.”
“Anytime, handsome.”
She left their table, a sexy little sway to her ample hips. Preacher checked out her ass before turning his gaze to Gideon. “What?”
“You slept with her yet?”
“No, and I’m not going to. You know I don’t date women from Harmony Falls. Too messy and complicated.”
“You don’t exactly date anyone,” Gideon said. “Sleeping with a woman a few times before moving on, isn’t dating.”
Preacher shrugged. “They know what they get with me. I never lie to them and I’m always upfront about what I want.”
“You’re getting pretty old to still be whoring around,” Gideon said with a grin.
Georgia returned with their drinks. Preacher gave her a substantial tip and her grin widened as she tucked it into her apron. “Thanks, big guy. You wave that gorgeous tattooed arm my way if you need anything.”
She left and Gideon took a sip of his beer, wiping the foam from his upper lip. “Although, come to think of it, I haven’t seen you with any woman in, what… almost two months now? Why is that? Have you ever gone two months without sex before?”
“What’s with the sudden interest in my sex life?” Preacher grunted.
“Lack of sex life, you mean,” Gideon said.
Preacher flipped him the bird and took a drink of beer.
“How did the career thing go today?” Gideon said.
Preacher shrugged. “Fine, I guess. Kids seemed to like it. The little schoolteacher thought it went well. How long she and that twat of a lawyer been together?”
“Since high school.” Gideon eyed him over his beer. “Why the sudden interest in Addison?”
Preacher snorted. “I don’t have any interest in her. Saw Grace today.”
Gideon didn’t reply, and this time it was Preacher who eyed him over his beer bottle. “She stopped by the schoolteacher’s classroom at the end of the day.”
“Good for her,” Gideon said.
“You seemed pretty pissed on Saturday when that gamer guy was hitting on her.”
“He wasn’t hitting on her,” Gideon said.
Preacher laughed. “Bullshit. He’s hot for her and you know it. You don’t tell her how you feel and you’re gonna lose her, man.”
“I don’t need love advice from you, buddy,” Gideon said.
“Too fucking bad, you’re gonna get it anyway.”
Gideon sighed. “Look, you know the reason why I can’t be with Grace, so just give it a rest.”
“No, I know the reason why you think you can’t be with her and it’s bullshit. Your sister will be happy for you.”
“No, she’ll be grossed out and upset and hurt. She thinks of Grace as our sibling and she’d be disgusted if she knew how I really felt. I won’t do that to her. Kira is still fragile -”
“It’s been three years,” Preacher said. “I know she went a little squirrely after your folks died, but she’s better now. Quit using her as an excuse to not go after what you want.”
“You don’t know Kira like I do,” Gideon said.
“Maybe not.” Preacher drank a swallow of beer. “Did I tell you I have a new theory about why you won’t admit you love Grace?”
“Jesus Christ,” Gideon said. “Seriously, Preacher? What the fuck is up with you tonight? Since when did you spend all your time thinking about my personal business?”
“I gotta do something when I’m sitting at the ball diamond bored out of my fucking skull,” Preacher said.
Gideon couldn’t help but grin. “I told you that you don’t have to come watch me play baseball, you ass. There aren’t a set of best friend rules that you have to follow.”
“You can’t admit you love her, won’t let yourself love her, because you think everyone you love is gonna die.” Preacher tipped his beer bottle back and took another long swallow.
Gideon sat back in his seat, staring blankly at Preacher. His best friend had just voiced Gideon’s biggest goddamn fear like it was nothing. “I – no, I don’t.”
“Yes, you do.” Preacher pointed his beer bottle at him. “You watch over Kira like a hawk, constantly checking in on her and always worrying that she’s gonna slide into that depression shit again. You text me every fucking day like you’re my goddamn lover or something, and you think I don’t know that you drive by Gracie’s house or the dental clinic every day while you’re on patrol?”