My phone vibrates with a text, seeing Graham’s name flash on my screen.
* * *
Graham: You’ll be on my mind all night. Have fun with Kins. Tell her I said hi.
* * *
Plopping back down on the couch next to Kinsley, I say, “Graham says hi.”
Looking up at me, she smiles. It’s the first real smile I’ve seen on her face all day. Running the comb through my hair, I flip through Netflix trying to find an episode of Friends that will help pull my friend out of her somber mood.
“How are things after the wedding?”
I think about her question for a minute while scrolling through episodes.
“Honestly, I guess I don’t know. He apologized for leaving and for hurting me. I’m not sure where we go now though.”
Even though we’ve talked every day since the wedding, I still don’t know what’s going on or what the future has in store for us.
“He loves you, Halle. I really think he regrets leaving you, for hurting you how he did. It was never supposed to be this way for you guys.”
“I know he does.”
Kinsley settles on a bright pink nail polish, setting the rest in the basket on the floor. Pressing play, we both settle in as the theme to Friends floats from the speakers.
“I think I just worry about it happening again, you know? What’s stopping him from leaving Arbor Creek again? If I wasn’t a reason for him to stay before, I don’t trust he won’t find a reason to go if something happens down the road.”
“Who are you right now?” Her question throws me off, as I look over at her. She slips the brush back into the nail polish, setting it on the coffee table. She has this stern look on her face and it’s throwing me off.
“The Halle I know is fearless. She doesn’t get hung up on the what-ifs. She puts her all into everything. It’s what I love about you. Don’t let your fears hold you back from moving on with him.”
“It’s not that easy.”
“I didn’t say it was easy, Halle. Just promise me you’ll give him a real chance.”
“Okay, under one condition,” I say, looking at her firmly.
“Shoot.”
“Promise me you will have an actual conversation with Wes before you go assuming things.”
She lets out a heavy sigh, picking up her nail polish again untwisting the cap.
“Kinsley Lea,” I say, sounding like her mom.
“Will you stop that?” She laughs.
“I’m serious.”
“I know you are, okay?” she sighs again before nodding her head. “I promise.”
Reaching my pinky out between us like we’ve done since we were in middle school, she curls her finger around mine.
“If all else fails, we can live together until we’re ninety-five. We can collect cats and cut coupons, and every Sunday we can go to the casino to play bingo.”
“Sounds like a plan.” I giggle. “Who needs sex when you can live off the high of gambling?”
18
Graham
* * *
Pulling into a parking spot outside of Brodie’s, I turn the key in the ignition and grab my phone just as it dings with a text message. Jumping out of my pickup, I hit the lock as I swipe the screen checking the message.
* * *
Halle: Remember that one time we locked ourselves out of my house?
* * *
Chuckling to myself, I think back to the night Halle and I had been hanging out. It was a Friday night and her parents were out of town. She had told her parents she was going to stay with Kinsley that night, but like every Friday night, we all met up for the game and then went out with our friends.
Halle had left her key in her house, but we had been desperate to spend time alone together. She had practically begged me to help her get inside. Like every other time, I couldn’t deny her. I still remember hoisting her up to her bedroom window and the sarcastic comments she made about me touching her butt.
* * *
Graham: I’ll never forget it. I’ll never forget how great your ass looked in those jeans either.
* * *
Halle: You better not!
* * *
I can’t help but chuckle. Pulling on the back door to Brodie’s, it’s a quiet crowd for lunch on a Friday. People are seated at the bar, starting their weekend early with a beer in their hand.
Spotting Mason, Brannon, and Wes at a table off to the side, I give a quick wave to Brea who’s working at the bar, as I head toward them.
“We weren’t sure if you were going to be able to make it,” Brannon says, as he waves me over.
Sliding into the booth next to Mason, I reach over shaking each of their hands in greeting as I feel the stress of the day ease just a little.
Truth be told, I needed to get out of the office for a little bit and meeting up with the guys seems like the perfect way to do it. We haven’t seen each other since the wedding and things were crazy, we haven’t really had a chance to catch up.
“How are things going at the office?” Mason asks, looking over at me. “Dean mentioned shit has been tense lately with Krate coming around. What the hell’s going on?”
Running my hand over my face, I settle into my seat resting my arm along the back. Glancing around, I make sure no one is around that could overhear our conversation before I look back at Wes wanting to ensure he’s hearing this.
“He’s been coming around Halle when she’s alone, saying shit to her. It’s freaking her out. She plays it off like it’s not a big deal, like she can handle it herself, but I know better. It’s evident how uncomfortable he makes her.”
“You’re shittin’ me?” Brannon asks, resting his forearms on the table. He can play it off like he’s the jokester, but I know he feels the same way I do. You don’t treat a woman that way. You don’t put that kind of fear in her.
“Nah, man, I wish I was though. We’ve been trailing him.” I pause, adjusting myself in my seat again.
“Mav and I have been working with some people, keeping an eye on shit. He’s just a loose cannon, unpredictable. He cornered her the other day outside Hudson’s, middle of the damn day. He knows we’re onto him, told her if I didn’t stay away and mind my own business, he’d put me six feet under next to Gage.”
I feel Mason freeze next to me.
“Hell, no,” Brannon says, balling his hands up into a fist. “He’s sayin’ shit to her like that, there’s no way she’s doing okay.”
“Yeah, I know. She’s stubborn as a bull though.” I emit an exhaustive sigh while running my hand across the back of my neck. I’ve tried going by after I found out what happened, but she denied me. I tried talking to her about it at the wedding, but she insists she’s fine.
“I don’t think he’d do anything to Kinsley. He’s targeting me, but you know they’re always together.”
Wes nods his head, obviously not liking this. “Kinsley have any idea this is going on? She hasn’t mentioned anything to me.”