20. Johnny #3
“Hey, I’m not the one who said over and over again—for years, mind you—that you wouldn’t get wrapped up with someone who wouldn’t stick around.
In fact, I think you said you wanted to grow your business out before settling down with a local, even.
And here you are, spending all of your free time at Beth’s or her at your place.
What are you doing, man? She’s leaving in two weeks. ”
I felt my blood pressure rise as everything in my chest tightened. My face heated, my anger coming to the surface.
“I remember when you first moved here, and you told me, and I quote, ‘I’m not getting mixed up with anyone here, especially anyone else that’s going to take off like Anne did.
Lane, I need you to keep me in line.’” Lane swirled his drink in his glass, before taking a sip and letting his face loosen up.
He almost looked sorry for me. “This is me keeping you in line—what you wanted. You were a mess, man, wouldn’t get off the couch, a total wreck.
I just don’t want to see you like that again. ”
I growled under my breath. He was right.
He was always right—or at least, he was always incredibly aware of what went on around him.
But I didn’t want to give him the win. After hearing Beth’s news yesterday, I couldn’t get her out of my head.
There was a chance, and I needed to go after it.
There was no way I was letting Lane get off with a comment like that.
My words got away from me though before I could stop them.
“You’re just pissed because you can’t even get a woman to spend more than five minutes with you, let alone have any sort of relationship. You ass.” I caught myself before I got too carried away, but I could tell by the look on all their faces that I’d gone too far.
Shit.
Lane’s face fell, and after clearing his throat and taking the last sip of his drink, he stood up. “On that note.” He paused before meeting my eye, but spoke to the table. “Anyone need another drink?”
He walked off toward the bar, and Ethan, Max, and Sean dove into another topic of conversation, leaving me in my own thoughts. I’d never lashed out at Lane like that. Sometimes I was too excitable, and I knew that, but this was a bit much, even for me.
After stewing in my thoughts for a few minutes and half listening to the guys talk about Sean’s business, I tipped my beer back to finish the rest of it before heading over to the bar to find Lane.
If you needed someone to tell it to you straight, Lane was your guy. Even if, sometimes, it wasn’t what you wanted to hear. And as much as I hated to admit it, I didn’t want to hear him.
He was my best friend. He was trying to protect me—from myself and from someone else like Anne. From someone who would leave me for something else she was meant to do. Someone who wanted a different type of life than this. Someone… like Beth, who wouldn’t be here long.
I was angry at Lane. And I was embarrassed at myself for asking him to be my “keeper.” I’d already blown up one relationship, and here I was setting myself up for another failure. I’d fallen for someone who was temporarily here. Someone who would move away in two weeks.
I walked up to Lane, leaning against the wooden bar. “Sorry, man. That was uncalled for.”
“Hey, you’re not wrong.” Lane tipped his hand at the bartender for another scotch. “I just wish you’d figure out what you want. I’m trying to help, not be a dick. What’s with you?” He raised his eyebrows at me.
“Yeah, I know. I know. And you’re not wrong either.”
“So, what gives then?” Lane titled his head at me.
I felt my heart beating through my chest. I didn’t want to say it, but I had to. I needed to tell someone, so I blurted out, “I think I’m falling in love with her.”
My first thought was, shit, what did I just say? But the second was, what do I care? He’s single anyway. It’s not like he has all this experience.
Lane’s mouth fell open just slightly, clearly unsure of how to navigate this.
I ran my hand down my face and took a deep breath. “Scratch that,” I said.
“Thank God,” Lane said.
“I am in love with her.”
At that, Lane downed the new drink that was just placed in front of him, and we both stood there looking at each other while the music and laughter of the bar circled around us.
Lane was quick to pull me back in. “You’re serious.”
“As much as I’m annoyed that it happened.” I nodded. “Yes.”
“Okay, then. I guess congratulations are in order.” He raised his empty glass.
“What?” I felt whiplash by the sudden change in tune from him.
“I said congrats.”
“Yeah, I heard you.” I looked at him, and he no longer had the attitude he just carried.
He shrugged. “I’ve seen how you two are together.
I can’t say that it’s a surprise. All I’ve been trying to do is stay true to my word—what you asked of me.
But if you’re in love with her…” He paused, leaning on his elbows on the bar.
“That changes things. I’m here for you, man.
I just want you to be happy.” He stared me down, about the most emotion anyone gets from Lane.
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d held, not sure what to do next. My skin crawled thinking about it and how the hell I’d keep Beth here longer—or at all—and asking myself if it was even the right thing.