Chapter Ten
Jacob
Saturday nights meant brews and brisket with the fellas at Ridge Taproom.
My best friends, Bryce and Koby, were both married men with kids, but on the last Saturday of every month, we carved out time to meet at our favorite bar.
Usually, they were the ones dragging me out of the house, insisting on a little “men’s time” to unwind from their husband and father duties.
But this time was different. This time, I was more than ready.
After that bombshell of a Thanksgiving dinner, I needed the night out.
As sure as I was about pursuing Amariah and honoring Mr. Adam’s wish, old doubts had started creeping back in.
Doubts that made me question if I was enough, or if I was just setting myself up for another heartbreak.
I needed my boys’ advice, their perspective, and maybe just a little push to quiet the noise in my head.
“Look at this, Bryce.” Koby pointed at our table as they both approached. “Brews and fries already waiting. This has one name written all over it.”
They exchanged a knowing glance before saying in unison, “Amariah.”
They slapped hands, laughing as they took their seats, while I just sat there, sulking as they made fun of my world spinning out of control. She’d barely been back two weeks, and already it felt like all of Skye Ridge knew I was unraveling behind her.
“Is it that obvious?” I asked, disbelief lacing my tone.
Bryce chuckled, taking a slow sip of his beer. “When it comes to Amariah Luke and you, absolutely, my boy.”
Koby pointed a fry at him. “Fo’ sho.”
“Well, I’m sure your wife isn’t helping. You know she told Amariah about my helmet deal, right?”
“Of course she did,” he scoffed, shrugging like it was nothing new. “We all know Janelle can’t hold water or tea. She’s been like that since we were kids, but don’t blame my wife for what’s going on between you and your failure to seal the deal with Amariah.”
“Because that’s why you were the first one to remind us about bros’ night, right?” Koby chimed in. “Unless you’re still beefing with her after all this time.” He tossed a few fries into his mouth, waved down the waitress, and leaned back like he had nothing but time to clown me.
Well, damn. So much for bros’ night being a safe space.
They were tag-teaming me like I was on trial.
Wasn’t a brother allowed to have feelings and a point of view?
Sure, it all sounded trivial now after all these years, but my hurt had been real.
Still was. Despite my promise to Mr. Adam or my lingering feelings for Amariah.
“Hold up.” I pointed at Bryce. “I’m not blaming your wife.
I was eighteen, scared, and confused about what to do with my feelings for Amariah.
She didn’t even stay in Skye Ridge long enough to give me a chance to make a move.
Mr. I Didn’t Officially Date Janelle Until Our Sophomore Year in College.
And you…” I turned to Koby. “You got lucky. Your girl took a job right here in Skye Ridge, Mr. My Dream Girl Moved to The City Where I Already Reside.”
Koby held up a finger just as the waitress walked up.
“Hold that thought.” He grinned. “Two large orders of brisket bites with the fat,” he said, and the waitress hurried off.
“Now, back to you. We may have had better timing, but if you hadn’t been so busy holding on to that useless grudge, you never know what could’ve happened between you and Amariah. ”
Bryce jumped in, piling on. “But first, you’d actually have to…I don’t know…approach the woman. Tell her how you really feel. Everybody in town could tell you two had something real, but you punked out. Just admit it.”
My boys were pulling all my cards tonight. I hadn’t even had the chance to tell them about Mr. Adam’s request before they steamrolled me. What version of bros’ night had I walked into? It was like somebody had slipped fresh batteries in their backs. Maybe one person in particular…Janelle.
“I’m sorry,” I said, shaking my head. “I thought this was bros’ night. Didn’t realize it was gang-up-on-Jacob night.” I drained the rest of my beer, setting the glass down a little too hard.
When I looked up, their faces had softened.
Bryce reached across the table, resting a hand on my shoulder.
“Listen, bro, we’re not trying to come down on you, but we spent all of high school watching you pine after Amariah, never saying a word.
Then you spent the better half of your life mad at her.
Now she’s back. It’s time to put that to rest. This limbo isn’t good for you. Either speak up…or move on.”
His words hit me square in the face. Life had kept moving, but I’d been stuck, caught between anger and love, neither one winning.
The truth was, I’d been miserable since I was eighteen, and it was time to own my part in that.
Somewhere along the line, I’d already partially forgiven her.
I’d just been too stubborn to admit it. Whether she still wanted me or not, I had to put it out there once and for all.
“Mr. Luke told me I was the one for Amariah,” I said finally. “Made me promise to be with her. Said he wants to know she’ll be taken care of before he passes.” The words spilled out all at once, not giving myself a chance to withhold information.
“Damn,” Koby muttered.
Silence settled as the gravity of it hung between the three of us. It was a considerable demand, both the request itself and the reason behind it.
“So, what are you gonna do?” Bryce asked quietly. “Better yet, what’d you tell him?”
“I told him I wouldn’t let her slip away again.” I exhaled. “Guess I just needed some reassurance.”
“But are you doing that because he asked you to, or because you want it?” Koby asked.
I met his gaze with certainty. “Amariah’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
That was all it took. Cheers went up as they slapped hands and bumped fists me.
“Well, shii,” Bryce bellowed with a grin. “Consider yourself reassured, my boy!”
Koby clapped my hand. “It’s about time. Go get your girl, man.”
And just like that, I was ready. Ready for Amariah.