Page 12 of The Single Dad

I get up to open the door, taking the scotch with me. It’s an expensive single-malt that I know Declan in particular would be eager to try.

It’s Reed at the door.

“Hey, man,” I say, inviting him inside. “Come on in. Is Declan running late or something?”

“Not sure,” Reed says with a shrug, hanging up his jacket on the coat rack by the door. “You know how things are with him lately—between his company and his girl, he’s a busy guy. He’ll probably be here soon.”

Declan is the CEO of Dynasty, a company that manufactures exercise equipment. Between his company’s new marketing direction and his recent engagement to the love of his life, Declan hasn’t been as easy to reach as usual, but he’s still punctual—and never misses poker night, if he can help it. The tradition has lasted for years.

Declan shows up just as we’re setting up for the first game.

“What kept you?” Reed smirks. “Or should I say, who?”

Declan rolls his eyes good-naturedly. He’s wearing a well-fitting, tailored shirt that I’m pretty sure was a gift from his fiance, Sophie.

“Yeah, yeah,” says Declan. “Go ahead, talk shit. You were just as likely to be late tonight, and you know it.”

“Oh, I don’t think so! I’m not like you. I’m not in love.” He draws out the word, waving a hand as if to dismiss the idea.

Declan clicks his tongue, joining us at the table. I pour him a glass of scotch and flash him a wink, and he grins at me. He knows Reed doesn’t have a leg to stand on. He was only five minutes late, anyway, and it’s not as if this is a business meeting.

“You think I’m late because of Sophie?” Declan raises an eyebrow. “For your information, I was working late tonight.”

Not to be outdone, Reed says, “Sure—tonight. But don’t act like you haven’t been hard to reach lately.”

Declan shrugs. “Sophie and I have been preparing for the wedding,” he says simply. “Between that and work, I’ve been stretched a little thin lately. Once we’re back from our honeymoon, things should settle down a bit.”

I sit down and start to shuffle the deck. “Where’s your honeymoon going to be, Dec?”

“We haven’t decided yet.” Declan sighs, giving me a nod of thanks as I deal out the first two cards to each of us. “Sophie wants me to choose, but I only want to choose a place where she’ll be able to fully relax.”

“There’s always Cancun,” says Reed, fanning his pair of cards out in front of him. He gives me a false look of dismay, his eyes going wide as though he’s devastated by his bad luck.

“Oh, shut the fuck up.” I try to wave him down, but he turns fully to face Declan.

“Think about it,” he says, enthused. “What’s more relaxing than the beach?”

“Beach sounds nice,” Declan admits. “But there’s no way in hell we’re going to Cancun, so it’ll have to be somewhere else.”

“What’s wrong with Cancun?”

Declan and I make amused eye contact, and he says, “Well, the fact that you like it probably means something.”

“What?” Reed demands.

“He’s saying you’re a player, Reed,” I say, almost absent-mindedly, as I fold up my initial cards to take a peek at them.

Reed takes a long drink of scotch, then retorts, “At least I’m not chained down like you.” There’s a playful gleam in his eyes as he says it.

“No, you’re not. You’d rather chase after women who won’t give you the time of day,” Declan teases. “And all the better if it lands you in the messiest tabloids.”

Disgruntled, Reed makes a big show of scoffing—until Declan pulls his phone out of his pocket and starts to type.

“What are you doing?” Reed asks.

“Googling your name,” Declan responds, prompting a round of laughter from me and a horrified Reed snatching at the phone, leaning across the table.

“Hey, watch it,” I tell him. “That’s an expensive scotch. Don’t spill it. And if you ruin another deck of cards—”

---