Page 5 of Capturing Hearts

Chapter Four

Brendan

Very. Fucking. Impatient.

“I’ll come.” Tommy jumps off the stool. “But only to stop you from making an ass out of yourself for some chick. Mine free, too?”

“Fuck no,” Bobby snorts. Then he grins. “I’m just kidding. Yeah, yours, too. But this isn’t a habit so don’t get used to it.” We walk to the exit. “I mean it!”

“Yeah, yeah,” I call over my shoulder without looking back.

Tommy’s silent. He gets to the door first, walks through ahead of me and doesn’t hold it open. I can see something’s on his mind and I can guess what it is, but he can think what he wants. At least he’s coming with me. That’s the best I can hope for.

We don’t speak on our way down Mission. I keep a steady, normal pace like I’m calm, but my heart isn’t buying it. As he and I get closer, I can see the sign and the familiar darkness, just like the first night I came back to her when I couldn’t stop myself. This time, since I know her schedule now, I’m sure she’s there. She’s probably cleaning up. Manny’s probably there putting up chairs. It’s been almost three weeks since I’ve seen her face and for the first time since then, I feel alive again.

I glance at Tommy. “Thanks for coming.”

His jaw is set, his mouth tight. “No problem. What are friends for?” I ignore the sarcastic tone. I get it. I was like that when Mark was mourning the loss of Nicole when he thought he was never going to see her again. I didn’t get it then, either. So I give Tommy a pass and silently walk the remaining three storefronts until we’re at the patio of Le Barré. He stands back on the sidewalk while I walk up to the locked gate and peer in, leaning forward.

She’s there. Manny, too. Scanning left and right, I don’t see Christiano. If he’s inside, he’s in the bathroom and will be out in a minute. I’d rather go in knowing what I’m up against than be surprised. “Hang on a sec,” I say, over my shoulder to Tommy.

“Take your time,” he mumbles, his voice tense.

---