Page 28 of Forever and Other Lies

“I eat hot wings because I like ‘em, not to prove anything to anyone.”

“Yeah, okay, Dare. Everything is a competition with you.”

Derek waved to the server. “Ivy, could you make my order of wings hot, please?”

“See!” Ian threw both his hands up in the air.

“Whatever, you’re still a wuss. Delicate stomach,” Derek chided his brother.

“So, my wife isn’t too happy with you.” Ian was starting to sound more and more like their father.

“What else is new?”

“Of all the women you can date, can you please stop asking out her stylists? She is tired of hearing how you stand them up. And I’m tired of hearing her complain about you.” Ian’s left eyebrow shot up, all holier-than-thou, exactly like their father.

“Tell Vanessa to stop hiring hot stylists,” Derek offered as the server set down his drink.

“I’ll be back with your wings.” Ivy set a bottle of beer in front of Ian, along with two glasses of water.

“Thanks, Ivy.” Ian smiled at the woman and lifted the beer bottle to his lips, taking a long swallow. “Vanessa recommends finding a new salon. Hank’s Barber Shop was a suggestion.”

“The only hairstyle Hank knows is the military cut. No way am I sitting in his chair.” Derek lifted the low tumbler of whiskey and took a sip.

“It would be an improvement over the next one you’ll get from Vanessa. She’s threatening a reverse mohawk.”

“Tell Vanessa that she doesn’t need to worry. I’m taking a break from dating.”

“Whoa? How many whiskeys have you had?”

“A few too many.”

“I’d say!” Ian reached across and grabbed Derek’s keys off the table, sticking them in his pocket. “I’ll be keeping these until tomorrow.”

Two plates were set on the table in front of them. Derek picked up a wing and waved it at Ian’s plate. “Once you’re finished with your wimpy wings, could you give me a lift home, then?”

“Sure.” Ian sucked the meat off the wing and pulled out a clean bone. Show-off.

Derek stuck a wing in his mouth and immediately felt the heat. Had Patty raised the Scoville scale of his hot sauce? A burning sensation spread across his lips, and his nose started to run.

“Spicy?” Ian raised an eyebrow in such an annoying, I-told-you-so way.

“Not bad.” His voice was raspy, and his breath was heated. He eyed the tall glass of water in front of him and wanted to grab it so badly. He wouldn’t give Ian the satisfaction. Instead, he took a swig of whiskey, which just added to the burn.

“That’s why you have sweat beading on your upper lip.” Ian pointed and chuckled, then went straight for the jugular. “What’s up between you and Tommy?”

Derek rolled his eyes. “That’s complicated.”

“Do you still blame yourself for backing out on enlisting with him?” Ian was not holding back.

“If I’d been there, I could have protected him.” He licked his fiery lips.

“Or we could have lost you both.” Ian shook his head sadly.

“I should have been there, not him. It was my stupid idea in the first place.” Derek stared directly at his brother, who was five years older. They had never seen eye to eye. Ian, always responsible, acted more like a parent than a sibling.

“Tommy loved everything about the army. He stayed in the cadets long after you quit.” Ian offered him a valid excuse. However, if he hadn’t quit, hadn’t bailed, then Tommy wouldn’t have been alone in such a hostile, unforgiving place.

Derek leaned his elbows on the table. This talk was getting serious and honest. He needed to own it. “I kissed her, Ian.”

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