Page 22 of What About Now

“Thanks, man.”

“Hey, Maddox, your client just canceled. Car trouble. I worked him back in, but it’s not for a few months from now. He was fine with that. Do you want walk-ins today?” Drake asks, stepping into the now crowded room.

“No. I’m going home to my wife.”

Drake’s eyes widen, and I laugh. “I guess these jokers didn’t tell you that Forrest wasn’t the only one who got married over the weekend.”

“They did not. Who’s the lucky girl?” Drake asks.

“Brogan.” I’m smiling just from saying her name, but I can’t seem to help myself.

“No shit. A double wedding to twin sisters?”

“Not exactly, but yeah, two weddings, and twin sisters.” I raise my hand and wiggle my ring finger, showing him the proof. This ring already feels like it’s a part of me, as if I’ve been wearing it for years.

“I didn’t even know you and Brogan were dating,” Drake comments.

“Well, now, we’re married.” I don’t bother to tell him we weren’t. He’ll figure it out, and if not, that’s fine too. She’s my wife, and she’s going to stay my wife, so how we came to be married is a non-issue at this stage in the game.

“I better get these groceries home.”

“Hey, man, you mind dropping by my place?” I ask Forrest. “My truck is loaded with my things and in the garage. I ran out of time to take it home before I had to come in today.”

“Sure. You ready now?”

“Yep.” I gather my trash from the food I inhaled and toss it into the can. “We’re out,” I tell my friends.

“Enjoy the honeymoon, fellas!” Roman calls after us.

“Don’t want to hear about yours!” Forrest calls back to Roman, making us all laugh.

“You can’t push her too hard,” Forrest says once we’re in his truck.

“I know. But I can fight for both of us while she’s taking the time to get caught up to where I am with this.”

“They’re a lot alike, and therapy has helped, but there are still old scars that will take some time to heal.”

“I know.”

“My wife is happy about this union of yours. She thinks you’ll be good for Brogan.”

His words take root in my mind, and I let them wash over me. Her sister thinks I’m good for her. The fact of the matter is that Brogan is good for me too. I feel lighter than I have in years, just knowing that as soon as I get into my truck, I’m going home to her. I’ve never had someone to come home to, and damn, it’s a feeling like nothing else.

“She’s good for me,” I finally answer as he pulls his truck into the driveway.

“Happy for you, man.”

“You too. Tell the girls, all three of them, I said hello.”

“You and Brogan should come to dinner one night. My wife would love to see her sister, and you too.”

“We’ll do that. Let me talk to my wife, and I’ll let you know.”

He chuckles. “You think we’ll ever get tired of saying it?”

“Not if Roman and Legend are our examples. Thanks for the lift, man.”

“Anytime.”

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