Page 83 of Against All Odds

“You love her?” Hillary asked skeptically.

“Yes,” I said firmly. “I do.”

Ben leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “I believe you.”

“You do?” I asked, surprised.

“Man, you look like crap.”

“True,” Casey chimed.

“Yeah, between you and Sable, we could keep the dark circle concealer people in business,” Hillary added.

The server came with our drinks.

Casey drank some of her orange juice and then looked at me sternly, but she couldn’t hold it because a mischievous grin crept back onto her face. “We have some questions. Consider it a loyalty test.”

Now, Ben rolled his eyes and muttered, “Young people.”

Hillary nodded. “Yeah. If we’re going to help you, we need to make sure you’re not going to screw Sable over again.”

It was cute and even sweet that they were protectingmySable. “Ask away.”

Casey started. “First question. What’s Sable’s favorite drink?”

“Red wine, Malbec from Mendoza in Argentina, specifically, Vistandes Winery,” I replied without hesitation.

Casey frowned in surprise and then looked at Hillary, who shrugged. “I just know she likes Malbec.”

“I say that’s double the points for Heath.” Ben raised his smoothy glass.

“Why are you on his side?” Casey asked suspiciously.

“I don’t want to run the Wildflower. I want Sable to keep it and grow it like she plans to. I want to hang out with my grandkids,” Ben explained.

“Okay, fine.” Casey couldn’t hide that she was impressed I knew what Sable liked in such detail. “What’s her favorite item on the Wildflower menu?”

This was too easy, like candy from a baby. “Elijah’s bison chili with extra cornbread.”

“Hmm.” Hillary tapped her chin. “What does Sable do when she’s nervous?”

“She rubs the back of her neck.” A small, fond smile tugged at my lips. “And drinks a glass of wine. Then stays up half the night unless….”I fuck her into submission and sleep.

Hillary smirked. “Now, for the important question. Are you willing to grovel?”

“Absolutely,” I admitted without hesitation.

“Wrong answer.” Casey pointed a finger at me. “The correct answer is, ‘I’m already groveling.’”

I laughed despite myself. “Fine. I’m already groveling.”

Their food arrived, and while the two women ate and I had two cups of coffee, they took my plea for help seriously. They used one of the oversized paper napkins as a whiteboard to brainstorm ideas. I knew that Sable would get a kick out of this—that they cared so much about her. God! I hoped I could get her back where she belonged, with me, in my life.

“All right,” Casey murmured, wiping some strawberry jam from the corner of her mouth. “Here’s what we’ve got so far. Flowers.”

“Public apology. You humiliated her in public.” Hillary read the next item on the list, “So you need to apologize in public. Like, in front of the whole damn town.”

“Done.” I even knew when and how. I’d been thinking about this harder and longer than Hillary and Casey.

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