Page 29 of Perfect Harmony

“You’re getting pretty old to still be whoringaround,” Gideon said with a grin.

Georgia returned with their drinks. Preachergave her a substantial tip and her grin widened as she tucked it into her apron.“Thanks, big guy. You wave that gorgeous tattooed arm my way if you need anything.”

She left and Gideon took a sip of his beer,wiping the foam from his upper lip. “Although, come to think of it, I haven’tseen you with any woman in, what… almost two months now? Why is that? Haveyou ever gone two months without sex before?”

“What’s with the sudden interest in my sexlife?” Preacher grunted.

“Lack of sex life, you mean,” Gideon said.

Preacher flipped him the bird and took adrink of beer.

“How did the career thing go today?”Gideon said.

Preacher shrugged. “Fine, I guess. Kids seemedto like it. The little schoolteacher thought it went well. How long she andthat twat of a lawyer been together?”

“Since high school.” Gideon eyed him overhis beer. “Why the sudden interest in Addison?”

Preacher snorted. “I don’t have any interestin her. Saw Grace today.”

Gideon didn’t reply, and this time it wasPreacher who eyed him over his beer bottle. “She stopped by the schoolteacher’sclassroom at the end of the day.”

“Good for her,” Gideon said.

“You seemed pretty pissed on Saturday when thatgamer guy was hitting on her.”

“He wasn’t hitting on her,” Gideon said.

Preacher laughed. “Bullshit. He’s hot forher and you know it. You don’t tell her how you feel and you’re gonna loseher, man.”

“I don’t need love advice from you, buddy,”Gideon said.

“Too fucking bad, you’re gonna get it anyway.”

Gideon sighed. “Look, you know the reasonwhy I can’t be with Grace, so just give it a rest.”

“No, I know the reason why youthinkyou can’t be with her and it’s bullshit. Your sister will be happy for you.”

“No, she’ll be grossed out and upset andhurt. She thinks of Grace as our sibling and she’d be disgusted if she knewhow I really felt. I won’t do that to her. Kira is still fragile -”

“It’s been three years,” Preacher said. “Iknow she went a little squirrely after your folks died, but she’s better now.Quit using her as an excuse to not go after what you want.”

“You don’t know Kira like I do,” Gideonsaid.

“Maybe not.” Preacher drank a swallow ofbeer. “Did I tell you I have a new theory about why you won’t admit you love Grace?”

“Jesus Christ,” Gideon said. “Seriously,Preacher? What the fuck is up with you tonight? Since when did you spend all yourtime thinking about my personal business?”

“I gotta do something when I’m sitting atthe ball diamond bored out of my fucking skull,” Preacher said.

Gideon couldn’t help but grin. “I told youthat you don’t have to come watch me play baseball, you ass. There aren’t aset of best friend rules that you have to follow.”

“You can’t admit you love her, won’t letyourself love her, because you think everyone you love is gonna die.” Preachertipped his beer bottle back and took another long swallow.

Gideon sat back in his seat, staringblankly at Preacher. His best friend had just voiced Gideon’s biggest goddamnfear like it was nothing. “I – no, I don’t.”

“Yes, you do.” Preacher pointed his beerbottle at him. “You watch over Kira like a hawk, constantly checking in on herand always worrying that she’s gonna slide into that depression shit again. Youtext me every fucking day like you’re my goddamn lover or something, and you thinkI don’t know that you drive by Gracie’s house or the dental clinic every daywhile you’re on patrol?”

“I don’t… I mean, it’s my job to watch out forthe citizens of Harmony Falls,” Gideon said.

---