Page 85 of The Last Dance

‘I hear that, Wynne,’ Ben says, tossing another round, completely taking over my turns. As if I had a chance at beating him anyway. I toss another twenty on the table.

‘We sure miss you,’ he says to me with a smile. ‘Our family isn’t quite the same without you around.’

‘The feeling is mutual.’

‘How’s the website building going?’

‘Ambri told you about the website?’ Even though she’s starting to be open to seeing me, I feel like she’s really holding back getting close to me, so I’m surprised she told her parents any of this. Including the fact that I’m back in town.

‘Yeah. We had lunch with her a couple of days ago and she was nervous about asking you. I’m glad she finally did. I took a chance there even mentioning it. She’d have been upset if I’d have let the cat out of the bag. I’m glad to see you two back to being friends. You were always quite the pair.’

I nod. ‘We were. I’ve missed her. I’m always here for Ambri, for anything she needs.’

‘I know you are.’ He nods, still watching Ben continue to kick my ass at darts. ‘Can we talk, Henry?’ He squeezes my shoulder, walking me away from Ben’s ears.

‘Absolutely.’ I start to get a little nervous. He sounds more serious than I’ve heard him in a while.

‘You doing better with everything?’

I nod. ‘I had a rough time for a while. I’m sure you know that.’

‘That I do, that I do. I was in that same place for a long time. You know what I learned?’

‘No, sir.’

‘Life changes. Seasons change. Feelings change. Don’t let the past overtake your future. She’d want you to be happy.’ Wynn grins. ‘I know she would.’

‘I actually came to the same conclusion recently. Thank you for reminding me.’

‘You’re a good man, Henry. A really good man.’ He pats my back the same way I’ve seen him do with Ambri so many times. This family is my family even more than my own. ‘Well, I should get going before Jana worries. Women always worry. Remember that, boys, it’ll save you a lot of trouble.’

‘Will do,’ Ben says with a nod.

Wynne walks towards the front counter but stops midway and turns back. ‘Henry.’ I look over. ‘Don’t you give up on her this time…’ He winks, a smile saying he knows a lot more than I give him credit for.

‘Never again.’ I’m almost positive Ambri didn’t tell them what happened between us. It’s not her style. She’d have gone to the grave with it because she was hurt. She doesn’t handle hurt very well. Just like me.

‘You can’t run from fate,’ Ben says as soon as Wynne leaves the building. ‘I don’t know when you’ll finally start taking my advice.’

I nod, blowing out a breath. ‘You are officially the master of deep meaningful advice.’

‘Finally!’ He throws out his arms. ‘Someone gives me a little bit of credit.’

‘Brad Winston is playing a show here next week. I’ve got something big planned.’

‘Oh yeah? Nowthatis the Henry I grew up with.’

‘It’s not enough. I’m gonna have to dress up and act like a complete idiot for her birthday. You wanna help?’

‘Do you even have to ask me twice? Hell, yeah! I say go big or go home.’

‘I knew you would.’ I pull my phone from my pocket, pulling up her contact.

Meet me at Pioneer Square, tomorrow, ten a.m.? I’ll bring cake.

I hit send, hoping she shows because it’s the first part of my plan in showing her who I really am again without all the apologizing and bad memories.

Cake for breakfast? Like I could say no to that.

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