Page 90 of Sexy as Sin
“What? That you’re still good for that tuition fund? Nah. I want to be able to call you an asshole if I need to. Can’t do that if I owe you.”
That one made Brett laugh. “Fair enough.”
“Sorry about the sax,” Steve said. “I don’t know. I leave that kind of thing up to Pam, mostly. But still.” He was silent a minute, then went on. “It’s not that I want Jen to have things as tough as we did. If she doesn’t have to go through hard times—I’m glad. They weren’t a lot of fun. But it’s taking her longer to grow up, that’s for damn sure. Could be our folks were right about hard times building character. Wouldn’t that be a kick in the pants.”
“Yeah,” Brett said. “But then, your dad was right about a lot of things.”
“Another kick in the pants.” Steve exhaled a plume of smoke. “The older I get, the smarter the old man looks. Hey. I should’ve asked. Do you want one?” He held up the cigarette.
“Nope,” Brett said. “I don’t need to pick up that habit again.”
“Seems like the only habit you’ve got left is work,” Steve said. “Won’t drink a beer. Don’t smoke. Don’t hunt anymore. Barely even take a day off, from what I’ve seen. But I like that girl.”
“Willow.”
“Yeah. Chef, huh? She good?”
“She’s great.”
“Got a business in Australia, though. How does that work out?”
Brett sighed, leaned up against the house, and took the weight off his leg. “It’d be nice if just once, you didn’t put your finger on the sore spot.”
“Hey, what are friends for? She not impressed by the diamonds and the houses and all? She didn’t say anything about that necklace, but I’m guessing that was you all the way, and you probably didn’t buy that thing at Zales, down at the mall.”
“I think,” Brett said, “that she wants me instead.” He shook his head. “That doesn’t make sense. That she wants me more than the... stuff. I just don’t know how much.” Man, he hated talking about his feelings.
Steve smoked a minute in silence, then said, “Could be scary.”
“Yeah.”
“Could also be the real thing.”
“That too.”
“How long has it been?”
Brett had to smile. “That’s the crazy part. Going on four weeks. But I swear, I looked at her the first time and saw it. Her life force. Is that nuts? Like she had a... a string attaching me to her. Spiderman’s web shooters. Something like that. Never had that happen to me in my life. And I think she saw me the same way. It’s crazy to be sure, but I’m sure anyway. I don’t know if she is.”
Steve stubbed out his cigarette on the bottom of his boot, stuck the butt in his pocket, and said, “She’s got more to lose, you think? And it’d be easier if you weren’t so rich?”
“That, for sure.” Brett took a breath, then said it. “And I don’t know about that. I could have more to lose.”
Steve put a hand on his shoulder. Still older. Still taller. Possibly still faster. Still his best friend. “Well, brother,” he said, “if that’s how you feel, you’d better go for it. You’re a hell of a guy. Always have been. Always will be. Why else would I still be hanging out with a rich asshole like you? I’m guessing she knows it, too. It’s kind of a...” He waved a hand. “Whatever. That the right woman is the one who doesn’t want to quit her job and let you take care of her. The one who’s put off by the money instead of grabbing for it.”
“Paradox,” Brett said. “Yep.”
“She’s wearing the necklace, though,” Steve said. “Held your hand under the table, too, when you talked about Nia and the baby. I don’t know a thing about any business except the electrical kind, and I’ve got one house that’s still got a mortgage on it, but I know a couple things. One is that no matter what you think, my dad’s the same guy he’s always been, and it doesn’t matter that you haven’t been hunting with us in ten years. He’s still going to be tickled to have you show up. You know how you made your mom’s day today? You’d make his just the same. He’s not keeping score, man. He already knows you’re not perfect. Next time, don’t overthink it. Just show up. I know another thing, too. The woman who holds your hand under the table like that, because she’s paying attention? That’s probably the right one. Pretty sure the old man would tell you the same. Time to give it your best shot. Maybe even time to go for broke.”
They went into the house together, and King headed off to his dog bed and settled down with another heavy sigh. Brett told his mom, who was sitting on the couch with Pam, watching TV, “I’m boring your dog.”
“He thinks it’s all about him,” his mom said. “Just don’t throw a ball for him. He’ll never stop.”
Pam got up and grabbed her coat off the hook, then bent down and gave Joan a hug. “We’ll take off. School tomorrow.”
“Thanks for coming, hon,” her mother said.
Pam hugged Brett next. “Happy birthday. And next time, come back for more than a day, would you? Come in the summer, and we’ll go out on the boat.”
