Page 32 of To Belong Together
“Think about every relationship you’ve ever lost and tell me words didn’t play the lion’s share in the downfall. Safer to …” John mimed locking his mouth.
Gannon’s sigh was tight with frustration. “Don’t go completely mute on me. Your advice has always steered me right, and I’m here for you, no matter what you have to say.”
“Brothers.” But life would be lonely if Gannon was the only person he could trust.
You have Me too.
The thought rang clear through John’s jumbled brain. He had God. God, Gannon, and him against the world.
Not the worst team.
Gannon stretched his arms and sank into the chair. “So you want to tell me what’s been going on? About Tanner’s stripper or Erin?”
“How do you know about Tanner’s stripper?”
“You said something to your family, and Kate wouldn’t tell your parents the story. She went back home in a huff. Hank pulled me aside and asked what happened, but of course, you never said anything to me.”
John must’ve said something out loud he’d meant to keep to himself. “Robby hired one for the bachelor party. Mark says Kate and Stacy walked away from God. I tried talking to Kate. Upset her. I told you, trouble and talking are linked.”
“You can’t stand silently by all the time.”
“If I said something in front of Mom and Hank, Kate’s got to be livid.”
“One look at you, and she’ll let it go.”
“She did get a look at me.” John shifted, then waited for the throbbing to lessen. His mind pinged back to something his friend had said. “You’re not supposed to know Erin’s name.”
“That one wasn’t your fault.” Gannon’s pride at having obtained the information underscored his tone. “She was checking on the place where you had your accident. Seemed pretty concerned and wanted you to know she was thinking of you. She’ll help with your car, if you need it.”
“The car’s totaled.” And so was he. Why couldn’t he fall asleep?
“So what went wrong?”
“I hit a tree.”
“What went wrong between you and Erin?”
“She didn’t want anything to do with me until she found out about Awestruck.” Even then, she’d only requested that he not sue.
“How did that look? You asked her out while she was working on your car?”
“Pretty much. Didn’t go well.”
Gannon snorted. “I bet. Sometimes you’re too quiet for your own good.”
“Not with her. I tried. She wasn’t having it.”
“She might now.”
“Not last I saw, which is best because how could I trust interest from her now? By this time, she’s done her research and knows my net worth better than I do.”
“I don’t know, man. You’ve got a lot going for you besides Awestruck.”
“It’d be nice to find someone besides you who believes that.”
“Philip, Adeline, Tara, your family …”
The other three, possibly, but his family seemed pretty split on what he had to offer.
