Page 12 of One Tough Love

“Yeah.”

“F.M.L., she’s gorgeous.”

“Yeah.” Wes repeated.

Andy piped in. “Have you talked to her?”

“No she hasn’t seen me yet. I was going to wait until she was done.”

Wes had kept the guys apprised of the stuff he’d seen when he’d driven past Jo’s place. They agreed with him that something was off. They also knew their friend was more than just interested in her well-being, and now they could see first hand why their best friend had been so drawn to her.

“She’s gorgeous man.” Andy said to Wes.

“I know.” Wes replied softly. “I don’t think she even knows how pretty she is.” Wes peeled the label off his beer and looked back towards the make shift stage.

“The thing is, she is beautiful, actually she's friggin stunning, but there’s more to her.”

Jace turned back towards the table and then looked up to Wes.

“If you aren’t, you know interested in her, let me know.” He had a little smirk on his face and both Wes and Andy knew he was just stirring Wes’ proverbial pot.

Playfully slapping Jace on the back Wes said. “Don’t hold your breath!” This had the men chuckling. They were solid friends. They’d been through a lot of stuff, good and bad and they always had each other’s backs.

Jo finished her last song and the bar crowd complimented her by giving her a rousing burst of applause. The men watched her pull the thick strap over her head and take off the guitar. She turned to find her case and a young man from a nearby table stepped towards her and handed her the case.

“Hey bro, you got competition.” Andy said.

Wes watched as the young man struck up a conversation with her and he decided that he’d waited long enough. He rose from the table leaving his beer and friends behind and headed towards Jo.

The young man was complimenting Jo and she was blushing as she thanked him. When she saw Wes she took a step back and gasped. The young man thought she was afraid of Wes and positioned his body protectively between them.

“Wes?” Jo said shakily.

“You know this guy?” The man asked.

“Yes, we’ve met.” Jo couldn’t take her eyes off of Wes. She knew she had a silly grin on her face. He had on a dress shirt without a tie and dress pants and he looked positively yummy.

“Hi, fancy meeting you here.” Wes said to her with a gentle smile.

The young man excused himself, but not before telling Jo he hoped to see her again.

Jo thanked him for staying and then looked back to Wes.

“I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.” Her words came out huskily and Jo tried to salvage her dignity. “I mean to thank you, of course, for last week, you know. Helping me.” Jo was now stammering.

“Jo trust me, it was my pleasure.”

Jo looked at the floor; she was totally embarrassed for being so tongue-tied. “Well again, thank you.”

“You’re done for the night, right?”

“Yes.”

“Can I buy you a drink?” Wes asked. In his head he was saying, please say yes, please say yes.

“I, um, sure, but let me buy you one for helping me the other day.”

“If that’s what it takes to get you to agree it’s a deal.” Wes did a mental fist pump.

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