Page 41 of The Text

“No.”

“Awful fast.”

“When you know, you know.”

“Guess you’re right.” Tom picks his glass up and salutes. “Congratulations.”

“Yes,” my brothers chime in.

“When are you going to ask her?” Tom inquires.

“Soon. I’m looking for the best way to go about it.”

“Carriage ride,” Rob promptly responds with a grin and a nod.

Blake shoots him down. “Done to death.”

Rob’s grin disappears. Blake is right.

I take a bite of my steak. We all got T-bones, potatoes, and corn.

Rob tries again. “Empire State Building?”

Blake shakes his head.

Rob: “Put the ring in the dessert. Women love that.”

“Cliché,” Blake sing-songs.

“Fuck you, Blake. Don’t hear you coming up with anything.”

Tom smiles. Need to have these get-togethers more often.

We eat in silence for several minutes, enjoying our food and looking around. An idea comes to Tom, and he puts it out there with a swagger: “Picnic at the park.”

“Hey.” I point my fork at him. “That’s not a bad idea.”

“That’s good,” Blake says. “Don’t you think so, Rob?”

“I guess.”

“Come on. You know it’s good.”

“All right, it is. Now leave me alone.” Rob polishes off the last of his drink. A whiskey Coke, the same one I declined upon arrival.

With that out of the way, we finish the rest of our meal. “I need to be going,” I say.

“Can’t stay any longer?” Tom asks.

“I’ve got to get back. Like I said, been one of those days.”

“One of themfuckin’ days. Wasn’t that what he said, Blake?” Rob winks.

Blake makes the fake gun with his fingers and shoots. “You are correct, sir.”

I shake my head. “You two want a ride back to the office?”

Blake: “We’re going to visit with Tom a little longer, so you go ahead.”

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