Page 98 of Wood You Rather?

He shrugged and dropped the rack onto the felt. “Who cares? You can fix it. So do it.”

“You’re a really good person, you motherfucker,” I said, laughing.

“Lord knows I didn’t learn it from you.”

I chalked my cue, preparing to break. “I’m happy for you,” I told him. “And I’m proud of the man you are. A year ago, you were a drunken disaster, and now you’re a pro athlete, sober, and married to the love of your life.”

“Exactly. See? If I can grow and mature and shit, so can you.”

I shook my head. “Nah. I think I might be too far gone.”

Remy had always been an optimist, a believer. He’d hit some rough spots, but deep down, he was always going to find his way.

“No, you’re not. Maybe don’t fake marry someone like I did.” He gazed over at Hazel, who was filing pints. “But ease up on trying to control everything all the time.”

“When did you get so wise?”

“It’s my wife. I married a genius, so I had to up my game.”

“I can tell.” I broke and lined up my follow-up shot while his words rattled around in my brain. I had changed. I felt it. And maybe I could keep this up. Push myself a little harder to evolve the way Henri and Remy had.

After playing quietly for a few minutes, Remy spoke up. “You gonna tell me what’s happening with Parker?”

I looked up. “The investigation?”

“No. Between you two.”

I opened my mouth to deny it, but nothing came out.

“Tell me the truth, Paz. We’ve already gone deep tonight.”

He was right. No sense in taking a step back after all that.

“I fell for her,” I said softly. “And I don’t know what to do about it.”

Remy pumped his fist. “I knew it! But I won’t tell anyone. I know what it’s like to develop feelings for someone who is off limits.”

He certainly did, though that didn’t make me feel a lot better. “She’s gonna solve the case and leave. And while I understand that, it’s like my brain can’t accept it.”

“Have you talked to her?”

“About my feelings? Sort of.”

“Okay, so that’s a no. Maybe have a conversation, lay it out there. Is this a hookup situation or something more?”

The mere the suggestion that this was only a hookup made me angry. I frowned at him. “No. It’s real.” And now that I’d said it out loud, I knew with certainty. I was in love with her. Because the thought of casual, the thought of not having her forever, made me see red. Parker was mine. And I had to find a way to make it permanent.

* * *

Remy and I played pool for hours, talking about his upcoming competitions and how Hazel’s research was coming along. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like myself in the presence of one of my siblings.

Hazel was stacking glasses behind the bar, and Jim, the ancient and cranky owner of the Moose, was wiping down the countertops.

“Hey, Paz,” he said, “can you do me a favor? Richard left his credit card here last week. Could you take it to him?”

I opened my mouth to tell him it wouldn’t be a problem, but snapped it shut again. Richard? Here? Not possible. He kept to himself when he wasn’t at camp. Almost to the point of being reclusive. He was all about clean living. He never came to the Moose, and when we were kids, my mother had to drag him over for Sunday dinners with our family.

Jim slid the card over to me, and sure enough, it saidRichard Bernard.

---