“Probably not. So, it’s best if you just do your best friend duty and follow along with the plan because I’m going to stir shit whether you’re on board or not,” she sasses. “Although it would be a lot easier if you were on board with my plans.”
“I don’t even know what your plans are!” I shout, exasperated. Andi laughs, placing her arm around my shoulder.
“You seem hangry. Let’s get you fed, babe.” I groan as she ushers me to the line to get food.
“I will pay you back for whatever this is you’re doing. You know that?”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less. However,ifmy plan works, you’re going to owe me a favor rather than a payback. Deal?”
“Fine.”
Why do I feel like I just signed a deal with the devil?
CHAPTER 10
GABE
All the women have gone upstairs, leaving Linzie and Mom to watch the kids. They’re sitting at the table writing letters to Santa and eating cookies.
“I printed off some color pages in the office,” Mom says.
“Oh, I’ll go get them,” Linzie offers, jumping up from her seat. I watch as she moves across the room, ignoring me completely as she does.
“That was a mighty cool breeze that just blew through here,” Eli comments. “I thought you two were finally getting your shit sorted out. Or did you change your mind?” He waves over at the bar, throwing two fingers in the air, gesturing to Austin to bring us two beers.
“Nah, Linzie’s not ready.”
“Ready for what? A relationship? Club life? Oryou?” Eli jokes. “No offense, brother, but you are not the easiest man to get along with sometimes. It will take a strong woman not only to beyourwoman, but to be the president’s ol’ lady.”
“Linzie could handle all of that just fine.”
“Then what’s the problem, Gabe?”
“I think she’s still hung up on her dead husband.” There, I said it out loud.
“I don’t think that’s it at all.” Eli says, taking his beer from Austin and handing me the other. I twist off the top and take a long pull. Eli does the same.
“Tell me, oh wise one. What do you think it is then?”
“Well, let’s look at the facts.” Eli ticks off points one by one on his fingers. “A woman who isn’t over her husband wouldn’t flirt with other men. She’d keep to herself and avoid situations where her politeness could be taken as something else.”
I shrug. “She could flirt and mean nothing by it. Women do it all the time in her line of work. It’s how they make their tips.”
“She wouldn’t dress in flattering clothing, with low cleavage and tight jeans, giving everyone within eyeshot something to fantasize about.”
“From what I’ve seen, Linzie has always dressed the same way, even in photos of her with Trevor as a young boy. She wears what she’s comfortable in, and fuck you, by the way, for fantasizing about her. Asshole.”
Eli laughs, tossing his hands up. “I didn’t say I fantasize about her, but I’m sure there are a lot of men in this town that do.”
“Yeah, well, fuck them too.”
“Listen to you. God, you sound like a whiny little prick,” Eli teases. “If you feel so strongly about other men fantasizing about her and flirting with her, why don’t you claim her already?”
“It’s not that easy. I’m telling you, she’s not feeling it. I thought she was. I mean, when we fucked this morning, things felt like we were on the same page, but then she took off and, I don’t know. I talked to Andi. She said Linzie gets weird this time of year because she misses Michael, and I guess …”
“You believed that shit?” Eli leans forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “Let me get this straight. You and Linziefucked this morning, and you suddenly believe she’s changed her mind because she misses her husband?” He shakes his head in disgust. “You’re a fucking idiot, my friend.”
“What do you mean? It’s not off the mark to think she might be missing Michael during the holidays. I miss Maggie all the fucking time. Especially during the holidays or special occasions like this fucking wedding. I would love nothing more than to have her here to see our daughter say I do to the man she’s going to spend her life with. It’s what Maggie always wanted for Avery. So, it’s not unthinkable that Linzie may be feeling the same thing.”
