“It is,” he lied.
Not really a lie since from a work standpoint it was easier. Just not him mentally.
“But you’re struggling,” Ford said. “Why?”
“I’m not good with people like her.”
Ford coughed on the sip of his beer. “Women? Or happy people?”
He snorted. “Both.”
“Gale told me you were a dick to Meredith. I wasn’t sure I believed it and thought she was overreacting. Now I’m not so sure. You’ve always been someone to push people away if you don’t want them in your space. Even if you didn’t know their intentions.”
“I know her intentions,” he mumbled.
“Now we’re getting somewhere,” Ford said. “If she’s making the move, why are you fighting it? I remember you watching her as a kid.”
“What the hell were you doing watching her?” he asked, swiveling his head.
Ford put his hands up. “I wasn’t watching her. Nothing more than to make sure she didn’t hurt herself. But I was watching you watch her. And it wasn’t all about protecting her.”
“She was too young.”
“Back then, sure. She’s an adult now. Sounds like she knows her mind.”
“She thinks she does. It’s complicated. I don’t need things to get messy when I want Mom to have the break here.”
Ford’s head went back and forth. “That I’ll buy. Because we know damn well you could mess up a bunch of shit.”
“There you go,” he said.
They sat there in silence for five minutes. He thought for sure Ford would finish his beer and go.
He didn’t.
“I noticed a floral bag on the table.”
He sighed. “It’s Meredith’s. I let her come here to clean up and change before the wedding. I don’t need customers and guests to think we are sloppy people.”
“You have many excuses lined up,” Ford said.
“It’s not as if I was here when she took a shower.”
“But you wished you were.”
He let out a half laugh. “I’m not gonna lie.”
“Do you feel better talking?”
“What, are you some counselor now?”
“Maybe it’s part of my job,” Ford said. “Healing takes a lot of forms.”
“Are you Reenie’s counselor?”
“No,” he said. “But we are both seeing one. I had to for work after being shot. You know that.”
“I’ve had my head examined enough too.”
