So, yeah, I was really weird last night. It’s certainly not because I needed to see Roly again, and certainly not because I had some lingering feelings of guilt about what went down between us. Oddly enough, I wasn’t concerned about the rough sex—we’d both wanted it and enjoyed the fuck out of it.
Thing is, he’d wanted to stick around, which was ahell noon my end, and I wasn’t exactly nice about it.
I kinda wish I hadn’t watched him walk to his car, but my bedroom spans the house from front to back, and I can see front, side, and back yards from my windows (if I’m a super-creeper and shift the blinds out of the way). He flounced down the front pathway like he always does, total Roly-style. But… when he got to his car, the fun-bouncy-Roly façade slid right off his face, and he looked… sad. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that expression on him before.
Part of me just wanted to chalk it up to Roly having to live with the consequences of his actions, but another part, the one I’d like to gang-tackle and shove into a locked box, felt bad for the guy and wanted verification that he was okay. When I saw his wallet on the floor, I took it as a sign.
His dog kinda surprised me, though. It’s not like I was expecting him to have a pit bull, but the fragile little hellion that sat like a parrot on his shoulder was… unexpected. I had an odd moment when they both looked at me with uncertain eyes, unconscious twins. He watched her come to me with longing, and when I brought up the gal who owns the place in P-ville, he was jealous.
I mean, it looked like jealousy.
Fuck, I don’t know.
“Heath, buddy, did we lose you?”
Jean-Pierre, my brother Ronan, and Cricket are sitting with me on the back-patio area of Shady Grove, a round of face-melting Shady Thangs in front of us. We’d decided on an impromptu brunch meeting since Cricket is in town for the weekend, and my head is already a little fuzzy. Makes me glad we decided to Uber over.
I shake myself from my mini-stupor and respond quickly. “Yeah, Jean-Pierre, this setup is looking good. Both the gym and the pizza shop, even with the expansion costs, are doing really well. Evie knows what she’s doing with the restaurant. Having Elijah take over the operations was a great move, and I’m just waiting on the numbers.”
A small rumble resonates from my friend’s chest, and my brother’s eyes go wide. “Heath, what did you do to Jean-Pierre? Fix it!”
I hold up my hands. “Dude, I’m not saying that Jake didn’t do an amazing job. He totally did, and he set things up so that when Elijah took over, he was able to take off running.”
Jean-Pierre narrows his eyes. “Of course, I’m sure that’s what you meant.”
Cricket cracks up and elbows Jean-Pierre in his ribs, her Atlanta accent thick with alcohol. “Then you need to wipe that murder look off of your face so that our money guy doesn’t die under your glare. I like being paid, thankyouverymuch.”
Jean-Pierre gestures at Ronan, explaining, “I’m just really sensitive about Jake. He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me in my life, and… I just don’t want anybody to ever disrespect him.”
Ronan nods and clinks his glass to Jean-Pierre’s, sloshing a bit of it. “I totally get it. If I could ever find a good man, I wouldn’t let my brother talk shit about him, either.”
Oh, Jesus. “Hey! I’m not talking shit about anyone. I’m just saying that putting Elijah in that position really clinched it for me. I’m excited about the investment, and between all of us working together, and Cricket continuing to find opportunities for you, your portfolio is going to look really nice for a very long time. No need to worry about anything.”
Jean-Pierre nods and takes his shoulders out of his ears. I smile at my friend and lightly punch my money-maker’s arm. “Dude, you’re so in love. Y’all are going to be married by the end of the year.”
A soft look crosses his face, and he pulls a black box out of his pocket.
Cricket and I gape at him and then launch ourselves at our friend. Ronan pulls back, protecting his drink from our excitement.
Cricket exclaims, her arms wide open, “Oh my god, man! You’re going to do it? Holy shit!”
Jean-Pierre grabs Cricket and me, pulling us into a huge hug.
I’m so fucking happy for my friend. “Jean-Pierre, my brother, I’m so, so proud of you.”
“I know it’s fast, but…”
“But nothing,” Cricket cuts him off. “You have never been happier in all the time I’ve been in business with you, and I’m…” Her voice cracks, and she beams at him with such affection that he and I both tear up as well.
“When?” we both ask, slightly blubbering.
His smile could power the moon. “Not for a while longer, but the ring came today and I picked it up on the way here. Do you think he’ll say yes?”
“He’d be a fool not to,” Cricket declares.
I roll my still-wet eyes. “Pete, he looks at you like you look at him. The things you’ve done to help him with his art? That gray cloud of a man becomes a little sunbeam whenever he’s in your orbit. Y’all are disgusting.”
I’ve never been as disgustingly in love with anyone as Jean-Pierre and Jake, but damn, I want to be. I set that thought aside and look at my good friend.
