“Eh, saving the world…one desperate man at a time.” Hewinks.
“I don’t doubt it. So how much do I need to debrief you about what’s been going on in my life? Or has Allison filled you in on the more scandalousdetails?”
Even though he’s never been officially one of our crew, he’s always been friendly with Allison and the BastardMotherfuckers.
“I got them from Remy, actually,” he replies, “and it sounds like you got yourself in a bit of amess.”
“Bitof?”
“You’re still alive, so it could beworse.”
I enjoy a laugh. He might very well be the first person to handle it with such laid-back ease. Although, clearly he’s had time to adjust to thenews.
“But seriously,” he says, resting his hand on my shoulder, “how’re you managing,Westright?”
There’s genuine concern in his expression. As much as we rag on each other and give each other grief, it’s moments like these that remind me that at the end of the day, we’re on each other’ssides.
“Doing fine now. We’ve made it through the hardest parts. Everyone in our lives knows, and Ty and I…we’re taking it instride.”
“This guy must be something special for you to have put it all on the line likethat.”
“More than special. He’s everything I could possibly need in aguy.”
“Sounds like wedding bells to me,” heteases.
Strange just how crazy thatdoesn’tsound.
“Whoa,” he adds. “You didn’t even flinch at that. You’ve got itbad.”
“I’ve got itgood, Liam. Ever since Jesse and I met, it’s been like a freight train, and the more time we spend together, the harder it is to imagine my life without him. I don’t want to imaginethat.”
“Then I guess you’d better put a ring onthat.”
“I might haveto.”
Now that the idea is out there, I can’t help but imagine my ring on that man’s finger, and him having one aroundmine.
“Whipped and proud tobe?”
“Damnstraight.”
“Now there’s something I never would have expected to hear from you. If anyone could have cornered you into proposing, it would have been Casey, but for differentreasons.”
“Had he not found a better paycheck, I might have wound up doing that. I was tired of running around…felt like I needed some stability in mylife.”
“Maybe we should send a gift basket to the man who ended up with him, thanking him for sparing you thealimony.”
We share another laugh before finishing our drinks and grabbing some more, catching up on more aspects of our lives, him telling me about the times he’s gotten together with the rest of the gang and me doing thesame.
It was already there, running around in my head, but since he mentioned proposing, it’s given life to an idea that seems so right for Jesse andme.
It hasn’t even been a year yet. What am I thinking? And yet, what a year it’sbeen.
“So are we gonna see you in PV this year?” I ask. “Ty, Jesse, and I are heading there for the NewYear.”
“Well, December is a vacay for me, so maybe I’ll let corporate know and get my ass downthere.”
“You should. I’d really like to hang with you. More than a random night in NewYork.”
