“Are you okay, babe?” she asks, looking into my eyes and tilting her head. She’s confused. Understandably so. I’m confused, too.
“For sure.” I flash her an easy smile. “I think I need to slow down on the beer, though. I’ll go get some water.”
“Don’t take too long—it’s almost our group’s turn.” She smiles warmly, lifting her hand from my thigh.
I approach the bar slowly and try to figure out what the hell is happening. Why does everything feel so… off?
After the bartender gives me a glass of water, I take a seat at the bar and take some time to breathe.
In and out.
Slowly.
“How about we get some fresh air, buddy?” Jasper’s voice interrupts my growing anxiety.
“Actually, yeah. That sounds nice.” I nod. “Also, I’m the one who calls you ‘buddy,’ buddy. Don’t get it twisted.”
I wink, and he sighs exhaustedly as we walk outside the bar.
It feels good tonight—a crispness to the air signals it’s early autumn. The Cove’s weather is perfect right now.
We both lean against his car and stand in the silence. Silence tends to be uncomfortable for me most of the time, but with him, it’s not too bad.
“I’m here if you want to talk, man,” he says. “I know Iris and I have been pretty wrapped up in wedding planning recently, but if there’s anything on your mind, I’m here.”
“Honestly, something doesn’t feel right. It’s kind of like I’m trying to piece together my life because it’s not making sense. Everything is a jumbled mess… I’m sure that sounds crazy.”
He scoffs. “You, Kai Greene, sounding crazy?Never.”
He tosses me a wink, and I gasp. “Hey, winking is my thing, too. What’s gotten into you tonight, bro?”
We both chuckle. “You’ve rubbed off on me, I guess.”
“Figures,” I tease. “But no, really… Am I missing something? I couldn’t have drunk so much tonight that I’d forget when Katherine and I got back together, could I?”
He quirks an eyebrow. “What do you mean, Kai? You have been together for over five years. You broke up for a few months one time, but after your car accident, you rekindled the relationship.”
Wrong.
Wrong.
Wrong.
“Oh… Right.” My heart races. I wouldn’t be surprised if I fainted right now. “So, I survived the accident then.”
He cracks a smile and tilts his head, then nods slowly. “Yes. You’re here. In the flesh.”
“Are Katherine and I married?”
His eyes widen. “Dude, you’ve got to slow down on the alcohol at the next Trivia Tuesday. This is downright embarrassing.”
“Are we, Jasper?” My chest tightens. We can’t be married.
“Nope. You told us several times that marriage isn’t in the cards for you.”
Phew.That’s the first thing that’s made sense tonight.
“Although I will say, not all marriages end up like your parents’ marriage. I think you’d make a pretty good husband.”
