His eyes widen as I take a chug of my beer. “What in the fuck?”
“Courtesy of Mom and Dad. The east wing windows are screwed and lettin’ in the cold, Martie can’t repair them for a few weeks because he needs special glass he can’t get here. Sadie was supposed to move into the staff quarters. I called everywhere in town, but everything is booked out for the holidays.”
He chuckles to himself. “I can’t imagine it’ll be a hardship.”
“I like my space.”
“Yeah, but she’ll be under your roof. Don’t tell me you don’t think she’s cute.”
“Even if I did, there’s cute, and then there’s crossin’ the line.”
“Since when did that bother you?” The traitor laughs.
I shoot him a glare. “She’s my employee.”
“So? She’s easy on the eyes, in fact, wait a minute, she’s single right?”
I point a finger in his face. He may be the sheriff, but Sadie is off limits. “Don’t even think about it.”
“Woah, big guy,” he laughs harder this time, holding his plans up. “I thought you didn’t care?”
“I don’t.”
“Uh-huh. Well, there goes Bailey givin’ everyone more eggnog. Pretty sure Bail’s emptied a bottle of rum into the bowl when nobody was looking.”
“Jesus.”
“She’s a wild one.” He tips his bottleneck over to the girls at the same time Sadie glances over. She quickly looks away and my best friend smirks. “See.”
“If I’d known you’d be here givin’ me the third degree, I would’ve taken off ages ago,” I mutter.
“But instead you’ve been sippin’ on that beer all night because you’re the responsible one drivin’ loved ones home.”
I swallow. “It’s what I do.”
He grips my shoulder. “Buddy, I say this with all sincerity. It’s time.”
I frown. “What’s time?”
He sighs. “To move on.”
I double back. “I’m over all that shit. Was over it a long time ago.”
“What they did was rotten to the core, and good fucking riddance to both of them, but bud, you’re holding out, don’t tell me you’re not.”
I shake my head. “You’re a fruit loop.”
“Don’t deflect. I know you. You don’t want anyone to see you’re a good person with a big heart, just in case they get too close.”
I don’t look at him. “You’ve had too much eggnog. Next you’re gonna tell me I need to get in touch with my feminine side.”
“Hey, nothing wrong with that, either, but don’t let a good thing get away because you’re afraid of getting hurt, you know what I’m saying? Whether it’s Sadie or some other girl. You’re not gonna be young forever.”
“Speak for yourself. You’re like two years older than me and you’re still single.” I take another pull of my beer. We don’t talk like this, but George has always been able to articulate feelings and shit way better than I have.
“I’m single and looking, there’s a difference.”
“Got it. You done with the lecture?” I huff.
