“Yeah. Can I only call you about security things?” I ask. “Because if that’s the case, I’m going to fire you.”
“You threaten to fire me once a week. It doesn’t hold weight anymore.”
“It should’ve never held any weight,” I reply. “We both know that after everything last year, I’m a client for life. A lifer if you will.”
I’m not sure why I’m rambling, but the word vomit won’t stop coming.
“Anyway, what are you doing? It sounds fun. Thanks for the invite,” I continue, unable to stop the last sarcastic sentence from slipping out.
“We’re at Bryn and Jameson’s joint bachelorette and bachelor party out at Wild Bluffs Country Club. We’ve been playing a drinking game that involves drinking when someone outdrives you. I’m not that good, apparently.”
Ah, that explains the slight slurring of Carter’s words and generally peppier attitude than usual.
“It’s not fair when two of the people you’re playing against are professional golfers,” Carter continues. “But you can’t come because Izzy—”
He’s cut off abruptly.
“Hey, Jax.” Kelsey’s voice comes through my phone, sounding clear, sober, and slightly annoyed. Classic Kelsey.
“Hey. No drinking game for you tonight?” I ask.
“You don’t have to drink much if you’re actually good at the drinking game,” she says.
“You’re not playing against professionals!” Carter argues.
“Do you need something?” Kelsey asks as if her husband hadn’t spoken.
“Besides an invite when you guys do fun things?” I try to make it sound like a joke, but I am a little hurt that they’re hanging out without me. I mean, I know I’m not friends with Bryn and Jameson, but we did hang out a little when they were inAustralia for my concert. I mean, I said hi. And Jameson and I have seen each other at a few events.
And they know I’m in town. Alone. With no one else to hang out with.
“Fix things with Izzy and maybe you can join the cool kids club,” Kelsey replies.
I rub the back of my neck, thinking about the text that could change everything. “I’m working on it.”
Neither of us says anything, letting that statement settle before Kelsey finally says, “Well, it seems like this is a social call, so I’m going to put my drunk husband back on the phone.”
“Bye, Kels,” I say as Carter comes back on the line.
“Don’t I have the best wife in the whole world?” Carter asks.
Happy drunks are the best kind. And it’s not surprising that’s the way Carter goes when he drinks.
“She’s pretty great. Still waiting for that thank-you note for setting you two up,” I say.
Carter chuckles. “We sent you an invitation to our wedding. Thought that would be good enough. Turns out, the famous Jaxon Steele is too good to come witness our nuptials.”
“No one wanted me there,” I say. “I would’ve distracted everyone from your wedding.”
I’d considered coming. I really had. But then I thought about how weird things would be with not just Izzy’s family, but all of Wild Bluffs. I’ve felt the soul-deep pain of knowing someone resents me merely for existing, and I don’t need to knowingly jump into those situations. Plus, my dad was still alive then, and there was no way I was going to risk running into him.
“Wewanted you there,” Carter replies. “It’s why we invited you.”
“I sent a gift!” I shoot back.
“You sent us an outdoor sauna. Which is an outrageous gift. Though, I feel I must confess that we use it multiple times a week and even bought a cold plunge tub to go with it.”
“Are you talking about your goddamn sauna again, Carter?” a guy’s voice asks from somewhere behind him. “It’s notthatcool.”
