“Bullshit.” Britt waved away the idea. “You’re one of the best humans I know. Eliza would be lucky to have you.”
Fisher’s mouth twisted. “Thanks. But you’re biased because I saved your life.Twice.”
Britt ignored that. “You really believe just because she grew up with heaps of money that she’s somehow better than you?”
Cursing under his breath, Fish turned back to the sink and gripped the edge of the porcelain hard enough to make his knuckles go white.
Britt had been all prepared to pester and provoke, but he was getting the distinct impression that the situation between Fisher and Eliza was more complicated than he’d imagined.
“It’s not just that she grew up spending summers in Europe and I grew up spending summers catching catfish on trotlines.”
Britt waited for Fish to expand on that statement. He never did, which forced Britt to say, “Okay.So what else is there?”
“I’m not made to settle down with one woman.”
Britt frowned. Fisher was a good-looking guy. He was wickedly funny, sharp as a tack, and wasn’t embarrassed to quote poetry to women like some hero in a historical novel. Soof coursehe’d had his choice of bed partners over the years. But Britt had always assumed Fisher’s rather…expansive…dating profile was a temporary thing.
If anyone would make a good husband and father, it was Fish. The guy had more patience than Job, more compassion than Princess Diana, and more loyalty than a family dog.
“You mean to tell me that whole ladies’ man schtick is legit? I guess I always figured you were biding your time and sowing your wild oats until you found the right one.”
Fisher glanced over at him. “Is that whatyou’redoin’?”
He blinked when he realized he’d never given it much thought.
“We aren’t the same, Fish,” he said. “Youlikeit when we have downtime, and you get to hang around and be all domestic. I feel like I’m going to crawl out of my skin. You carry around babies as easily as I carry around rock climbing equipment. You joined the military because youhadto. I joined because it was the only way I could get paid to jump out of planes and blow shit up.”
The look on Fisher’s face was forlorn and maybe just a little…wistful. “Believe me, bro, I wish that’s all it took. But when it comes to a man having what it takes to be a good husband and father, it’s more complicated than that.”
“And you’re convinced you don’t have what it takes?”
“IknowI don’t. I don’t know how to love the right way.”
Britt narrowed his eyes. “And which way is that?”
“The calm, quiet,healthyway.”
Britt’s chin jerked back. “You’re saying you only know how to love the violent, loud,toxicway?”
“Pretty much.” Fisher shrugged.
“Bro, that’s complete and total bullshit.”
Fisher walked over to the liquor cabinet beside the back door. He opened the glass front and pulled down a bottle of bourbon from the top shelf. “How d’ya feel ’bout helpin’ me drink this thing to the corners?” he asked.
Britt wanted to press the issue. But one look at Fisher’s face told him it’d be a useless endeavor. Whatever fool notion Fisher had in his head wasn’t going to be dislodged no matterwhatBritt said.
With a windy sigh, he muttered, “I feel like you’re putting a period onanotherconversation. And once again I feel like arguing with you will get me nowhere and drinking with you will get me drunk. So…” He circled a finger in the air. “Get to pouring.”
Fisher pulled two whiskey glasses down from the cabinet and dumped two fingers worth of the sweet, smoky bourbon into each. The overhead light glinted in the caramel color of the liquid, making it glow with warm streaks of gold.
“What are we drinking to?” Britt lifted the glass.
Fisher paused with his own glass raised. “How ’bout we drink to ya continuin’ to find excitement and adventure wherever ya turn while I continue to whore my way through life until my cock stops workin’?”
Britt shook his head. “I guess that’s as good as anything.”
After they clinked glasses, Fisher braced himself against the countertop with one hand and threw back the glass of bourbon with the other, swallowing it like it was medicine.
