However, the punch does not come and seconds pass with no connection.
I open my eyes to see my best friend just staring at me.
Looking at me, the way he’d always done.
I swear I see a tear in his eye. The man has aged like a fine wine, I never doubted he would.
Sun-kissed skin from being out in the sun all day, legs bowed like a truly old western cowboy. I look back at him, regret deep in my eyes and my heart.
“Colter?” Iris says in a calm manor, as she steps forward, placing her hand on his forearm. He looks at her with a blank expression and pulls away, walking towards me. I brace for the impact yet again.
“Maverick,” He sighs out, before grabbing my shoulders and pulling me into that longing hug I need from him right now. The one that I’ve needed for so many years that only I wasted away.
Wrapping my arms back around him, I notice he’s gotten taller since the last time I saw him; he’s now on par with my six-one frame.
“Hey, Colt,” I smile, pulling away from the embrace, still looking at him.
“I… I’m sorry,” he starts, the hurt stretched across his face.
“No biggy, brother. I expected worse.” I wink at him before letting him go from my arms. There’s twinge still in my jaw but the blood lessons as the minutes dragged on.
He slaps his handon my shoulder before giving it a squeeze.
“It’s good to see you.” He breathes out a heavy sigh. The bar’s sign light up his sky-blue eyes, the same eyes his sister has.
Now I see the hurt in them, same as his sisters.
Damn, never really thought leaving through. I shouldn’t have left full stop; this mess would never have happened if I had just stayed in the first place.
“You too, brother.” I laugh out.
“Come on you knuckle heads, now that’s over and done with, lets head back in,” Hope shouts from the entrance to the bar. Colter nods for me to follow him into the bar and I gladly accept the invitation, hot on his heels.
****
It’s gone well past eleven and I’m still slinging shots of tequila down my throat, just like old times with my old friends. The girls and Luke already called it a night.
I still can’t believe Luke and Hope got married.
I mean I knew they would. Those two were exactly like me and Mabel.
Except you left, and they didn’t…
Pushing the thought to the back off my mind, I turn to my brother and my best friend.
“Another?” I say, signally Mack over to us.
The bar’s been long deserted compared to the crowds earlier. A couple of older cowboys hung around, nursing their glasses.
The change was incredible.
“Naa, I better shoot.” Jake starts to pull notes out of his pocket.
“Horses to see, ranches to run.” He winks at me.
“None of that.” I wince at my brother. “I gave Mack my card,” I nod at my brother in solitude.
Jake puts his notes back into his pocket.
