“Look, if Angie and I didn’t have our family history between us and she didn’t live with her parents, you can guarantee that I’d have her at my place all the time,” I rearback, shocked by how possessive and right that feels. But that’s what I am when it comes to Angie—possessive.
The Cheshire cat smile that takes over Carter’s face confirms that I said that out loud. “Have you two talked about a what-if?”
I finish my drink and set it aside. “Yeah,” I say, looking at Carter. “As much as I tried to avoid thinking about the scenario where our brothers were alive,wouldwe be together?”
“And would you two be?” He asks.
“I think one way or another, we would have gravitated toward each other. Our families—mainly our parents—were friends, we vacationed together. Sure, those vacations slowed down as we older kids went to college, but our families were still very close up to the end. I don’t love thinking about the alternative, but Angie even made me think about it.”
“Smart girl.”
I smile and look into the TapHouse, where she’s being adorned with love from some of her older customers. “That she is.”
An hour later, after Carter left to see Miles, and I’m two drinks in, Angie comes over to me with flushed cheeks and a contagious smile. She drops herself on my lap and I hook an arm around her waist while she wraps her arms around my neck.
“How does it feel being done with college?” I ask and place kisses on her neck.
“Freeing,” she sings. “Now I need to figure out what to do with my life.”
“Pish posh,” I wave off.
“I am happy you’re here,” she tells me, and the smile thattakes over her face with me being here was worth skipping out on work an hour earlier.
“I’m anywhere you’re at.”
“I’m beginning to learn that that’s a good thing.”
I nod with a serious expression on my face.
“I’m also thinking I want to put my degree to use,” she announces.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” she confirms with a nod. “It might take me a while to get everything off the ground, but with yours, Miles, and Hannah’s help, I see a piano bar in my future.”
“I’m happy for you, Angel.”
“Thanks, Ollie Pop,” she says with a smile, and I shake my head.
“No.”
“What? It’s cute.”
I bury my face in her neck. “I’m not cute.”
“You are, by far, the cutest in this bar.”
I groan and release my hold on her because I hear people calling her name. “Go mingle.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Angie stands up and moves between my legs. My hands fall to her thighs and I play with the hem of the mini skirts she loves wearing so much. “Give me an hour?”
“I’ll be here.”
She leans forward and kisses me on the lips hard before taking her warmth with her. I watch with a smile as more congratulations are thrown at her from her co-workers and customers who are regulars.
