Gabriel's quiet for a long moment, rolling the beer bottle between his palms. "She seems... competent. Professional."
"She's more than competent." The words come out more defensive than I intended. "She's turned my disaster of a practice into something that actually functions."
"Must be nice, having reliable help."
Something in his tone makes me look at him sideways. "It is. Why?"
Gabriel shrugs, taking another sip. "Just making conversation. Small town curiosity."
But there's something careful in the way he's not looking at me, something too casual about his casual tone. Like he's working hard to seem disinterested.
"And, I think you're selling yourselfshort."
"And I think you've been hitting the bottle harder than me if you believe that."
Gabriel laughs, the sound surprisingly warm in the smoky air. "Probably. But then again, we're both here drowning our problems in alcohol instead of dealing with them like adults."
"Speak for yourself. I'm just living up to my reputation as the local heartbreaker with questionable life choices."
"Is that what you're doing?" Gabriel's voice gets serious. "Because it looks like you're trying to drink away the memory of someone who meant more to you than you want to admit."
The words hit too close to home, slice through the whiskey haze and dig into wounds that haven't even started to heal. I want to tell him to mind his own damn business, want to walk away before this conversation cuts any deeper.
Instead, I find myself talking.
"You ever lose someone who was your whole world?" The question comes out rougher than I intended. "Someone you thought you'd have forever?"
Gabriel's quiet for a moment. "Yeah. I have."
"Then you know that drinking's not about forgetting. It's about making it through the next hour without putting your fist through something."
Or someone.
Gabriel nods slowly, understanding passing between us in the way it only can between men who've both had their hearts ripped out and handed back to them in pieces.
"And now?" Gabriel asks quietly, his eyes fixed on his beer bottle.
I don't answer right away, because the truth is complicated. "Now I've got an assistant who reorganizes my life whether I want her to or not."
"That's not what I meant."
"I know what you meant. Lucy's... she's different."
"Different how?"
I don't answer right away, because putting it into words makes it too real. "She makes things... quieter. In here." I tap my chest. "And that scares the hell out of me."
I reach for my wallet to pay the tab, but Gabriel waves me off.
"I've got it."
"You don't have to—"
"Consider it an investment in keeping you off the roads tonight." Gabriel signals Mae for the check, then reaches across and plucks my truck keys from my coat pocket. "These are mine until tomorrow."
"Bastard."
"Just doing my duty." Gabriel's grin is sharp around the edges. "Besides, everything in this town is within walking distance. Fresh air might do you some good."
