Page 1 of On the Line

Chapter One

Liam

There are a few things a man shouldn’t have to do alone. Moving a couch is one. Fishing is another.

Okay, fishing alone is technically possible. Plenty of guys prefer it. There’s nothing wrong with sitting out on Lake Mercury before sunrise with a thermos of coffee and a tackle box, and for years I liked it fine. That was back when it was a choice. Now every one of my friends has a significant other, and fishing by myself has started to feel less like peace and quiet and more like proof that I’ve been dumped by all my buddies at once.

I send the text anyway. Fishing tomorrow?

Joel answers first. Can’t. Rayna wants to go to the farmer’s market.

I make a face at my phone.

Ace gets back to me thirty seconds later. Chrissy’s parents are in town.

Forrest responds right after that. Plans with Aileen.

Trent takes his time. When the three little dots finally show up, I get my hopes up for no reason at all. His message comes through: Sorry, man. Promised Josie a movie date.

I drop my phone on the bar. “Pathetic.”

Mikki looks up from the register at the other end of Mercury Slice’s bar. “Talking to yourself again?”

“Talking about them.”

She doesn’t ask who. Apparently the whole town knows my friends have deserted me. She wipes down the counter in front of me and sets a fresh beer on it, even though I didn’t order one.

“On the house.”

I eye it. “Why?”

“You look lonely.”

“Take that back.”

She laughs.

“I’m not lonely,” I tell her.

“You’re sitting alone in a pizza place on a Friday night texting four men who’d rather be with their women.”

“I’m enjoying my independence.”

“Sure you are.”

I take the beer, because only an idiot turns down free beer.

The thing is it happened so fast. A year ago the five of us could decide at noon to spend the whole afternoon on the water. Now getting everybody in one boat takes a week of planning and at least one guy saying he needs to check with her first. I’m happy for them.

It’s still disgusting.

Outside, the patio is packed. Summer does that to Mercury Ridge. Every rental around the lake is full, every slip at the marina is taken, and Mercury Slice stays busy until close. Normally I love it. Tonight I’m seriously thinking about going home before dark on a Friday, which tells you everything.

Then the door opens and a woman walks in, and I stop thinking about going anywhere.

She’s got a canvas tote on one shoulder and her eyes on her phone. Long dark blond hair with a little wave in it, cutoff shorts, sandals, a green tank top. I notice all of it, and I probably look a second longer than I should.

She glances up and catches me. Brown eyes. She gives me a quick, polite smile, the kind you’d give anybody, and I still feel it all the way down.