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Giving him a firm handshake, I greet him, “Hey, David.”

“Drew.” He nods his head instead of saying more.

Ted and Diane turn their attention from the large outdoor kitchen to me. “Drew! So glad you made it! Now we’re just waiting for our friend, Bradley. He’s new in town so we invited him and his son to join us.”

“Ugh.” Brooks groans before taking a sip of bourbon.

Somewhere in the last sixty seconds, Brooks has managed to get himself a bourbon on the rocks.

“Starting early, huh?” My eyes flick to his glass.

He shrugs. “It’s a holiday.” He leans toward me and covers his mouth as he whispers, “and also I’m gonna need several of these to be near Dad’s new friend. I had the displeasure of playing a round of golf with him and Dad. The guy is a complete tool.”

Before I can ask more about that, a tall man with dark hair walks onto the back patio. He has a young boy with him who looks like a miniature of the man beside him. Sophie is following them, her lips set into a terse line.

At first I’m confused by her expression, but then I recognize the man before me. He’s the jerk Sophie went on a date with several weeks ago. The one who called me a phlebotomist. My entire body tenses and I clench my jaw. My body goes into protector mode, my head arching to the side to crack my neck of its own volition. My fists clench at my side. I’m all wound up, ready to fight. I breathe in a deep breath through my nose and close my eyes for a second.

Alright, Drew. This is a Labor Day BBQ, not a fight club. Bradley Vanderven is Ted’s friend, not a volatile criminal. Calm down, buddy.

“Mom, Dad, you didn’t tell me Mr. Vanderven and Peter were coming today.” She tries to smile as she says it, but her expression is strained.

Ted smiles at her. “Of course, they’re new in town. And the more the merrier! Right?”

“Yes, the more the merrier,” she says, smiling between her dad and Bradley. But her eyes are wider than usual, like she’s saying HELP ME through her eyeballs. “Peter is in my class at Heartland.”

“No way! I didn’t realize you were his teacher. What a small world,” Ted responds as he fiddles with the grill.

Bradley laughs sardonically. “Yes, Sophie has been keeping Peter in line at school, hasn’t she?” He glances at Peter, then his eyes flick to Sophie.

“Peter has been doing great the last few weeks,” she says, then looks away.

She seems uncomfortable, but Peter looks thrilled with her praise.

Diane, who’s been busy fussing over the food, walks over to join our conversation. “Bradley, has anyone introduced you to Drew yet?” She pats my arm. “You two are around the same age. I bet you would get along great. And Drew is a single dad also!”

“Seems we have a lot in common,” Bradley says with a smile, but it looks more like he’s baring his teeth. Like an evil cartoon character.

I thrust my hand out in front of him, not wanting to make this any more uncomfortable than it already is. “Great to meet you, Bradley.”

He shakes my hand, his grip much tighter than necessary. “Nice meeting you as well, Drew.” His nostrils flare as he says my name.

“Drew is a work associate of mine. We’ve basically adopted him into our family,” Ted says with a lighthearted chuckle.

“Ah,” Bradley nods, “So that would make you a—”

I cut him off short. “An orthopedic surgeon. Kind of like a phlebotomist, but with a scalpel.”

His nostrils flare again, and I wink at him.

Ted laughs, but it sounds stilted. Pretty sure he’s picking up the tension between me and Bradley.

“Anyway,” Ted clears his throat and gestures toward the grill. “The food is ready! You all can select your steaks from the grill, and the rest of the food is in the kitchen.”

“I’ll get the kids,” Sophie announces before ducking back inside.

Brooks sidles up next to me again. This time, he has a second glass of bourbon and hands it to me. “I’m sensing you want a drink now.”

I fill my cheeks with air and slowly blow it out through my mouth before taking a sip. “Thank you.”