Page 61 of A Better Place

“Never did, honestly, but didn’t want to miss out on getting to know her, either. Friendship is better than nothing.” I shrug.

Our waiter brings our orders of New York strip and places family-style bowls of garlic mashed potatoes, bacon-wrapped asparagus, creamed spinach, and sautéed garlic mushrooms. My mouth immediately waters, and the conversation shifts to much lighter topics.

The guys go back to asking about my plans for the restaurant and apartment above it, and Andy explains his Christine-situation. From the sounds of it, she was there for him after he found his wife, Heather, having sex with another man. Considering that was only a few months ago, Andy and Christine aren’t dating but are spending time together, and he said the friendship is nice. I see it in his eyes, though. It’s the same I see when I look in the mirror. He wants more, but more than likely neither are ready for that yet.

Just as the waiter places our checks on the table, my phone lights up with a name I haven’t seen in a long time. I scrunch my eyebrows, wondering what Miguel from El Charro could possibly be calling about.

“Miguel, my man, what’s up?”

“James, friend,” he says, cracking up even as he says my name. “You may want to get yourself down here, and maybe bring your brother-in-law because your sister and her friends are three sheets to the wind.”

“No shit?” I say, laughing.

“Yeah. I mean, it’s funny as shit, but they’re getting a little…”

“Too much?” I ask.

“Well, not for us. Like I said, it’s funny, but yeah, the rest of the guests aren’t so sure,” he says, still laughing.

“Alright, I’ll be there in a few. Keep them calm, and maybe no more alcohol.”

“I’m not sure that’s going to fly with them, but I’ll try,” Miguel says.

“Oh great. Thanks, man. See you soon.”

“See ya,” he says and hangs up the phone.

“Well, boys, looks like we have a rescue mission.”

“Oh boy, now the whole Captain-America-thing is going to your head.” Barrett lightly shoves me.

“I take anything I can get from her.” I nod my head, grinning unashamed.

So many thoughts areflying through my head like stunt planes in an air show. I can’t decide which deserves the most attention.

She’s drunk.

She’s never been drunk before.

She said she wants to stay in the friend-zone.

Drunk Carly wants more than friendship.

Drunk Carly wants to lick me. Again.

Drunk Carly is all in.

Drunk Carly is full of lots of information.

Drunk Carly is puking all over the ground next to my car.

Drunk Carly is still the most beautiful woman in the world.

When Miguel, the owner of the El Charro restaurant I helped makeover last year, called to tell me my sister and her friends were well on their way to wasted and we needed to pick them up before they caused a scene — a bigger scene, that is — I had no idea her friends included Carly. I just told the guys that we needed to get over there and save the girls. Barrett hauled ass to his pickup mumbling something about a fine line, and that he wasn’t going to waste whatever buzz Tess had going on. Since I didn’t have any desire to know what he meant by wasting the buzz, I just got in my Grand Cherokee, figuring I’d help Barrett and Josh with their crazy wives when I got there.

I opened the restaurant door and saw several of the waiters laughing and watching the show. The show that was Drunk Carly, Tess, Lauren and Christine. I stood stock-still at the scene before me. Carly had her head on the table, Tess and Lauren were slow dancing together, and Christine had her phone held up in the air playing “Everything” by Lifehouse. Josh, Barrett, and Andy came barreling in after me, then ran into my back, sending me a few steps forward.

“What the…” Barrett asked.

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