Page 13 of Tell Me All Your Lies

“It’s exhausting work. That’s why I’m glad that we decided to settle here and keep a home on both coasts. No need for rentals or hotel rooms.”

“You have the life, old friend.”

“That I do,” he says with pride.

Luke flags down the bartender and orders us two bourbons neat. The bartender quickly pours the amber liquid and slides them in front of us. We take the glasses and clink them together.

“To friendship,” he says.

I give him a curt nod, and we both take a sip.

“Anything new on your end?” I ask.

He sighs, and a sense of sadness flickers across his face.

“What is it?”

“It’s nothing.”

“I can see that’s not true.”

“Just getting old. I’m not as young as you are,” he says playfully.

“You’re not that much older,old man.”

He laughs and takes another sip of his drink.

“Ten years makes a difference at this age. I was hoping to have a successor to my company by now, but you know how Cara is. She has her own life.”

“You’re inching closer to sixty. You have time to find one.”

“I hope that’s true.”

“And you know any help I can give you, just say the word.”

“I may take you up on that. Selling at some point down the road seems like the most suitable answer. It would just have to be to the right person.”

I can tell my friend is worried about what the future holds. I give him a pat on the shoulder and hold on tight for a moment.

“Let’s stop this nonsense for tonight. It’s a party,” Luke says.

“Down the hatch then,old man.”

He smirks as we both finish our drinks and flag down the bartender for another round.

“I’ll take one of those too, please,” a sultry voice says.

Cara’s nails graze lightly against the back of my jacket.

“Dad,” she says while removing her hand.

The feeling of her touch lingers—an unavoidable buzz of electricity every time she touches me in some way. It happens so rarely that I soak it in every time.

Cara gives Luke a hug and, as she pulls away, gestures to the bartender for that drink.

“Grant.”

“Cara.”

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