Page 30 of Every Rose

James leaned his back against the rough-hewn table. “I’m not surprised. Rose was always good at everything; if she wasn’t good right away, she’d quit doing it.”

“Really?”

“Oh, yeah. You could look up perfectionist in the dictionary and find her picture staring at you.”

“Why’s she single?”

James was watching Dave and Dawson get more and more into each other’s faces. Harvey and some of the others were taking bets on who was going to win. So far the atmosphere was more joking than serious but James looked like he wasn’t going to let it get out of hand. “Why is anyone single?”

Since he didn’t say anything else Matt concluded that he was supposed to answer the question. “I don’t know. Haven’t met the right person? Too busy?”

“Yeah. I guess. Rose isn’t big on sharing her innermost thoughts with her kid brother.” He grimaced. “All I know is she has terrible taste in men.”

“Really?”

“She likes them rich and unavailable. For some reason they’re always dicks as well.”

Interesting piece of information to tuck away. Not that he really cared, he was only passing the time.

“I always think her schedule makes it hard for her to have a normal relationship.” Suddenly James turned his head so he was regarding Matt straight on. “How about you? You find that? Or are you with someone?”

Well, he’d started the conversation, it was only fair that James should ask him about his love life since he’d asked about Rose’s. “You’re right. It’s tough to find time to devote to a relationship when you’re building a career or a practice.”

“So, you’re single?”

Was little brother a matchmaker? He made a face. “I have a friend. Not anything with a future, but it’s convenient for both of us.”

James nodded. “Another doc?”

He shook his head. Then paused before speaking. “Is this going to get back to Rose?”

“Yeah, that’s what I like to do in my spare time. Repeat guy talk to my sisters.”

He stretched his legs out before him. “Right. I take it back.” He found he liked talking to James. Maybe it was because they’d both grown up in big families, but both had the ability to carry on a private conversation while still being part of the larger group. How to describe Cheryl? “She’s divorced. Not interested in anything complicated. Older.”

“Sounds perfect.”

“Works for both of us. She travels a lot and I don’t give her a hard time about not seeing her enough. I work a lot and she is equally understanding. We see each other when we can fit time into our schedules. It’s understood but never articulated that when either of us meets someone or wants something different it ends with no hard feelings.” When he described his arrangement out loud it sounded pretty cold. For some reason he felt stupid and wished he hadn’t told James. He hardly ever told anyone.

“She your date for Harvey’s wedding?”

He shook his head. “No.” Strangely, it had never crossed his mind to invite Cheryl. They went out to movies and dinner but never socialized with each other’s friends. In truth, they barely even went out for dinners and movies. Mainly, they’d meet, usually at Cheryl’s place since his was always a mess, share a glass of wine and he’d spend the night.

They’d been doing this for more than a year. Was he starting to feel restless? Like he wanted something more?

“So why are you asking about my sister?” James wanted to know.

Good question. To which he didn’t have an answer. “I don’t know. I think she’s interesting.”

James sent him a strange look. “Interesting? That’s how you’d describe Rose?”

Why did that sound like a trick question? “Yes. I mean, obviously she’s gorgeous and brilliant, but she’s got more going on underneath that she tries to hide. I find that interesting.”

“Huh,” was all James said, but he smiled to himself as though enjoying a private joke.

They ended the night at the Hedgeman. It was the last stop of the night and Harvey got a bit teary when he described meeting Theresa. Things had quieted down since James had arranged Dave and Dawson onto the minibus. Matt didn’t think they’d even noticed they were the only ones getting on the bus until it was pulling away.

The bus would be back at the end of the night to pick up the remaining stag participants and then drive them all home.

---