Page 31 of Reckless Chances
“You’re going to have to grow up someday Jay. Maybe someday you’ll want a woman who appreciates a twelve-year-old scotch and you’ll realize how much better it tastes than schnapps.”
Charlie looked at his brother with a smile on his face, but Jason wasn’t smiling. Charlie had never seen his brother cry, but he swore the corners of his eyes were shimmering with tears. “Hey man, I’m sorry. You know I’m just playing with you.”
Jason’s lips wavered as he inhaled heavily. “You’re right, I just don’t know how to do it. How to grow up.”
Charlie found himself lost for words. He hadn’t expected the conversation to take a serious turn. Jason looked to the ceiling and when he looked back to Charlie the shimmer was gone from his eyes. “Should we order breakfast?”
The two of them had never discussed feelings, and Charlie realized just how superficial their relationship had been over the years. Just like Jason didn’t know how to grow up, Charlie didn’t really feel equipped to talk about it either.
“The lumberjack special works wonders for a hangover.” Charlie tapped the menu card.
“That’s what I was thinking,” Jason smiled and patted his belly.
Charlie met Mable’s eyes and nodded. She returned to the table and took their order. Jason went with the lumberjack and Charlie stuck with his usual, a BLT.
Jason took a sip of his coffee and his eyes shot open wide. He pounded his chest with his fist and then whispered, “This stuff is awful!”
“It will get your motor running,” Charlie laughed. The diner’s coffee was infamously strong. He heard that someone had once mistaken it for Turkish coffee. Charlie slurped his coffee and wondered how it would taste mixed into a hoppy fall IPA.
“Tell me about this woman you want to bring to Adam’s wedding,” Jason said. He poured a heaping teaspoon of sugar onto a spoon and stirred it into his mug. “Is she twelve-year-old scotch?”
“She is,” Charlie smiled.
“Whoa. I haven’t seen you smile like that since Karlie.”
Charlie had been so heartbroken over Karlie all those years ago, but the way he felt for Emma made what he and Karlie had had seem like a joke.
“Her name is Emma. She’s so smart and driven. She’s inspiring.”
“Yeah, but is she hot?” Jason asked.
“Gorgeous,” Charlie said, remembering who he was talking to. “But she’s so much more than that. I can’t wait for you to meet her.” This was a lie. Charlie didn’t know whether thoughtful Jason or crass, chauvinistic, frat boy Jason was going to be at the wedding.
“I’m heading back to the city today. When I come back maybe we should all have dinner together. That’s a grownup thing to do, right?”
“Let’s do it.” Charlie had his doubts, but the man was his brother after all.
Mable set down their plates of breakfast and refilled their coffee mugs. “Enjoy, boys.”
“Thank you,” they replied in unison.
Jason started to work on his platter of greasy goodness. As Charlie crunched into his sandwich, he saw Jenni walk into the diner. She scanned the room and when she saw the two of them her face lit up and she practically jogged to the table.
She seemed out of breath. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. We’ve got a problem.”
