Page 63 of Here With Me
“I can’t wait to see it in person,” I say, keeping my voice level. Before Fisher’s return, it wouldn’t even be a question that he’d show me. As friends, we kept each other updated on everything. It was fun and easy. Now it’s as if he’s trying to show off as if to imply how well he’s done without him.
“How about Sunday? I’m doin’ another walk-through,” Jase offers.
“Depends. I’ll be workin’ in the afternoon before family supper.”
“I can come,” Fisher says. “Before then, anyway.”
Jase snaps his head toward his dad.
Oh shit.
“Wait, you’re goin’ to the Hollises on Sunday?”
“Dena invited me.”
I keep my eyes on my drink, swirling my straw around as if it’s the most interesting thing in this room.
“You’re lucky. Dena’s a great cook,” Jase’s bitter tone spits out. “Make sure to bail after dessert, or you’ll get stuck scrapbookin’ with them.”
“Hey.” I bump my foot into his shin.
He laughs, but it actually hurts my feelings. He knows how special Sunday nights are to me.
Though I shouldn’t be surprised. He complained each time I stayed late, and he’d eventually leave without me.
“What’s that?” Fisher asks with a sweetness in his voice.
“It’s a tradition to add a page to our scrapbook each week. But we usually end up chattin’ too long and doing three or four pages before we call it a night. It’s old-school, but my momma loves it. Gramma Grace tells stories, and the rest of us write them down next to the photos.”
“Snooze city,” Jase murmurs.
“Maybe to you,” I snap.
Fisher clears his throat, grabbing Jase’s attention, and gives him a murderous look. It’s not like he can tell himI didn’t raise you to be a little assholebecause Jase would just throw it in his face that he didn’t raise him at all. But he doesn’t need to say anything. One piercing look and Jase keeps his mouth shut.
The server approaches with a wide, toothy smile, oblivious to how I’m ready to pull out my hair, and delivers my salad.
“Can I get drink refills for anyone?”
“Just water for me,” Fisher says.
“I’ll take another Guinness. How about you?” Jase asks me.
“I’ll take a water.” And before she walks away, I quickly add, “Can I also get a shot of your strongest tequila?”
“Of course! Be right back with those.”
I feel Fisher’s heated stare, so I avoid looking at him and dig into my food instead.
“You still goin’ to the Twisted Bull tonight?” Jase asks.
“I am,” Fisher says before I can respond.
“Yeah, meetin’ Magnolia and my brothers there.”
“You’ll have to record my old man fallin’ on his ass when he tries to ride the bull.” Jase snickers. If he’s not careful, his little digs will piss off Fisher more than he already looks. Jase asked me to come as a buffer, not to help troll him.
“Why don’t ya come and show me what you can do?” Fisher asks. “It’s not as easy as it looks.”
