Page 72 of For the Boys
“I’ve been seeing him around lately,” Grace said, shrugging. “I hate to admit it after what he did to you, but he looks good.”
Berkley made a sound of disgust. “I’m definitely not interested. Plus, he’s had a kid, a marriage, and a divorce since then.”
Grace smirked. “I know, but his jaw is going to hit the floor regardless.” She turned onto the highway, heading toward downtown. “I heard he’s single again. Maybe a little hate sex for old time’s sake?” She wiggled her eyebrows.
“I sincerely hope we don’t even see him tonight,” Berkley said. “Besides, I’m with someone.”
“What do you mean,with?” Grace glanced sideways at her.
“I mean I’ve been seeing someone for a few months now.”
Berkley preferred not to dive into the entire tale. Sometimes, she felt really disconnected from Traverse City, almost like growing up here had happened to someone else. Her life was in Detroit now, and the only thing that kept her coming back to Traverse City on a regular basis was her family. Grace had always been a great friend, of course, but college and law school had changed her, altered her priorities. Lexie, Amelia, and Kimber were like sisters to her, and she couldn’t imagine leaving them and the city that held such a huge piece of her heart.
Plus, there was Brent.
“Who the hell is this guy that managed to snag you off the market?”
“His name is Brent Jean,” Berkley said, knowing Grace wouldn’t make the connection.
“Who is that?”
“He’s just someone I met at school,” Berkley said. It wasn’t entirely a lie, but there was obviously much more to it than that. Once again, she held her tongue, refusing to elaborate. A girl had to keep some secrets, after all.
“I hope I get to meet him soon,” Grace said as she pulled into a parking space in an overnight ramp up the block from the bar.
“Wanna see what he looks like?”
Grace nodded.
Berkley scrolled through the camera roll on her phone and pulled up a picture of her and Brent from a loft party.
“OH MY GOD!” Grace shrieked. “He’s a babe.”
Berkley sighed. “I know.”
Grace slapped her and giggled. “C’mon,” she said, dragging Berkley along. It was an easy task, given that Grace was four inches taller. “We need drinks to celebrate you finally finding someone worthy of your time.”
Atrium was a club they’d frequented when they were younger, and being here tonight doused Berkley in nostalgia. They still hosted an underage night once a week where anyone under the legal drinking age could come in and dance. Wristbands were used to distinguish those allowed to drink from those not, so back then Berkley and her friends had usually gotten drunk before and danced it off.
The club was called Atrium because the two walls that looked out over the water of Grand Traverse Bay were made up entirely of glass. The bay was frozen this time of year, and the snow on the ground was sparkling under the light of the moon. Berkley wished Brent were there to experience it with her.
She and Grace stepped up to the bar, and she asked the bartender for the local craft beer they had on draft, then watched as the bartender poured the beer and brought it back to her. She handed over her card.
“Do you want me to run it or keep it open?” he asked.
“You can keep it open!”
Just as she was about to turn around and scope out the bar for the rest of her friends, a body pressed against her. Before he even said a word, she knew exactly who it was.
“Damn, girl,” Lee whispered, breath hot on her ear. Goosebumps rose on her skin, but not the good kind. “Someone really grew up.”
“First of all, it’s only been three years since you last saw me,” Berkley told him.
“Second, get the hell away from her, Lee,” Grace said, shoving him out of the way as they took their drinks and headed to the table where the rest of their friends were seated.
“You always were a tease!” he yelled. “Some things never change.”
Before Berkley could think twice, she turned around and faced him. “Like the fact that you’re still a piece of shit?” She barked out a laugh. She got up in his face, a difficult task given their size difference. What she lacked in height she made up for in rage and disgust. “Trust me when I tell you this—I have done better than you.” With that, she lifted her drink and poured it over his head, then turned on her heel and stormed off toward her friends as the bar erupted in applause.
