Page 47 of Ache
“James, Dad.James,”the man corrects him.
“James.” The old man inspects his son’s face. They share the same features, prominent nose and small, inset eyes.
“I’m sorry. I’m going to have to ask you two to leave. No one should be here. Especially him.” He frowns.
“We're leaving.” Tage shoots his last shot. “Do you mind if we take the bottle, though?”
“No,” the man smirks. “Consider it a thanks for keeping this one out of trouble.”
“Anytime.” Tage hops out of his chair, and I follow.
“Later, old-timer.” Tage salutes him.
“Remember what I said, boys. Share,” he responds almost parentally.
We exit the bar on that note.
Share?
“I think we should go check on Everly.” Tage starts walking in the direction of her apartment building.
“Both of us?” I catch up to him.
“You heard the man. Share.”
“Are you serious?” I pull his arm, stopping him short.
“Of course, I am. Haven't you ever shared a woman before?”
“Define the context. A drunken threesome in college, yes.”
“You’re not so prissy, huh?” Tage smiles.
“I’m not prissy at all. Nice suits don’t equate to picture perfect. And this is Everly we’re talking about. She isn’t just some random hook-up.”
“She isn't,” he agrees. “Which is why I think this is a great idea.”
“Explain,” I huff.
“Listen, Everly has gotten the short end of the stick most of her life. With her parents, with me. She deserves all the love she can get. It’s like the ideal romance novel. The bad boy and the businessman. What woman would refuse that?” Tage is smug.
“Um, a sane one,” I contradict.
“Gotta live a little, man. Chase more than just ambulances.” Tage starts walking again, cockier than a rooster in a hen house.
“I don’t fucking chase ambulances, and I live plenty,” I argue.
“Well, I’m not giving Everly up. So, either I go into her apartment alone, or you come with me.”
“What if she doesn’t want you? What if she chooses me?”
“Why even present her with the option?”
“So, you want to manipulate her into a threesome?”
“No. I want to offer her everything she deserves. Which is both of us. You have three blocks to think about it. I’m all in.”
“You make heavy decisions pretty quick,” I point out.
