Page 25 of Now and Then

“How is Sutton doing?” Vinnie asks. “Feels like I haven’t seen anyone since we got back from our trip.”

At the mention of Colorado, I close my eyes and take a steadying breath. I can’t think about that right now.

Adam shovels half a stack of pancakes into his mouth. “That might also be because of the new girl you’re seeing,” he says around a mouthful of pancake. “What’s her name? Holly?”

“She’s not new,” Vinnie says. “Holly is Mr. and Mrs. Weeks’ daughter. She’s been going to school in New York and just moved back after graduating.” Vinnie gets this look on his face.

We all stare at him.

“What?” he says, fingers drumming away on the table.

I ask, “What happened to Hayden?”

Vinnie thought for sure he’d met the love of his life in Colorado. He couldn’t stop talking about how perfect and wonderful Hayden was. That’s the thing about Vinnie. The man has a huge heart and wears it on his sleeve for everyone to see.

He takes a deep breath and says, “Last I heard, she’s doing great but isn’t too focused on dating at the moment.” He sips his drink. “Now enough about me. What’s this I hear about Sutton throwing her hat in the dating ring?”

Every time I hear it, I feel a punch to my heart. I haven’t found the words to broach the topic with her yet. Not that it would matter much, figuring we’re still radio silent.

I know I should, but with everything going on for her at work, I don’t want to rock her boat any more than it already is. And I’m afraid if I do, I’ll ruin the small progress we are making.

Luke sits back, resting his foot across his thigh. “Hunter, I mean this in the nicest way possible, but when are you going to stop dicking around and ask her out?”

“That’s what I told him yesterday,” Chris says, appearing out of nowhere.

I try to hide my flinch, not used to being caught off guard. I really need to figure everything out with Sutton and get my head on straight. My entire career depends on my observational skills, which have been foggy since Sutton and I shared that moment in the hotel room.

Chris walks to the back of the diner and kisses his grandma Betty’s cheek. Betty, the owner and namesake of the diner, pats his hand and sends him to our table.

“I’m working on whatever it is between Sutton and me, okay?” I say.

“Bro.” Adam levels me with a stare. “You haven’t been working on shit when it comes to that woman except playing the role of boyfriend without actually being her boyfriend.”

Forks screech across plates, and an “oh shit” sounds somewhere nearby.

Each word hits me square in the chest.

“He’s not wrong,” Luke says, and the others nod with him. “Look, I love my sister. She’s one of the greatest women in my life. But even I can see that she uses you as some kind of emotional support blanket. At some point, y’all need to either decide to be together or you need to allow yourself to actually find someone who wants to be found.”

Heat crawls up the back of my neck.

Luke doesn’t mean anything by it. I’m sure if he knew the truth about what Sutton has been dealing with these last six years, he might have chosen more delicate words.

But deep down, I also know there’s truth to it.

Sutton and I have always treated each other as confidants. When her dad got sick and her relationship wasn’t going well, she depended on me as an emotional partner even more.

Then, in a matter of weeks, her entire life imploded.

I wasn’t about to let her drift endlessly in an ocean of pain and grief, so I became her anchor. Someone she could tell everything to, who would listen and be there when she needed it.

I guess I never imagined that might be all I’d ever be for her.

“Like I said yesterday,” Chris says, reaching across the table for the syrup, “it’s now or never.”

Just then, a dispatch from Luke’s radio breaks through the din of the restaurant. Luke, Adam, and Vinnie drop everything, grab their coats, and head to the fire truck parked outside.

“Put it on our tab, Betty,” Luke says.