Page 4 of Now and Then

Easton gives a broad smile under the barrier of my hand as something wet spreads along my palm.

I yank my hand away. “EW! Did you just lick me?!”

This time, there’s no muffling his boisterous laugh. “Oh man, I can’t believe I’m sitting at the bar with the infamous Sutton Bradley.”

“Infamous?”

“Oh yeah. That man back there?” He gestures his thumb over his shoulder toward Hunter. “When we were in college, I don’t think he went more than twenty minutes without mentioning your name.”

“Here you both go.” Joe slides our glasses across the bar to our waiting hands.

Caught off guard, my hand hovers over the glass. My cheeks heat up, and my stomach flips, butterflies shooting up again. I can’t help but glance toward Hunter. Hunter used to talk about me? Even in college? Did he have feelings for me then too?

“So.” Easton holds his glass toward me. “What should we celebrate?”

I try to contain my eye roll. Of course this guy loves to cheers. “You pick.”

“To life and new friends.” He taps his glass to mine.

“Cheers.” I toss the smooth liquid down in one go.

I know I shouldn’t look. I know I’m only going to torture myself. But I do it anyway.

They’re still in the corner booth. Hunter looks handsome as per usual. I vaguely recognize the woman, a coworker of his, from the few times I’ve stopped by the police station, but her name escapes me.

Maybe it’s a work thing.

Maybe it’s a date.

Maybe I should be okay seeing him with other women.

Maybe the bulldozer currently running over my heart could calm down.

Maybe I should just tell him that I’ve been in love with him for most of my life.

“So, what brings you out tonight?” Easton asks.

“Oh, you know.” I shrug. “Life. What about you?”

“We’ll just pretend you answered that question.” He laughs. “I’m here visiting and was supposed to meet someone.”

“Supposed to?”

He waves his phone back and forth. “Yep, but I got stood up.”

“Where’d you meet her?” I lean closer to him, bracing my forearms on the bar’s edge.

“Promise not to judge?” He turns his face toward me, the dejection clear as day.

I nod.

“Find Love.”

“Nothing wrong with a dating app,” I say. “How long have you two been talking?”

“Weeks,” he says. “All day, every day.” Easton goes on to tell me more about the woman, his voice taking on a dreamy sound the more he talks.

I sigh. I remember those days filled with texts and phone calls and voice memos, each one making your heart sing with excitement that maybe they’re the one. I haven’t gotten to experience that in years. Unless I count Hunter. But, no—I can’t go there. He’s my best friend, and we’ve already crossed so many lines that can’t be uncrossed the last few months. I can’t risk losing him by changing what we are.