“All in one place,” JJ teased. “I’m assumin’ they’ve got law enforcement on the lookout.”
“Hey, I resemble that remark,” Zane called from the back, earning himself a direct greeting from JJ.
“You’re one to talk,” Sawyer noted. “You’re the one named after an outlaw.”
JJ grinned. “That outlaw’s got nothin’ on me,” she noted, turning her attention back to Brantley and giving him a good once-over.
And just like that, everyone seemed to be finished, ready to head home for the night. After some pats on the back, promises to check with him later, the rest of them filed out of the restaurant, leaving the two of them standing in the nearly empty restaurant.
“You meetin’ someone?” he inquired, taking in her attire, which included a pair of painted-on jeans and a black, sleeveless silk shirt that showed off her toned arms and a hint of cleavage. Clearly she’d gotten dressed up for someone’s benefit tonight.
“Actually, I just finished.”
Brantley glanced around, looking for whoever she’d come with.
“It’s IHOP, Brantley. The guy brought me here for our first date.” She flashed a bright white grin, showing off that crooked incisor that gave her mouth some character. “And last, might I add.”
A waitress chose that moment to come over, snagging the check from the table.
“Any chance we could sit at a smaller table?” Brantley asked.
“Of course. Take your pick. Can I get you something?”
“Two coffees,” JJ told her, then led the way to a booth. “I heard you were back,” she said as she sat across from him. “Been plannin’ to drop in, force you to see me.”
“You wouldn’t have to force me, JJ.”
“No?” Her perfectly plucked brows lifted as she leaned forward, her light green eyes skeptical. “Then why the fuck haven’t you called me yet?”
Brantley had expected no less from the girl he’d come to love like family.
“Sorry,” she said, patting his hand. “Had to get that out there. Now that it is, we’ll pretend I didn’t say it.”
Grinning, he gave her hand a squeeze. “How’re your parents doin’?”
“Good. My mom’s retiring next year. Dad’s excited. They want to travel the world.”
“Do they?”
“Yep. Figure it’s time they got out of here.” Her smile fell. “Too many memories, you know?”
Yeah. Brantley knew. He knew all too well.
Nine years ago, Jessie’s brother had taken his own life. Jeremy had overdosed on pills. Jessie’s dad had found him two days later when Jeremy hadn’t shown up for lunch when he’d promised he would. Not more than a year before that, Jeremy had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which hadn’t surprised his family. Not the way it had Brantley. He hadn’t suspected Jeremy was depressed, but looking back, he wasn’t sure how he’d missed it. Sometimes he wondered if that was the reason Jeremy had ended things with him so abruptly right after he’d enlisted. One minute they’d been talking about doing the long-distance thing, the next, Jeremy had insisted it wouldn’t work and that they both needed to move on with their lives.
Truth was, Jeremy James was the only man Brantley had ever thought he’d loved, the one he’d actually imagined himself spending his life with. Of course, knowing now what he didn’t know then, Brantley recognized it as lust, not love. But he tried not to think about it, not wanting to diminish the memories.
The waitress delivered their coffee, passing over tiny tubs of cream before disappearing once again.
“So, what’re you up to these days?” JJ inquired.
“Little to nothing,” he admitted.
“Well, why the hell not? I figured you for the kind who’d blaze a trail after he left the military in his dust.”
Brantley offered a shrug, then found his coffee cup interesting.
“As much as I want to coddle you, B, you know I won’t do it,” she said softly.
That pulled a grin from him. “I know. And I appreciate it.”
Her gaze swept over his face before she smiled brightly. “So. You still into dudes?”
He laughed, couldn’t help it. “Yeah. I’d say that’s probably the only thing that hasn’t changed about me.”
She seemed to consider this. “Figures. Hottest guy in town’s gay.”
JJ had always given him shit about it. One time, she’d even made him promise that if he ever switched teams, he’d let her know so she could throw her hat in the ring. Of course, she was kidding, though she had copped to having a crush on him when they’d been in high school. He’d known and pretended he hadn’t. It was easier that way and it had worked in his favor because that high school crush of hers had turned into a lifetime friendship, one they’d maintained even while he’d been gone. As for why he hadn’t reached out to her since he’d been back … Brantley didn’t have an answer for that.
“Okay. So.” JJ took a sip of coffee, set the cup down. “Now that you’re back and you’re officially out of hiding, I think it’s time we got you acclimated to bein’ here.”
