His eyes grew large as I talked about my idea. He grinned as he picked up the phone.
16
KENNY
“Thanks for grabbing a drink with me. I’m so stressed out about everything, and there’s not much I can do.” I swirled my bourbon in the glass. The smell of its sweet odor was a salve to my frazzled nerves.
“My pleasure.” Lisa groaned as she stared at her frothy pink cosmo. “It’s not like I have a life, anyway. If it wasn’t for you, I don’t know what I’d do. How did most of our friends get married and have children while we were at college? I’m sick of being the third wheel – or worse, Aunt Lisa. I fucking hate children.”
“Then you went into the right profession.” I snickered.
“Hey, they may be assholes, but our kids can at least tie their shoelaces, unlike my own.” She huffed and stared at her drink harder.
“Most of them, anyway.”
“I sound like a bitch, don’t I?” She looked up and frowned.
“No. You sound bored and lonely. We have to find you a boyfriend. In the new year, that will be my goal.”
She laughed, and it sounded evil. “Good luck. I’m not dating any of these losers. I need the school to hire a handsome librarian from out of state. I don’t want to talk about pick-up trucks, country music, or hunting. So that means my choices are grim.”
“There are lots of good guys in the area. I mean, Hardin might not have a lot of choices that you don’t already know, but Moray should be a great place for you to fish. You know, cast your line and see what nibbles?”
“Mmm… I’d like to be nibbled. I was surprised you wanted to grab a drink. I figured you’d be all naked with Jax by now.” She leaned back and crossed her arms.
“I left him a message, but he hasn’t gotten back to me yet. Must be doing something with his mom or something.”
“Maybe he’s planning a romantic proposal?”
“Oh, God, stop. I don’t think we’re there yet. I mean, it’s barely been three days. Neither Jax nor I, move that fast.” I laughed. “But I am surprised I haven’t heard back from him yet. Not even a text. The Jax I knew usually got back to me pretty fast.”
“Well, I’m sure he’s fine. I mean, we could finish this drink and go knock on his door. That is, if you don’t mind having your gay fairy princess with you guys for a bit. I’m bored…” she whined. “Can I please hang out with the two hottest men in town? Please?”
I reached over and patted her hand and realized while I was doing it how condescending it was. Lisa was my bestest friend in the entire world, and she deserved to be my focus right now. I hadn’t realized how lonely she was.
“Of course. I’m sure Jax would love to get to actually have some time with you. He always loved you.”
“I know.” She shook her head and looked down at her drink again. “I feel a little bad that I didn’t try to stay in touch with him after you two… Well, you know. But I didn’t, because I chose you. I’ll always choose you, even if you are one of the worst gay men I’ve ever met. I can’t believe you have no interest in Real Housewives or Drag Race. I mean, seriously?”
“Not all gay men are catty or even like it.”
“God! I know that, Kenny. I just wish you were a little gayer.” She whined.
“I just had sex with a man. I think that’s really all it takes.”
“Touché. Of course, I’ve watched a lot of gay-for-pay porn in my life. So that’s not really the modern definition anymore.”
“I like it and don’t get paid.”
She giggled. “Fine, gay boy. Down the hatch, and let’s go knock on hottie’s door. I need to be the cheese between a himbo sandwich.”
“I am not a himbo.”
“Honey, if the shoe fits… You might not be all muscle, gym bunny, like Jax – but you are hotter than a chili pepper, and you know it. Now, down it.” Lisa pressed her pink nail into my arm.
We both made faces as we sucked back the cocktail quickly. She giggled as she crawled into my car, excited at having a bit of an adventure. I’d have to make sure she started having some now that I knew she wasn’t happy. I’d take her to Moray, which was only fifteen minutes away from us, and help her find a cute professor to start dating. Lisa was a catch, and every straight man noticed when she walked anywhere.
Now that I found Jax again, I needed to make sure that she found her happily ever after, too.
