“How are things with Mel?” I asked Chad as he brought us our food. Though it still surprised me that he had a girlfriend, the knowledge wasn’t a gut punch anymore. For some reason, being on a date myself helped me feel in a better mental space to ask him about her.
He straightened, using his big paw to steal a fry off my plate before I could swat his hand away. “Pretty good.”
And then he grunted and walked back to the kitchen.
“Big talker, huh?”
I looked up at Easton’s smile. “That was actually quite a few words for him. I learned a lot.”
I couldn’t help but think Jake would be proud of me on this date. I laughed at normal times. I didn’t bring up any of my single friends. Easton was naturally flirty and confident, easing me into the date with his friendly nature. When his foot brushed against mine under the table, I left it there for ten whole seconds before I moved. His foot placement felt pointed, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.
On our way out of the restaurant, after Easton left a generous tip, Chad called me over. His piercing stare stopped my date in his tracks by the door, and he seemed to understand at a very manly level that Chad only wanted to speak to me. I made my way back behind the long counter where Chad stood over the stove, cooking burgers.
“Where’s Evans?”
My brow furrowed. “Huh?
He spoke more slowly. “Where’s Jake? Why are you here with that guy?”
Confusion and words came out in sputters. “I’m not… Jake isn’t my— We’re just friends. I’m on a date.” Obviously, being my brother, he knew Jake, but being nine years younger than Chad meant that, growing up, he had paid as much attention to us as a fly. Chad talking about Jake like a full-grown manstartled me, but the way he was implying that Jake should be here for some reason sent my stomach fluttering.
“You’re still not dating?”
My mouth dropped. “What are you talking about? We’ve always just been friends.”
I stood there transfixed as Chad’s lips underneath the beard turned into a wide smile. I was happy to note that he did appear to brush and floss regularly; his teeth were pearly white. That gave me hope for the rest of his hygiene habits. His new girlfriend had done wonders for him.
“Friends my butt. Stop messing around and bring him here next time as your date.”
“Chad—” I began, stepping forward. “What in the?—”
He pointed to Easton, standing awkwardly by the door, who startled as he looked up and saw Chad’s finger leveled at him. “You were stiff as a board talking with him all night.”
Dang it. I thought I’d been doing pretty well. “That’s just who I am. It’s a first date!”
Chad slapped a patty of raw meat on the grill. “Last date. Evans needs his head pulled out of the cow turds. Go do that, and then get on with it.”
“Not gonna happen, I promise. He doesn’t feel that way about me.”
“Do you?”
Maybe it was my brother’s intense gaze directed at me that made me fumble over my reaction. I could definitely see why people in this town were scared of him. He was a bear. But I could remember him sitting by me as a young seven-year-old, petting our newborn kittens and playing with me in his tree fort. Inside, he was a softie. Except now, of course. He was very intimidating, which made my reaction become a mixture of over-the-top denial mixed with incredulous scoffs.
“I knew it,” he said.
“No. You caught me off guard. This is JAKE. We don’t…”
“Then why can’t I get him to shut up about you every time he comes in? He even made me stream one of your games on my TV in here a few years back.”
“Wait. You didn’t already have my games on?”
“He likes you more than I do, that’s for sure.”
Before I could retort, Chad waved me out the door. “Get out of here, runt. I got work to do. Make sure that guy opens your doors and takes you home. Then go knock some sense into Evans.”
So…a conversation like that can really set a girl back.
The rest of my night became noise. A blur of random thoughts. Easton taking me for ice cream. The idea of Jake forcing all the patrons in Chad’s restaurant to watch an obscure Montana college girls' basketball team. Easton making a joke that wasn’t very funny. Me laughing five seconds too late when I realized he’d attempted said joke. Easton parking his car down our little Main Street in Eugene to go for a walk. Me imagining Jake bringing me up in conversation. Easton talking about how quaint this town was. Me thinking about Jake making fun of a guy for using a word like “quaint.” Me getting after Jake for stereotyping people but waiting for Jake to look over and grin at me. Easton opening my car door. Me thinking about how Jake opened every door for me my entire life. Easton driving me back to the ranch. Me being worried that Jake would be able to read my thoughts the next time I saw him. Easton walking me to my door. Me trying to determine if it was Jake I could see in the shadows on his porch.