“Nothin’,” Hap muttered. “I’m gonna go to the beach and pass the ball with the boys.”
“No you’re not, Hap, you’re gonna come with me,” I told him and his eyes came back to me.
“Kia, babe, I said no.”
“And I say you owe her this,” I returned then got close. “I get you, honey, I get the war you’re waging within but there’s a woman waiting for you, she cares about you, you care about her and even just as friends, after what happened, you owe her this.”
Hap glared at me.
Sam semi-repeated, “What the fuck is goin’ on?”
I ignored my husband and endured Hap’s glare.
Then Hap muttered, “Fuck,” and stomped around me toward the walkway.
I started to follow him.
“Kia, baby,” Sam called, I looked over my shoulder and called back, “Explain in a minute, honey.”
Sam looked displeased.
I ignored that (kind of) and hurried after Hap.
I caught up halfway down the walkway and I knew I was right to agree to Luci’s demand when I saw her standing in the drive wearing her heart right on her sleeve.
Oh God. I hoped this worked out right however that right would be.
“Luc, babe, this is not –” Hap started immediately when he stopped three feet from her but I put my hand up and interrupted.
“Nope, no,” I stated then looked between a stony-faced Hap and an unhappy, visibly scared Luci. “Ground rules,” I declared and looked at Luci. “I love you. He loves you.” I jerked a thumb at Hap. “Sam loves you. And Sam told me once no matter how beautiful you are, Luci, and how Luci you are, he would never go there. Never. Because of Gordo. And he meant it, sweetie. It wasn’t an option and if that’s what Hap tells you now, you need to deal with it, process it and accept it. For Hap. And then you have to find it inside you to move on with him in your life the way he used to be.”
The tears started shimmering in her eyes again and when she opened her mouth to speak, I turned to Hap.
“And you,” I began. “You only have this life and the woman who’s standing here right now goes to bed thinking of you, she wakes up thinking of you, she thinks you’re handsome, a good kisser, gentle and you make her laugh. Travis Gordon was a good man and I know you loved him. But do not do something right now that you’re going to regret for the rest of your life because you’re intent on honoring the memory of a dead man. Or because you might be worried about what your buddies might think. Regret is the worst feeling you can feel and that would be compounded knowing the decision you’re about to make will make someone you love feel the same for the rest of hers.”
Hap stared at me, face still stony, jaw still hard but his eyes were heated and I knew I got in there.
Just a little bit.
My work was done.
“All right,” I finished. “This conversation is between the two of you. Have it. Make your decisions based on that and that alone. Whatever happens next, nothing changes for anyone else except you two.” I sucked in breath then ordered, “Commence.”
Then, without looking at either of them, I walked away.
I saw Sam standing at the top of the walkway, arms crossed on his chest, feet planted, eyes on me, face a little bit scary.
I got close to him and instantly tried to push him to the deck.
“What the fuck?” he asked, staying planted, solid, not budging an inch.
I gave up and told him, “Luci and Hap need some privacy.”
Sam’s more than a little bit scary eyes tipped down to me.
“Again, baby, what… the… fuck?”
“Sam –” I started.
“Talk,” he bit off.
“They’re in love,” I whispered and Sam blinked.
Then he declared, “They are fuckin’ not.”
Oh man.
“Yes, honey, they are.”
“They are not.”
“Sam!” I snapped.
“Hap would not do that to Gordo,” Sam announced.
“Sometimes, shit happens,” I said gently.
“Hap… would not… do that… to Gordo,” Sam stated definitively.
I sucked in breath.
Then I whispered, “Gordo’s not here, honey.”
Sam scowled at me then his eyes cut down the walk. I turned to stand by his side and started biting my lip.
Hap had his arms crossed on his chest, legs planted just like Sam making it appear like Sam was right.
Luci was looking beautiful and gorgeously beseeching, leaning into Hap, her fingers curled on his forearm making me hope Luci could pull this off.
Hap shook his head.
Okay, shit, maybe Luci couldn’t pull this off.
Luci leaned closer and said something.
Hap’s body went visibly still and he shook his head again.
Crap.
Even from a distance, I saw a tear fall from Luci’s eye as she said something else.
Oh God.
Hap shook his head again.
Oh God!
Luci stared at him. Then she nodded and stepped away. Then my heart squeezed as she studied him a half a second, turned on her foot and ran away.
“Fuck,” Sam whispered.
I stopped breathing.
Hap didn’t move.
I forced myself to breathe.
Hap still didn’t move.