Satisfaction Guaranteed(50)

I shake my head adamantly. “It’s not going.”

Herb frowns like that’s confusing. “Hold on. Is this the sweatshirt woman? You guys looked like you were together when we last saw you.”

Truly jumps in, squeezing my arm, trying to deflect. “How about them Yankees?”

Subtle. But I choke out a mirthless laugh and answer my buddy. “We had a short fling. Her dad is my business partner. We work together in close quarters. End of story. It’s not going to work.”

Harper leans across the table and puts a hand on my forehead. “Yes, you do have a temperature.”

Charlotte studies me quizzically. “But you love her, so why aren’t you going after her?”

I cock my head to give her a sideways stare. “Did I say I loved her?”

She rolls her eyes. “It’s obvious.”

Olivia nods. “It was certainly obvious when we saw you. You absolutely do need to go after her.”

“Didn’t you guys hear what I just said? There are a ton of issues in the way. We work together every day. I have employees to supervise. Her dad is my business partner,” I emphasize once again. “Hell, the man told me she was off-limits more than once.”

Jason leans forward, giving me a hard stare. “Let’s be honest—you’ve never been this sullen before over a woman. You’ve broken up with others and been more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Maybe it’s worth taking a good look at all those issues.” He sketches air quotes. “Are they truly still relative? Is she really still off-limits, seven years later, after all you’ve proven to Doug?”

Nick coughs and points his thumb at Harper. “I fell for my best friend’s sister. We figured it out.”

Spencer drapes his arm around his lovely wife. “We own a bar together. And we were best friends. Yet we still made it work.”

Charlotte leans her head against his cheek. “You forgot to mention that you were a total playboy too.”

He drops a kiss to her forehead. “I forgot to mention it because I’ve completely forgotten any part of my life that existed before you.”

Herb laughs. “Good answer, man.” He turns to me. “Our story is simpler. We dug each other from the start, and we didn’t let anything stand in the way.”

Olivia points at me. “Maybe that’s what you should be doing.”

But that’s easy for them to say when they’re here on the other side of their love stories. Whereas I bet there’s a bar somewhere in this city, full of guys and gals who could tell tales just like mine.

The ones that don’t have such happy endings.





43





Sloane Elizabeth’s Texts

Sloane: I’m miserable.



Piper: I know, hon.



Sloane: What do I do? What would you tell one of your clients in my situation?



Piper: Well, I’m a wedding planner, not a couples counselor. And usually my brides have already resolved their issues.



Sloane: I know that! Back it up to before they resolve it. Pretend you’re giving advice, since I KNOW they ask you for it. :)



Piper: I would tell them what I’m about to tell you.



Sloane: And that is?



Piper: Go get your happily ever after, bitch!



Sloane: Enough said.





44





A few days later, I finish jujitsu, exhausted, muscles aching, but at the top of my form.

Jason glances at my sister as the three of us leave, heading down the block. “Should we tell him?”

I arch an eyebrow. “Tell me what?”

“We had the tournament this weekend. We talked about you,” Truly says.

I stop to face them. “How was the tournament?”

“I won,” they both say in unison.

“Congrats.”

“But listen, here’s the thing,” Jason says, patting me on the chest. “We need you to get your shit together.”

“Yeah, tell me something I don’t know,” I say drily.

He shakes his head. “You don’t get it. The problem is, you’re too good.”

Truly chimes in. “You sing better now than you did before things ended with Sloane.”

Jason takes his turn. “You play softball better than anyone now.”

Truly swings once more. “And you’re better at jujitsu than you’ve ever been. It’s just not fair. You were already great at all those things beforehand, and you aren’t allowed to be astronomically better now that you’ve been pummeled by love.”

Jason waves in the general direction of the rest of Manhattan. “We need you to become human again. You’re making all of us look bad with your excellence, even if it benefits us as your teammates. We don’t care. Because it’s not benefiting you. Go resolve your stuff with your woman.”

I sigh, wishing it were that simple. “How do you want me to do that?”

Truly parks her hands on her hips. “That’s up to you, but do it, and do it soon. I need to kick your ass in class again.”

But I don’t know how the hell I’m supposed to be “ass-kickable” again. I don’t have any answers.