Doing It Over (Most Likely To #1)(43)

“Yeah,” he said without checking the number.

Loud voices and music in the background met his ear, which prompted Wyatt to turn the volume down on his TV.

“Wyatt!”

One word was all it took to know Luke was toasted. “Luke, that you?”

“I-I’m gonna need a ride, buddy.”

“Where are you?”

“Jo would kill m-me if I drove. Probably toss the key in the high school time capsule.”

Wyatt switched off the set. No use pretending there’d be any stationary time in front of it with his friend slurring his words.

“Luke, it’s not even eight.” And it wasn’t like his friend to get cooked, let alone midweek.

“And bring your truck so I can get my bike back home.”

“All I own is a truck,” Wyatt reminded him.

“R-right! Thanks, Wyatt. I owe ya.” And then he hung up.

Good thing there was only one real bar in town. The beer and wine served at Sam’s wouldn’t do the bang-up job Luke had apparently managed.

For an early Thursday night, R&B’s was tight with people. Sure enough, Luke’s motorcycle sat parked in the lot along with several others.

Wyatt shoved his keys in the front pocket of his jeans as he walked inside.

The jukebox was pumping out a seriously heavy metal tune with an ear-piercing volume, and patrons were overly loud and intoxicated for such an early hour.

Apparently the post-reunion party wasn’t over yet.

Luke caught sight of him from across the room and waved him over.

“Is this place crazy or what?” Luke asked.

“I thought it would thin out after everyone left.”

Luke held his glass of amber liquid and waved it around. “Not everyone left. Some people actually like it here.” There was bitterness in Luke’s tone.

Josie slid by their table and nodded toward Wyatt. “You driving this one home?”

“That’s the plan.”

Josie patted her hand on the table. “Then I guess I can get you another drink.”

From the glossy eyes and less than steady hand, Wyatt considered suggesting Luke switch to coffee, but he held in his words. There was only one thing that drove a man to this level of drunkenness.

Women.

He wasn’t sure if he should bring up the elephant in the room or leave the fact that Zoe had flown out the day before unsaid.

Wyatt asked Josie for a beer . . . something to nurse while he listened to what he was sure was going to be a slurred, enlightening conversation about the opposite sex.

“What is up with all the bikers in here tonight?” Wyatt asked after taking a seat.

“Couldn’t tell ya. Maybe some kind of rally up the coast.”

That sounded about right, only those usually happened closer to the end of summer when the weather in California became unbearable and the north looked more appealing for those driving with two wheels and no doors.

Most of the time, the bike rallies consisted of middle-aged businessmen wearing black leather and revisiting their younger days. This crowed looked a little less like lawyers and doctors and a little more like the real thing. Hence the out of place timing for the up the coast drive. Then again, who knew?

Josie brought their drinks and put a big glass of water next to Luke’s whiskey. “In case you think hydration might be a good idea for the morning,” she said with a wink.

“Oh, baby . . . you’re so thoughtful.”

Josie rolled her eyes. “I just don’t wanna hear about your puking in Wyatt’s truck.” She glanced at Wyatt. “It is a nice truck.”

Wyatt laughed. “Thanks, Josie.”

“Hey, lady . . . we need another round,” one of the leather wearing strangers called over the music to capture Josie’s attention.

She rolled her eyes. “It’s going to be a long night.”

Before Wyatt could process the energy in the room, Luke started in. “The problem with women . . .” His words trailed off.

“Boobs?” Wyatt joked in an effort to keep the conversation light.

Luke lost his train of thought, Wyatt could tell by the sliding up of the edges of his mouth. “She has the best rack. And that red dress.” He again pointed with his drink. “She knows I loved her in red.”

“So we’re clear . . . tonight’s lack of sobriety is about Zoe.”

There was a sigh and a sip of his drink. “She left again. I thought maybe, with Mel coming home . . . maybe. Damn it.”

Wyatt let Luke linger in his depression for a few minutes. “Seems like there is a lot of drama here for her. Her family . . .”

“I wanna kick Zane’s ass.”

Good thing Luke’s father had ridden with them that day. No telling what shape Zane and Luke would have been in had he not. “We all wanted to kick his ass.”

“He wasn’t like that. Jo says he’s been in and out of trouble. Petty shit mostly, but damn. Sheryl doesn’t need that.”

“She can kick him out.”

Luke shook his head. “Never gonna happen. Zoe always said her mom was afraid to live alone. That’s why she always put up with her daddy’s shit. I don’t think any of that has changed.”

“Well maybe that’s why Zoe needs to live somewhere other than River Bend.”