Redemption(16)

The instant we stepped into the restaurant, even in the mob of people waiting for a table, I knew exactly which couple were Dan’s best friends. I tossed my head back and laughed. My long hair brushed my arms as I brought it back up. Dan leaned down to ask if I was all right.

“Holy crap, Dan. They’re the spitting image of the two of us, only she has brown hair to my red.” Right down to her concert t-shirt and Doc Martens. She was adorable, and I knew instantly I wanted to be her friend. All of my nerves subsided, and suddenly I couldn’t wait to have a comrade in a city where I knew no one.

Annie was gorgeous, but what made her stand out was the fact she clearly didn’t know it. Her makeup was understated and flawless, her thin frame perfectly matched her height, and she had fuck-me hair. I’d thought I’d been blessed with great tresses, but that girl had me beat with long, thick loose curls that looked natural. I took them in as Dan approached his friends.

Annie noticed us before Brett, and she tapped her husband on the forearm. When she glanced up at him, he was several inches taller than she was, I saw it. Everything Dan had said existed between the two of them was right there on display. She was hopelessly in love with her husband, and the smile that spread across his face when he met her eyes said he loved her even more. Dan was right—they were sickeningly sweet. But if that were true, then so was everything else he’d said about them. A small piece of my heart did a happy dance at the notion I might have a family again—Dan might give that to me in this little group. I couldn’t dwell on it, or I’d get choked up, and crying in front of people I’d just met probably wouldn’t endear me to them.

Brett turned in the direction of Annie’s finger. The smile of love he had for his wife was replaced with one for this best friend. They were more to each other than just buddies.

“Hey, man. Glad you two finally showed up. This place is packed.” His eyes gleamed as he talked. The tone of his voice told me tons about him. He was a naturally optimistic person, fun-loving, but I’d bet my violin he’d kill to protect the woman on his arm.

“Hey, guys. This is Lissa.” He dropped my hand to secure my waist. “Lissa, this is my best friend Brett and his better half, Annie. We aren’t sure how he got her to accept his hand in marriage, but we’re grateful all the same. Now she’s legally tied to us.”

Us. He used the term to describe Brett and himself. Dan considered Annie just as big a part of his life as he did his friend’s—she was his family just as much as Brett.

I gave them a little wave and a meek hello but offered a large smile.

“Lissa, I love your shirt. I have a pair of Docs the same color. You’ll have to borrow them sometime…or let me borrow your shirt.” She stepped up to me, letting go of her husband.

Dan stepped aside to catch up on the last six hours he hadn’t been with Brett at work. I could hear them talking shop in the background and couldn’t believe how happy it made me to hear him interacting with Brett. Something in his tone, the way he regarded his friend. The more I listened, the more he confirmed just how genuine he truly was.

“Sorry, we were late. Dan kind of sprung this on me, and I had to go home to change.”

Her face scrunched up. “Oh no. You guys didn’t have plans, did you?”

“You’re kidding, right? Dan doesn’t make plans. Nor does he ask if anyone else has plans. He shows up and just takes the time he wants.” My grin was animated, and my whole face smiled. She knew I was being honest but could tell I was okay with his approach too.

Her giggle was infectious. “Doesn’t surprise me at all. He’s never been one to date, and women tend to flock to him. If you’ve put up any sort of resistance, or hell, not chased him down, then I’m sure he’s confused.”

“I haven’t been playing games with him.” I didn’t want her to get the wrong impression.

“Oh no, I didn’t mean that. I just know how Dan is. He’s like all men—they want what they can’t have, something hard to obtain. Especially the competitive ones. And trust me, Brett and Dan are cut from the same cloth. The only thing that separates them from being twins is their DNA. It’s uncanny how similar they are.”

Not knowing how to proceed with this conversation, I tried to change the subject casually. “So, what do you do for a living?”

“I’m a consultant. Companies hire me to come into failing or struggling businesses to assess their issues. Sometimes I create team building programs, others there’s a safety issue, at times it’s a moral issue, but whatever it is, my job is to identify it, create a plan to fix it, and then implement that plan. My staff then trains the management at that facility on how to keep it in place. Pretty boring stuff.” It didn’t sound boring, but what did I know. “You?”

“I’m a Professor at Furman. I teach music.”

“Oh yeah? I assume that means you’re a musician?”

“I play, yes. Primarily piano and violin.”

“Don’t let Dr. Jackson fool you. I heard her play today with her students, and she’d blow you away.” Dan beamed with pride that made my heart swell.

“You’re a doctor?”

“Ph.D. not MD. But yeah.” I could tell by talking to Annie she was just as smart as I was, regardless of whether or not she had the advanced degree to prove it.