“Stop it,” TJ sneered. “You’re not ruining anything, but when I get phone calls from event planners telling me that maybe you should hand out condoms with your samples, and that fathers are pissed off, then maybe it’s time to come together and reevaluate.”
Jake’s jaw clenched and his arms flexed. He would never hit his friend, but damn, if he didn’t feel like upending the desk sitting between them. Yes, he was being an ass. He never acted like this, but everything felt oppressive and infuriating right now. Lashing out felt like the only way to handle the anger and humiliation he was feeling.
“Before you get pissed off at me, remember, I’m on your side here,” TJ said. Some nerve he had. “But this is a business and we need to act accordingly. If someone calls us on something, we need to fix it. Especially when it comes to how we appear online and act in public. This is a company run by men and a product mainly consumed by men, and we can’t let it look like we promote treating women as objects. Especially when we have the wedding side to consider.”
“You can’t be serious. I always treat women with respect and you damn well know it.”
TJ sighed. “It doesn’t matter what I know, Jake. Perception is reality. So far we’ve gotten away with this, but it could backfire if we don’t change it.”
Jake stood up, nearly lost for words. He was heading for the door—ignoring TJ’s request for him to sit back down—when he stopped and turned around. “You know what, fuck you, TJ. You and your pompous, rich ass. You think you’re too good for everyone’s bullshit. It’s clear now that you think I’m just the dumbass who posts pictures on Facebook and updates the website. Any idiot could do that, right? Actually, you don’t even think I’ve handled that correctly.”
“Wrong. Stop being a defensive asshole and let’s figure this out.” TJ was now standing, too, hands on hips.
“Figure this out yourself. If I’m a liability, I’ll step out. I won’t even make you say it.”
He walked out before he said something else he’d regret. Heading through the main room, his eyes glanced toward Jen, who he could tell was trying not to make eye contact. She’d probably heard most of it, and no doubt the entire thing had already served as pillow talk.
“Later, Jen,” he said as he pushed the door open and headed back to his Jeep.
There was nothing he hated more than being made to look or feel stupid. As an adult he thought he’d put that feeling behind him. In school he’d had to be in the special class that got extra help. Sometimes there was even a para in his classes to assist him if needed. It was humiliating, and his brother had given him shit over it constantly.
For it to now come from his best friend was too much to handle. He and TJ had known each other since Little League, and because they’d gone to separate schools, he’d relished the fact that he’d finally been able to feel equal to a peer. They’d both been really good at sports, so they’d had a lot in common. Still did, until recently, but now TJ was obsessed with Jen. Had been for nearly the past year since they’d finally hooked up. And it wasn’t that Jake wasn’t happy for him—hell, he’d encouraged it since he’d known about his friend’s crush for years. But now that everyone was hooking up and settling down but him, he was starting to feel like the third wheel of their business. This conversation just solidified it.
He was jealous.
Insecure. And tired of being seen as the playboy, which was obviously no longer even an option. Getting in his Jeep, he decided maybe he just needed to go back to bed.
Three
Day 406
I’d been doing so well before I left Italy, but lately I’ve felt like I regressed. Being in Dean and Charlotte’s house is becoming suffocating. They’re so happy. And I’m happy for them. But I wasn’t prepared for how it would make me feel to constantly witness a couple like this. I know this is an acceptable feeling and this situation is temporary, but I really wish I had a place of my own for the next three months. One positive, Charlotte makes the most amazing coffee using a milk frother. Sometimes it’s the little things. Today I plan to feel more content.
Alex closed her journal on the words and placed it carefully on her bedside table, the same as she’d done nearly every day since Nate died. Sometimes she wondered if she’d ever stop keeping track of how long it had been since he passed. Would it ever cease to matter?
She’d been spending a lot of time in her room for the past five days she’d been home. It wasn’t as if she wanted to be unsocial, but there was only so much she could take. To add some variety to her life, she’d gone running every morning, spent some time over at Joel’s watching daytime television, and even met up once with a couple of friends she hadn’t seen in ages. Other than that, there wasn’t much to do. She hadn’t even done much chatting with Jake since she’d been home, and it made her realize how much she missed him.
She glanced at the clock. It was nearly eleven on a Tuesday morning. She wondered if he was busy at work. Deciding to just text him—now that they’d exchanged real numbers—she picked up her phone.
ALEX: Hey you.
JAKE: Hey.
ALEX: Feel like lunch today? Here we are in the same town and we’ve barely talked.
JAKE: True. But maybe another day. Cool?
Okay, that was weird and sort of unlike him. Not the turning her down for lunch. She had little to judge him on in that regard since they’d never even be able to make real-life plans. But just the short tone of his message was odd.
ALEX: No problem.
Sitting there on the bed, she twisted her lips, waiting to see if he’d say anything else. Finally she decided to hell with wondering.
ALEX: Everything okay?
JAKE: Yeah. Just a lot going on. You okay?
ALEX: Yes. Just tired of being at home.
JAKE: I understand. Promise we’ll do something soon.
She smiled. Then wondered if she’d sounded that desperate? Oh well, it was only Jake. No need to worry if she’d seemed weird or needy.
ALEX: Sounds good. Whenever.
Putting her phone in her pocket, she left her room and headed to the kitchen to find something to eat for lunch. On her way, Charlotte called out from her desk, which she’d temporarily moved to her and Dean’s bedroom so Alex could have her own room until she figured out what she was doing.
“Hungry?” Charlotte asked.
Alex stopped in the hallway and peeked into the bedroom. Charlotte’s desk was impressive, with two big monitors for editing photos. “Yeah, I am. I was just going to make something. Can I bring you anything?”
“I was just texting with Jen and we were going to go to Sylvia’s for lunch. Want to come? They have the most insanely delicious sandwiches. I swear we’re in there like once a week.”
Alex considered it. “Sure. That sounds good.”
“Perfect,” Charlotte said. “I’m going to save these files I have open and we’ll go.”
Alex smiled and went to wait in the living room with their little dog Fernando, whom she had quickly grown to adore. She glanced around the room, taking in the photos of Charlotte and Dean, the pillow with HELLO stitched onto it, and the bouquet of peonies on the coffee table. The home of someone happy and creative. And it was so Charlotte.
It was impossible for Alex not to love her brother’s fiancée. She was beautiful, kind, and loved Dean, which made her likable on that merit alone. She’d also helped him plan Alex and Nate’s wedding that never happened. An undertaking most women would not have considered. Sure, it probably had a lot to do with having a crush on her coplanner, but still, it was a kind gesture Alex would never forget.
Last year she and Nate had surprised everyone by announcing their intention to reenlist and spend a year in Italy. The catch was that they’d wanted to go as a married couple, so they could live in the village. Alex had gone out on a limb and asked her brother to plan their wedding so they could come home on leave, get hitched, and then fly off to Italy for a yearlong deployment honeymoon.
; Like the saint he was, Dean had accepted, and done an amazing job with Charlotte’s help. Being a wedding photographer, she’d been an amazing resource, and the two of them had done everything. Made the décor, ordered the cake and flowers, booked a DJ. The works.
Sadly, Nathan had been killed in a helicopter accident just a couple weeks before the big day. She’d only known how hard Charlotte and Dean had worked on their behalf because when she’d come home a grieving fiancée, Charlotte had gifted her a little photo album of the planning process. Dean had worried it would upset her, but it had been exactly what she’d needed at that time. An acknowledgment of how big and important their love had been, because not only had she felt robbed of him, she’d also felt robbed of being his wife. That photo album was still one of her most prized possessions.
Charlotte came out of her office. “Ready?” she asked, smiling when Fernando reached up to lick Alex’s face. “Fernie loves you.”
Alex laughed, the tiny tongue tickling her chin. “I like him too.”
After putting Fernando in his kennel, they were off. Maple Springs was not a big town, so it wasn’t ten minutes before they were being seated by the window in Sylvia’s Café on the square.
“Jen should be here in a minute. She just walks down since it’s so close,” Charlotte said, pointing at the menu. “I highly recommend the chicken avocado club, which is amazing, or the French dip, which has been my recent fav.”
Alex nodded, glancing over the menu, just as Jen came bustling over to their table. As soon as she sat down, Charlotte gave her a look.
“So, did he show up?”
“Nope,” Jen said. “I told TJ that if he doesn’t go over there today and check on him, I will. They’re all acting like toddlers.”
Charlotte rolled her eyes. “Dean seems to think he should let the two of them work this out on their own. I told him that was crap. He totally let TJ take the hit for this.”
“Not completely his fault. TJ had wanted to be the one to discuss it, thinking that since they’d always been such close friends he could soften the blow. That’s not what happened though. I felt so awful when he stormed out of there yesterday, and you know, I’m not one for feeling bad,” Jen said, pursing her lips.
Charlotte gave Jen an eyebrow raise. “Please. You act tough, but you hate to see people hurting.”
Alex had just about had enough of being out of the loop. “Hold on, what is happening here?” And she was almost afraid to find out.
Charlotte and Jen looked at her.
“Sorry, we should have filled you in.” Charlotte hunkered down and whispered as if they were discussing government secrets. “TJ had to confront Jake yesterday about some work things and it didn’t go well.”
A pit opened in Alex’s stomach. The feeling was a mixture of sadness and, strangely, defensiveness. Whatever they were about to say, she suddenly felt prepared to tell anyone off who had anything negative to say about Jake. “What was it about?”
The two other women exchanged glances before Charlotte spoke up. “So, Jake’s main role—besides being a co-owner, which they all are equally—is the marketing and publicity.”
“Right, I know that,” Alex said.
“Well, part of that involves him doing these festival tours. He travels in the Stag Wagon and gives out samples at concerts and events, and also hits up the local bar scene and such.”
“Okay, so what’s wrong with that?” Alex asked.
They were interrupted by the server, so they took the time to place their order. Alex went with the grilled chicken salad, suddenly feeling obstinate.
“So, go on,” Alex said when the server left, needing the full story even though she was suddenly tempted to just leave and head over to Jake’s house. Even if she wasn’t sure where he lived. Funny to be such good friends with a person and not know so many normal things about them. And why hadn’t he told her any of this had transpired?
“Okay, so like I said, Jake goes on these tours. And…” Charlotte hesitated, laughing a little. “You know how Jake is.”
Alex shook her head. “No … what?”
“He’s a player,” Jen filled in, not one to mince words. “He gets a lot of action on these trips. It’s kind of been a running joke. And nobody really cared.”
“Well, nobody thought much of it, until someone called and complained.” Charlotte’s eyes went wide as she said it.
Alex suddenly felt a little lightheaded. “So … he sleeps around a lot? Is that what you mean?” She’d heard the jokes over the years about Jake being the playboy of the group, but she hadn’t realized there was literal truth to it. Or maybe she’d just never cared. Did she care now? Probably just because he seemed so sweet. It didn’t match the idea of him she’d developed in her head over the past year. That was all.
“He seems pretty normal to me,” Jen said with a shrug. “What do you expect from a thirty-two-year-old man who doesn’t do relationships? He doesn’t lead women on. He just has a good time.”
“You’re right. But, apparently someone’s father caught wind,” Charlotte said.
Alex’s lips parted. “What? Was this woman an adult?”
“Oh yeah, of course. But they met at an event where her father’s company is a premium supporter.”
“Huh.” Alex really wasn’t sure what to say. Luckily the other two continued to converse.
“So, long story short,” Jen said after taking a sip of the lemonade that had just been delivered, “yesterday TJ said something to him about it and it didn’t go well.”
“What do you mean?” Alex asked.
“Jake got super defensive. Walked out pissed. I heard most of it and they both got upset, which sucks because they’ve been friends since they were like nine years old.”
“They don’t want him out of the business, do they?” The thought wrecked Alex.
“No!” Charlotte interjected. “Of course not. He’s a critical part of this company. They just need to come together and figure out how to move forward since this complaint was made.”
“It was just one complaint. What business changes things based on one complaint?” Alex countered.
“Well, yeah, just one, but they’ve known that it’s probably not ideal for Jake to be hooking up with women while he’s out promoting the brand.” Jen said, nodding at Charlotte. “We’ve talked about it. We adore Jake, and shit, I get it. He’s hot. And single. But in this day and age, you have to be careful about your social media presence. Plus, we’re really expanding the wedding side of things.”
Charlotte nodded. “Jen’s going to become the official wedding contact and planner diva. And don’t forget, now that you’re doing the Little Stag Community Theater, we really need to make sure the brand is clean and classy. Even on the road.”
Alex couldn’t help noticing the “we.” Yeah, Charlotte was Dean’s fiancée, so she had a vested interest in the company, but she was not an owner. Jake was, and she suddenly felt disloyal talking about this behind his back.
Pushing that thought aside, Alex smiled at Jen. “I forgot to congratulate you on the theater thing. That’s so exciting. Dean had sent me a clip of your Grease performance.” Which was only a tiny lie. Jake had shown her and told her all about it.
“Thanks. It’s been great. Even better than I’d hoped.”
Jen had a theater background and was also an amazing singer. When Alex had first met her several years ago, bartending at the Stag for weddings was her side gig in addition to working at Maple Springs Community Theater. About a year and a half ago, that had sadly been closed due to government funding cuts. Being the creative soul that she was, Jen had eventually presented the idea to the guys to have performances in the upstairs of the Stag. According to conversations with Jake, they’d all agreed that it was an interesting way to utilize the space that sat vacant unless there was a wedding on the weekend.
It also probably hadn’t hurt that she was dating one of the owners. But Jake had told her that it was helping them conn
ect with a demographic of the community that they may not otherwise have connected with.
“They’re even getting ready to move Jen upstairs into her own office,” Charlotte said.
“Wow,” Alex said. “That’s exciting.”
“It is. A year ago I would have never dreamed this would be what I was doing, but it’s pretty awesome. With my own office I can easily run the wedding side of things and deal with theater stuff. Which means”—Jen waggled her eyebrows at Alex—“they’re going to need to hire a new front-desk person.”
Alex’s eyes went wide. “Oh no, don’t look at me. I don’t want the job.”
“No worries. I figured you wouldn’t,” Charlotte said, chuckling. “But I promised Dean I’d throw the idea out there even though I told him you were way overqualified to work as a receptionist.” She glanced at Jen. “No offense, girl.”
“None taken,” Jen said, shrugging.
Charlotte looked back at Alex, who was stunned. “Consider the case closed.”
“Thanks,” she said. Had her brother really thought she’d want to become the Stag’s receptionist?
“Do you know what you want to do?” Jen asked.
Crap. She glanced over Charlotte’s head, praying to see the server approaching with their food. But no dice. She’d have to answer. “Yeah, actually I do.”
“What was your job in the Army?” Charlotte asked. “Dean’s told me, but I can never remember what it’s called.”
“Geospatial analyst. Or engineer. Basically, I spent a lot of time looking at maps and satellite images.”
“Can you get a normal job doing that?” Jen asked.
“Sure. Lots of places employ geospatial teams. Cable, oil, private firms. But…” she hesitated, meeting each of their eyes briefly. “Can you two keep a secret?”
Charlotte squirmed in her seat, so Alex clarified. “Just until tonight. I won’t ask you to lie to Dean.”
“Okay,” Charlotte said, nodding.
Maybe for You--A Whiskey and Weddings Novel Page 4