“Promise?”
“Yes, and don’t make me swear, unless by swear, you mean to say fuck you.”
Rex laughed. “I miss those days, chief. Those days when you used to say shit like that all the time.”
Grant seemed to drift away in thought and paused. “You know what I’ve been thinking about? I’ve been wondering if this is it. The best times were then, and now they’re done, is that it? Years, gone, just like that, flying by. Are there more coming? I don’t have a clue.”
“Well, you got the last part right,” Rex said.
“How’s that?”
“You don’t have a fucking clue.”
Isobelle tried not to look too interested in what the men were saying, but she was having a hard time keeping her eyes off of Grant. She had gone back down to the other end of the bar, busying herself cleaning the bar, arranging the liquors, and polishing glasses.
“So just have some fun with me and take the pressure off. You can still do the things you want to do, only now you’ve got somebody who cares about you to look after you. ’Cause boy, you sure as hell need someone looking after you. Look around, enjoy your life, enjoy Southern California, and pay attention to the good looking women around you. You could also do worse than meeting an attractive bartender. What’s her name? Isarita? I mean, you’ve only been with me for a few minutes and look how things are perking up already!,” Rex said with a grin, waving at Isobelle. She began heading back their way.
“Her name is Isobelle, you mor….” Grant’s voice trailed off, his head turning as he noticed two very beautiful women walking into the bar. They were about the same build, not tall, and they looked like they could be sisters. He didn’t recognize one of them, the shorter of the two, but he certainly knew the other one. They were both blonde, very tan, both extremely fit. He recognized the taller one instantly by the confident glow she carried with her everywhere she went. She could peer into his soul, even from across the room, and every time he saw her, she made him feel like he had just won the lottery. There was a certain composure about her that made her seem like she was on a higher plane, but was always willing to step down onto the same one he was on, which always baffled him. It was not conceit, it was not ego. She was still the enchanting woman he remembered, maybe not drop-dead gorgeous to anyone but him, but Grant, after all this time, still thought that Annie was just that. The tennis she played in college, and probably still played, had given her a bronzing, a sculpting that would probably never go away. About five-foot-six, her sparkling blonde hair tied back, just like always.. Grant barely noticed the other woman. He was watching Annie, the woman he had been waiting to see for five and a half years. His insides started to turn.
The two women approached the bar where he and Rex were waiting. Though he was sitting down, Grant’s legs suddenly felt extremely weak, to go with his uneasy stomach, and the desert outside seemed to have abruptly moved into his mouth. He was having trouble breathing. He hoped it was the pain medicine. Both men rose to their feet, though Rex jumped up eagerly, not experiencing the same flood of emotion, nor car wreck fallout, that Grant was currently feeling.
“Well, look at this! Must have been the Yahtzee game that was the kicker to get you here!” Rex said, beaming.
“That was my idea,” said the shorter of the two women. “I’m Kat,” she said, extending her hand.
“Hello Kat, I’m Rex, and this—”
Kat cut him off. “This must be Grant. I’ve heard a lot about you. Hello, Grant,” Kat said. She stuck her arm out to shake Grant’s hand as well.
“Hello,” Grant said, briefly shifting his gaze from Annie to Kat.
“Talkative sonofagun, isn’t he? Have you heard a lot about me, Kat? Annie, how are you?”
Both men wanted to hug Annie, for different reasons, but they both thought privately that was probably not a good idea.
“Good, I’m good,” Annie said.
“Of course I’ve heard of you,” Kat’s eyes, now narrow, turning back to Rex.
“What is it with that look? Second time today I’ve gotten that.”
“Probably only two because it’s still early in the day,” Kat said with a charming smile.
“Hello, Grant,” Annie said.
“Hello, Annie. Good … good to see you. You look great,” Grant replied. It was even more of a struggle for him to get words out of his mouth than usual.
“It’s good to see you. You look great.”
“Skinny. I say he is skinnnnn-eeee! Too skinny. Makes me look bad.”
“Is that a difficult thing to do?” Kat cocked her head to one side.
“So, you have heard of me! Well, I don’t know what you heard, but I’m a changed man.”
“What did you change into?” Kat turned her head to the other side.
“Hey, I like her!” Rex backhanded Grant on the shoulder.
“Oh, what luck for me,” she rolled her eyes.
CHAPTER 4
Isobelle came over to deliver the second round of drinks Rex had commanded. She was trying to determine the overall relationship of the newly expanded group. Even though she had just met him, she knew Grant was struggling, and that his accident did not help his condition, but she needed more time to tell much more than that. She was really attracted to him, and she was hoping no one else was picking up on that. She did not think the newcomers could, but she figured if anyone was going to pick up on it, it would be the shorter woman. She could sense the nostalgic air about the party, the feelings between Grant and the taller blonde woman. This just intrigued her more.
“Here are your drinks, gentlemen, though it seems your party has expanded to include a few ladies, as well.”
“Just like I said was going to happen … umm.…” Rex stuttered, fumbling for her name.
“Isobelle.”
“Right, Isobelle. These are our friends Annie and Kat.”
“It is nice to meet you,” Isobelle said.
“Nice to meet you, too.” Annie smiled.
“Have you known these two fellows for a long time?” Kat asked.
“No, I have not, so you will have to tell me all about them.” Isobelle smiled back. “What may I bring for you?”
“It looks like they’re having margaritas, and that sounds good on a hot day.” Kat said.
“See, I told you I liked her,” Rex said smiling, and looking around at the growing group. He was enjoying having people around him. “Isobelle here, she can read minds, too, or something like that.”
“Just water for me, thanks,” Annie said. “Read minds?”
“Water?
