BRADLEY

“Brad, my man!” Bill lowers the windows on his idling Lexus out front. “Great to see you, hop on in.”

I slide into the car, buckle, and offer a smile. “Thanks again for your help on this.”

“Can’t tell you how much it means to me,” Bill says. “Speaking of, would you mind writing a review on my website? I can only imagine what it’d do for business if people saw the great Bradley Hamilton leaving a review for me. Bill Curtlett.”

“I have zero star-power.”

“Don’t be modest.”

“I’m not modest—I’m just not famous. Sorry.”

“Aw, is this about the injury?” Bill pulls away from the curb, glancing over at me. “You were still the best forward the Stars have ever seen.”

“That can’t be further from the truth.”

Bill launches into a recitation of my career achievements. I promptly tune it out and proceed to stare out the window and let my brain turn off entirely.

Bill is one of those folks who peaked in high school. He loves nothing more than to reminisce about that homecoming game or that senior class prank. I just don’t get it—high school sucked. It sucks for most people. I’d be majorly depressed if the highlight of my life happened in high school. I like to imagine the best day is yet to come.

“...and I tell everyone I have my yearbook signed by none other than Bradley Hamilton.”

“You still have your yearbook?”

“How could I not?”

I shake my head, wondering if he’s also got his letter jacket hanging on display at home. Maybe I’m just not the sentimental type. Either that, or I could just be feeling pissy about high school because I’d learned last night that those four years contained some of the biggest mistakes of my life.

Namely, not kissing Lexi Monroe at every chance I could get. Not pulling her aside at prom and asking for more. Ten years had passed since then, and now, finally, I’m getting my chance.

For once, I don’t want to look back and wish things were different. I want to be right here, right now, and right in front of Lexi Monroe as soon as possible.

“Is this place far?” I ask. “How’d you find it?”

“You can walk there from your place.”

“Promising.”

“As for how I found it?” Bill chortles, snaps a finger. “Magic. Can’t reveal my secrets or I’d have to kill you.”

“Okay, Bond.”

“Bond. That’s a good one.” Bill shakes a finger at me, his freshmen fifteen long since cemented on his body. “Anyway, here she is. What do you think?”

I stare at the street before us. Dumbfounded. “Which one?”

“The entire ground level.” Bill smiles broadly at me. “Like I said, the landlord is getting old. I’m absolutely convinced he can be talked into retiring early and privately handing the reins over to you. No competition, quick deal.”

“But that’s...” I stare, reading the sign over and over.

Minnie’s Diner.

“Perfect?” Bill snaps his fingers again. “I know. You’re welcome.”

“What would happen to the businesses there?”

He shrugs. “You’d give them some lead time I guess, and they’d get bumped elsewhere.”

“But—”

“You’d have to redo it, of course, but it shouldn’t be too bad. You’ll make it back in no time. You’ve got major demand down here—all the great gyms are outside of the city limits. People will be looking for one they can hit after work, kill an hour over rush hour traffic, and get home after. You know it, and I know it.”

“Nope.” I shake my head. “Sorry, this one’s not going to work.”

“Is it because you can’t picture it?” Bill gestures before him. “I can see it now. Literally, I can see it before us. What would you call it? Brad’s Gym? Star Power? Hamilton House? Ooh, that last one’s a keeper. What do you say?”

“I still say no.”

“Why not?”

“Not interested.”

“Is this because you’ll have to redo the space?”

“I’d have to redo just about any space.”

“So, what’s the hold up?”

“I said no, okay? Not interested.”

Bill falls silent. It’s at that moment the door to the restaurant opens and Lexi pokes her head outside. She waves to someone next door—the same girlfriend from her apartment last night—and then pops back inside.

By the time I turn back to Bill, he’s connected the dots.

“You know her?”

“What does it matter?” I growl. “I appreciate the help, I really do. I’m interested in looking into somewhere else, but this one is a hard no for me.”

“In my professional opinion, that’s a mistake.”

“Fine.”

“The area will go up in value. Companies are moving into the city. We’re growing, and the younger, cooler generation is growing, too. Twenty-somethings looking for jobs, looking for dates, extra money to spend. You and Leo would have a field day here.”

And there’s the problem. I hadn’t exactly told Bill that I’m interested on a personal level. I briefly mentioned I had a partner at my current space, and that’s as far as we got. The other news would have to come later. I want to have proof of Leo’s underhanded dealings before I go to him with a request to part ways—it’ll just make everything easier.

“She’s cute,” Bill says. “I recognize her from somewhere.”

“High school?” Bill’s a few years older than me. I’d be willing to bet Lexi wouldn’t recognize him, but I’m not surprised he recognizes her. He’s a male, and he has eyeballs. Of course he’d remember her.

“Oh, that’s right! She’s Lucas’s little sister. I should’ve guessed that the other day.”

I give a taut nod. Then halt. “The other day?”

“I came here with my brother. We had lunch while I staked out the place. Bob, you remember him?”

“Of course I do.” My knuckles tighten. The mere thought of Bill walking into that diner and conversing with Lexi has me annoyed. It clicks that he and his brother were the two goons making Lexi nervous. In fact, it’d probably led to her appearing at my house and needing to blow off steam.

Maybe I had it all wrong. Maybe I need to thank Bill for driving Lexi straight through my front door.

“So, does Lucas know you have a thing for his sister?”

I immediately lose any nice moment I was having in my head with Bill. “I think we’re done here.” I rest my finger against the door handle and pull. “You’re right—it’s walkable to home.”

“I’m sorry,” he says quickly. “I shouldn’t have made the joke. Lucas would be lucky if you had a thing for his sister.”

I squint at him.

“That just sounds weird,” Bill says. “I’m not good at this whole talking to a celebrity thing.”

“I’m not a celebrity! I don’t even play hockey anymore.”

“But you hold the record for—”

“Bye, Bill.” I close the door.

The windows are still rolled down, so he leans over the passenger’s seat and calls after me. “I’ll find a few more properties, then. I’ll let you and Leo know.”

It’s painful, but I turn back to the car. I compose my face, trying for patience. “Actually, could we keep this between the two of us?”

“Trouble in paradise?”

“Leo’s got his hands full with things at the gym lately,” I say, and it’s not entirely a lie. He’s got his sticky little fingers full of finding ways to drain our account of money he didn’t think I’d miss.

Spoiler alert—I missed it.

“I understand.” Bill gives a firm nod. “Call you later.”

He squeals away from the curb, something no grown man in a Lexus should be doing while blaring nineties rap.

I’m left standing on the sidewalk. After all this, and I thought I was smarter than Bill. But somehow, I’m the one standing on the curb without a ride home.

I could walk, sure. But then I’d have to go all the way back to get my car, and then turn around and come right back here. I’d promised Lexi I’d be here before noon.

It’s now exactly ten fourteen. It’d be embarrassing to stroll into the place now. Either she’d think I’d been lying, or she’d think my business meeting had gone horribly. Neither were attractive qualities in a potential date.

I turn, set on heading in the other direction. I need a moment to think, anyway. I need to tell Lexi not to worry—nobody is going to be taking over her building. But it’s a little bit awkward at the same time... because I’m the reason Bill and his brother had scouted the joint in the first place.

“Hey, where do you think you’re going, hot stuff?” Kitty’s voice rings clear across the street. “Lexi is thataway.”

Kitty winds her fingers to point at the diner next to her. She’s standing just outside the door of Sasha’s Sweets and eyeing me up like I’m the Grinch.

“Oh, right.”

“Hard to find, isn’t it?” she asks sarcastically, giving a pointed glance at the huge banner over the diner. “Then again, I suppose it is since you’ve never been here before.”

“Oh, Kitty, great to see you,” I say, crossing the street at a slow jog. “I’ve missed you.”

“Funny, I haven’t missed you.”

“Always loved your humor.”

“Ironic, since I’m serious.”

“Come on, Kitty, not you, too.”

“Not me too, what? You don’t talk to me, my best friend, or her brother for the last few years, and you expect me to be all excited that Lexi suddenly believes you have a magic penis?” Kitty flutters her eyelashes. “I think not.”

I shove my hands in my pockets as I come to a stop on the sidewalk before her. “Magical penis, huh?”

She leans in, her voice low. “I don’t care what you’ve got in your pants; you’re not going to hurt my friend again.”

“I’m doing everything I can not to mess this up,” I say. “I could really use your help.”

“Damn.”

I blink, step back. “Sorry?”

Kitty purses her lips. “Nearly twenty years, and finally the idea dawned on you to come to me for help in wooing Lexi?”

“I didn’t know she liked me in high school.”

“You two were idiots,” Kitty says. “Anyway, since I have money on the line, I’m going to help you out.”

“Money?”

“Not really money,” Kitty says. “It’s actually my pride, but we don’t need to get into that.”

“I’m lost.”

“I bet you two would sleep together in under two months, and Sasha guessed it would take longer.”

“Oh, right.”

“You’re not happy with this bet?”

“Not particularly,” I say, and then cross my arms. “For the record, we’ve agreed to take things slow.”

“Right. Which is why Lexi floated into work this morning with her lipstick smudged.”

“I said slow, I didn’t say glacial.”

“Fine, wiseman. I used to like you, but I’m not sure about you anymore.” Kitty rests a finger against her lip. “I always thought you were just a little bit dense. And that’s why you hadn’t asked Lexi out.”

“I was stupid.”

“That, too,” Kitty says. “Then you went and hurt her, and that’s where I find things difficult to forgive and forget.”

“I know, and I’m sorry.”

She nods. “Apology accepted, and I forgive you. I’m sorry about your knee.”

“Thank you.”

“But that doesn’t mean I’m thrilled about the two of you jumping right back into things at a hundred miles an hour.”

“Kitty.” I spread my arms wide. “Is there any other way Lexi does things?”

“Huh. Maybe you do know her better than I give you credit for.”

“I do. I’ve known her longer than you.”

“I’m her best friend.”

“Fine. Are you going to help me or push us apart?”

“I haven’t decided yet,” Kitty says. “But for now, you seem to make her happy. Don’t ruin it, Bradley.”

“I’ll do my best. She’s inside?”

“Yes. Get the chocolate chip waffles.”

“So I hear.”

Kitty smiles, and it’s a minor truce. We used to be friends—not the same sort of friends as Lexi and I, but we got along and behaved around one another. Lexi was... still is, important to both of us. That’s enough common ground for us to make an effort.

“It’s good to see you again,” I say.

“I think so, too,” she says. “But time will tell.”