For a Wednesday night, the Moose Lodge was pretty lit. Apparently, Bingo was a huge draw because Emersyn and I barely found a seat. Of course, we would be sitting in the middle of all the local church ladies. Since I wasn’t a huge fan of Bingo, I could have totally used a beer to get me through, but I abstained. The last thing I needed was to send the church ladies keeling over from horror at my sinfulness. Sure, I could have argued they were partaking in a vice like gambling, but I don’t think it would have gone over really well.

Once again, our outfits stole all the attention in the room. An older man sitting across from us said, “You know, I used to have a suit just like that.”

“If you gave it away recently, there’s a distinct possibility this is the same one,” I mused.

“No. It actually caught on fire one night when I was helping the misses fry some chicken.”

The woman next to him, who apparently was his wife, nodded. “The material is highly flammable,” she remarked.

I cut my eyes over at Emersyn. “Since you picked it out, it’s your responsibility to put me out should I catch fire.”

Emersyn rolled her eyes. “Considering you don’t smoke and we’re not around an open flame, I think we’re good.” With a grin, she added, “And don’t even try arguing that you might spontaneously combust from all your hotness.”

Chuckling, I replied, “Damn. You know me too well.”

“We’ve been together too long.”

The man, who was lamenting his lost leisure suit, smiled at us. “How long have the two of you been married?”

Oh Jesus. Here we go again. What was it about people that made them think we were a couple? Couldn’t a man and woman hang out together without it being about more than just friendship. “We’re not married,” I answered.

Emersyn nodded. “Just best friends.”

The man smiled at his wife. “Edna and I grew up together. She taught me how to ride a bicycle, and then I taught her to hit a baseball.”

Edna smiled adoringly at her husband. “Vern and I went all through school together. Since he couldn’t ever seem to get the courage up to ask me out, I asked him to the Sadie Hawkins dance in 8^th grade.”

Vern chuckled. “And the rest is history.”

“Fifty years of marriage, three children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren,” Edna added. Bending over, she reached into her purse. “Would you like to see them?”

“Of course,” I replied as I held out my hand. When I cut my eyes over to Emersyn, tears sparkled in her eyes. After furrowing my brows at her, she gave a quick shake of her head. The small gesture told me she was all right.

After we looked through the pictures, I nodded my head at Vern and Edna. “You two truly are blessed.”

“You have a beautiful family,” Emersyn added.

“Thank you,” Edna said. Tucking the album away, she eyed Emersyn and me. “Sometimes the best marriages are made from two best friends.”

Inwardly, I groaned. While she was only being nice, I fought the urge to tell Edna to mind her own damn business. Instead of insulting her and Vern, and potentially Emersyn, I plastered a smile on my face. “I’m sure they do, but we’re just friends.”

Vern shook his head. “You better get your head out of your butt, son, or this beautiful lady will get away. Trust me, I know.”

If there was ever a time I harbored hope of a random sinkhole opening up, it was now. Apparently, the conversation was getting to Emersyn as well because she suddenly blurted, “I just lost my husband.”

Vern and Edna’s expressions saddened. “Oh honey, how terrible,” Edna gasped.

“Um, thank you. It was. I mean, it is.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “It still is terrible, so I’m not looking to date anyone.”

“Thoughts and prayers with you, sweetheart,” Vern said.

“I appreciate that. Thank you.”

Thankfully, a new game started up, and Emersyn and I buried our heads in our cards in an effort to avoid any more uncomfortable conversation.

We played through several more games, and after Emersyn had won a toaster and a pair of compression socks, I finally pried her away so we could have a drink. Vern and Edna’s interrogation had left me even more desperate for some alcohol.

Shortly after we sat down, Gabe and the others came strolling in. We moved to a bigger table to accommodate the group and then proceeded to let the pitchers of beer flow freely.

After her phone buzzed, Emersyn glanced down to read the screen. She clapped her hand over her mouth before dissolving into a fit of giggles.

“What is it?” I asked.

“It looks like they’re on to us, Rufus.”

“Excuse me?”

Gabe glanced between us. “The better question is why in the hell are you calling him Rufus?”

His remark caused Emersyn to start giggling again. Apparently, the glass and a half of Moose Lodge beer had quite an effect on her. Winking at Gabe, Emersyn said, “It’s his code name.”

He snorted. “Code names? I thought role playing was reserved for couples.”

I scowled at him. “We’re not role playing, pervert. It was just something I suggested when Emersyn was so mortified being seen in her outfit. You know, like a disguise.”

“Right. Because no one is going to recognize your faces,” Gabe argued.

“They might have, but then I hoped if they did, they’d think twice about it actually being us since we were in these getups in the backwoods. How many remotely famous musicians would stoop to that level?”

Emersyn shook her head. “It didn’t work.” She held out her phone. “Apparently someone in Goodwill leaked these pictures of us.”

As I peered at the screen, the image before me was of Emersyn and me in a hysterical heap on the floor of the dressing room. While the picture didn’t bother me, I cringed at the headline. Eli Renard and Emersyn Wallace of Jacob’s Ladder out on the town together. Clearly the chemistry onstage continues offstage as shown during their Goodwill Challenge Date in West Virginia.

Jesus. Was it ever going to stop? Why did everyone automatically assume there was something between Emersyn and me? I got along great with all the wives of Jake’s band, Runaway Train, but that didn’t mean there was anything between us. We were just men and women who enjoyed spending time with each other. It was the exact same thing between me and Emersyn.

How quickly you forget about ogling her perky tits when she was naked, not to mention feeling her up in your sleep. Maybe people are assuming you’re into Emersyn because on some physical level you are. Maybe they’re picking up on some vibe you’re giving out.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I muttered about my internal monologue.

“Huh?” Emersyn asked.

“Nothing.” I quickly handed her phone back to her. “At least it isn’t a bad picture.”

“Considering what we’re wearing, I might rethink that statement,” Emersyn teased.

Our conversation was interrupted by the blare of a somewhat outdated sound system. After a quick adjustment, an upbeat tune filled the room. Immediately I recognized it as The Everley Brothers. More specifically it was When Will I Be Loved.

“Ah, it’s my theme song,” I remarked.

Gabe snickered. “I’m pretty sure you’ve done some of the mistreating and heartbreaking that the song mentions.”

Before I could defend myself, Emersyn beat me to it. “While he’s obviously a heartbreaker, I can’t imagine Eli ever mistreating a woman.”

“Thank you, Sonny,” I replied.

She grinned. “You’re welcome.”

Leaning forward in his chair, Gabe said, “I would argue your view of Eli is through rose-colored glasses because the two of you are so close.”

Emersyn shook her head. “I’m not saying he’s without fault. Just that I know the depth of his heart, and he would never treat a woman without kindness and respect.”

Oh yeah, I was seriously digging Emersyn’s compliments of me. Not that she wasn’t one to tell me how much she appreciated me, but there was something to be said for clapping back against Gabe’s putdowns. If I wanted to, I could have tried to make more of it than I should have.

“Just be glad you’re his friend, and you haven’t tried dating him.” Gabe let out a low whistle. “It isn’t always pretty. Especially when he’s ready to move on.”

Angling her chin, Emersyn peered curiously at me before turning her attention to Gabe. “If you’re going to run him down in front of me, I’m going to need some examples for evidence.”

“Yeah, I think this conversation has gone on long enough. I’m sure there’s some skeletons in your closet you wouldn’t want Rae knowing about,” I warned.

Gabe crossed his arms over his chest. “You might be surprised considering she thought I was a giant asshole when she met me.”

“Oh, I’m pretty sure I could dredge up some that transcend asshole territory and go into full on bastard.”

Apparently, a few instances came to mind because Gabe held up his hands in surrender. “Fine. Your secrets are safe with me.”

When Emersyn snorted, Gabe and I both glanced at her. “What?” he demanded.

“You two really are clueless if you think your secrets are safe. You’re famous. I’m pretty sure the women you wronged didn’t go quietly. You better believe there’s some sort of social media post out there with all the gory details,” she answered.

Gabe and I both grimaced. “Damn, she’s probably right,” Gabe muttered.

I nodded. “Remind me not to do a Google search of my name anytime soon.”

“Exactly.”

With a shake of her head, Emersyn said, “And just like that, the emotional blackmail is over.”

I grinned. “We’re brothers. It’s what we do.”

“Along with beating the crap out of each other,” Gabe added.

“On that note, I think I’ll make a trip to the little girl’s room where I’ll be safe from all this testosterone.”

Gabe and I laughed as she rose out of her chair. “You know you love us and our overwhelming testosterone,” I countered.

“Oh yeah, it’s the thrill of my life,” she shot back before heading away from the table.

Once she was out of earshot, I punched Gabe’s arm. “Ow, what was that for?”

“I can’t believe you were going to smear me to Emersyn.”

Gabe’s brows furrowed. “Why should you care? She’s your best friend, not a chick you’re trying to impress.”

I diverted my eyes to floor. I didn’t want Gabe seeing the struggle within them. “It doesn’t matter that I’m not trying to date her. I don’t want you giving her any more ammunition to think bad about me, least of all hate me, for sometimes being a dick to women.”

“What do you mean ‘more’ ammunition?”

“She got pissed after my hookup a few weeks ago. She and Mom are on the same team of me finding a nice girl to settle down with and not sex with random groupies.”

With a chuckle, Gabe replied, “Regardless of all that, I don’t think you have anything to worry about, bro. In Emersyn’s eyes, you’re practically a saint.”

“I don’t know if I’d go that far.”

“I would. She’s crazy about you.”

Jerking my head up, I eyed Gabe suspiciously. Was he on to the way I was feeling about Emersyn and trying to pump me up? “What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said.”

“But like, what kind of crazy?”

“Uh, the kind of crazy where someone adores you.”

“Not like romantically though.”

Gabe grimaced. “Hell no. Why would you think that was what I meant?”

Shit. Now it was time to epically back-peddle. “Because earlier tonight, some of the oldsters at Bingo thought we were married.”

“Oh well, that’s because they don’t know you two. It’s natural to make that assumption.”

“Right. Exactly.” At the sight of Emersyn striding across the room, I said, “Yeah, that’s enough of that.”

“Whatever, bro.”

Just as Emersyn reached the table, a voice spoke up behind me, “Excuse me, sugar, but would you like to dance?”

I glanced over my shoulder to see a woman in her early fifties grinning at me. Bolstered by Emersyn’s previous compliments of me and not wanting her to wonder about what Gabe had on me, I rose out of my chair. “I’d love to.”

While the guys broke into laughter, Emersyn just stared wide-eyed at me. After everything we knew about each other, my actions had actually surprised her. Hopefully, her shock would turn into appreciation and another vote of confidence in my favor for the way I treated women. “What’s your name?” I asked the woman, as I took her hand in mine.

“Mary.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Mary. I’m Rufus.”

She cocked her brows at me. “You’re joking.”

“Okay, you’re right. I’m Eli.”

“Oh, I know who you are.”

“Even in this crazy getup?”

“Yep. I’d know you anywhere. I’ve got tickets to your concert tomorrow night.”

I grinned. “That’s awesome.”

“I’m taking my twenty-year-old daughter who is in love with you.”

After spinning Mary out, I whirled her back to me. “We’ll have to take a picture in a minute, so you can make her jealous.”

Her dark eyes lit up. “I’d love that.”

When the song came to an end, I dipped Mary, which sent a round of hearty applause around the table. We took a bow before heading off the dance floor. After taking a selfie with her, I thanked Mary for the dance and then sat back down with the others.

“Those were some impressive moves,” Emersyn remarked.

“Thank you. I’m a man of many talents.”

As we watched the couples slow dancing out on the dance floor, a feeling of longing twitched in my chest. It was the same kind of feeling I got whenever I saw Jake and Abby together or Gabe and Rae.

“What’s got you looking so thoughtful?” Emersyn asked with a smile.

I pointed the neck of my beer at the couples out on the dance floor. “You see that right there? That’s what I want.”

“You want to be a geriatric shaking your broken hip at the Moose Lodge?”

With a scowl I countered, “No, smartass. That’s not it at all. What I meant was when I get to their age, I still want to be that much in love. I want to look into my wife’s eyes with the same adoration as that dude is and to have it reflected back.”

When I looked at Emersyn, tears clouded her eyes. Oh fuck. Could I be more of an insensitive asshole? She’d had all that with Jack—the love of her life and the man she was going to grow old with. Now she didn’t. And here I was lamenting about my life. Fuck, Renard. Could you be more of an insensitive prick? Wincing, I said, “Sonny, I’m—”

“That’s really beautiful.” When she cupped my cheek, I felt like an even bigger ass because it should’ve been me comforting her. Before I could address my epic douchery toward her, she said, “You deserve that, Eli. More than anyone I know, you deserve to have a love like that.”

No. Not really. It was her who deserved that. How could she be so gracious and loving toward me? I wanted to wrap her in my arms and hold her tight. Tell her she’d find her forever man, but I couldn’t do that. And I had no idea why.

I opened my mouth to again apologize, but before I could, a throat cleared behind us. When we looked back, a middle-aged man in a flannel shirt and trucker hat held out his hand to Emersyn. “I was wondering if you might give me the honor of the next dance?”

When a panic-stricken look came over her face, I quickly rose out of my chair. “I’m sorry, sir, but this lady is spoken for.”

Bobbing her head, Emersyn hopped up. “Yes, but thank you for asking,” she replied softly.

“You’re welcome,” the man replied.

As we started onto the dance floor, Emersyn exhaled in relief. “You’re my hero. I owe you one.”

“No problem. I’m just glad he didn’t try to fight me for you.” I winked at her. “He might’ve taken me.”

She laughed. “I seriously doubt that.”

“He probably had forty pounds on me.”

“But you have more muscle.”

“I am pretty ripped, aren’t I?”

Emersyn rolled her eyes but smiled in spite of herself. “Stop fishing for compliments. As much as you get lusted after, you know you have a hot bod.”

Batting my eyelashes, I replied, “Why thank you. I owe it all to spending time in the hotel gyms.”

Mirroring the other couples, I slipped an arm around Emersyn’s waist and held her hand with the other. As we swayed to the music, a smile formed on my lips as I thought of the last time we danced together.

“What are you smiling about?” Emersyn asked.

“Remember the last time we did this?”

Her brows scrunched together in thought. “Was it Jake and Abby’s wedding?”

“Yeah, it was.”

“Oh, my gosh. Has it been that long?”

“Yep. Over five years ago. Crazy, how time flies, isn’t it?”

With a smile, she said, “Who would have thought then that the next time we would be dancing together would be at a Moose Lodge in West Virginia?”

“I sure as hell wouldn’t have.” When Emersyn stifled a yawn, I cocked my head at her. “Am I boring you with my trip down memory lane?”

“I’m sorry. I’m just tired.”

“You want to sit down?”

“No. I’m good.” She gripped my shoulder tighter. “I don’t want tonight to end. It’s been so much fun.”

“It has, hasn’t it?”

She nodded. “It made feel like a kid again. You know before all the responsibilities of adulthood weighed you down.”

“Yeah. I know that feeling.”

“People really should try to be more carefree every once and awhile. I can see now why the whole Goodwill Challenge has caught on.”

“So, I made a believer out of you, huh?”

Sonny smiled. “Yes, you did.”

“Then we’ll have to do it again.” Jerking my chin at the table, I said, “Maybe I could get Gabe and Rae to play along one night.”

“I can see Rae being on board, but I’m pretty sure Gabe is far too serious.”

“You’re probably right.” Just as she knew me so well, the same could be said for Gabe. They might not have been as close as she and I were, but she still knew all the quirks of Gabe’s personality by heart. “If anyone could get him to do it, it would be Rae.”

A faint smile played at her lips. “The things we do for love.”

“Exactly.”

After yawning again, Emersyn laid her head on my shoulder. The song changed over to another slow one, so we remained swaying to the music. As my fingers traced wide circles over the material of her dress, Emersyn sighed contentedly. Damn if I didn’t like the sound of it. More specifically, I liked that it came from the feel of my touch. I didn’t think I would ever tire of the feel of her in my arms, her body flush against mine. Of course, it was detrimental because it brought the physical desire I had for her front and center.

I’d hoped after my hook-up, I could erase those feelings. The next time was with a brunette who was part of the catering company. That I managed to do without Emersyn knowing. I’d quickly learned I couldn’t fuck Emersyn out of my system. No matter how hard I tried, the new affect she had on me was still there. After all of the time we’d spent together and all the years of being a part of each other’s lives, she was part of me. She’d gotten under my skin, and there was no way I could get her out.

Having those feelings for her made me feel like an unimaginable bastard. She was my best friend for fuck’s sake. Not to mention she was a widow. Her heart, mind, and body were still inexplicably tied to Jack. Yes, time had passed, but I knew how she felt about him. For the last three months, I’d had a front-row seat to witness the agony she’d experienced with his loss.

For that reason alone, I didn’t even bother entertaining the idea that she might be attracted to me. She couldn’t possibly be thinking romantically about anyone but Jack, least of all me, her best friend—the man who was supposed to have her back and protect her.

In the end, I was just a bastard.