Page 4 of Hot Four Teacher (The Lawson’s #4)

Chapter four

Old Friends

Dane

“ W here the hell did you bring me?” My friend, Tim, asks me from across the table.

He looks around at the country and western themed bar. It’s the epitome of over-the-top. Country music blares through the speakers. Deer heads hang on every wall. And there’s even a mechanical bull in the corner.

I tell him, “This is my favorite bar in town. I wanted to bring you here because I thought you’d love it.”

His face falls as he prepares to back track. “ Oh, shit, man–”

I can’t hold my laughter in any longer. “I’m just giving you shit. Since I just moved to town, I Googled bars in the area. This is the first one that came up.”

He takes a swig of his beer.

“Seriously, though, you live in Texas now. Shouldn’t you be used to country bars?” I joke.

“Hey, you can take the boy out of the Northwest, but you can’t take the Northwest out of the boy. I still won’t willingly listen to country music.”

“I still can’t believe Jane convinced you to move down South.”

“She got a job opportunity that was way too good to pass up. And I figure she dealt with me in the service for so long that I can bite this bullet for her.”

Tim and I were in the Marines together. We’ve seen some of the worst shit you can imagine, and if I were to ever consider anyone a best friend, it would be him. And that’s saying a lot since we live across the country from each other.

I ask, “So, what are you doing now that you’re out of the service?”

He runs his hand over the scruff on his neck, so I add, “I see you’re trying to grow an awesome beard just like me. You’re not quite there yet.”

He laughs. “Yeah, yeah. Your beard is better than mine. You took all the hair from your buzz cut and stuck it on your chin.”

“As long as you acknowledge that mine is better than yours. Anyways, back to what you’re up to these days. ”

“To answer your question, I’m not doing much of anything these days. Since Jane is working longer hauls, I’m manning the house and the girls. They’re all in school now, so it makes it easier.”

I lean back and cross my arms over my chest. “Tim Solis–house husband. I never would have guessed.”

“I thought I’d hate it, but it’s been the exact opposite. I missed so much time with the girls when they were babies, and now, it’s like I get to make up for it.”

“I’m sure they’re all happy to have you home,” I tell him.

“I was really sorry to hear about you and Cassie.”

“Thanks, Tim.” I gulp my beer. “Shit happens.”

I hope he doesn’t want to keep talking about my divorce. It’s not something I really want to discuss. It’s not that I’m dwelling on it. I just don’t want to bring down the mood.

I think he must feel my avoidance because he veers off of that subject. “Have you started dating again?”

“Actually, yes. Well, kind of. The divorce was final a few years ago, so I’ve been trying to get back out there.”

“How’s it going?” He asks.

“A hell of a lot different than when I was doing it the first time around.”

“How so?”

“The women are wild.”

He leans back with his beer in hand. “ Show your work.”

“Don’t get me wrong–I’ve had a few good dates. A couple of the women and I hit it off, but it didn’t last very long. It didn’t work out for whatever reason. But then, I’ve also had some…interesting encounters.”

“Oh?”

“I had one woman come up and tell me she wanted me to fuck her belly button.”

He chokes on his beer. “Her–”

“Belly. Button.”

“Wow. I don’t even know how to respond to that.”

“I didn’t either. I’m all for trying new things and doing my best to make a woman happy, but that one was a little much for me. It didn’t help that she was about fifteen years my junior.”

He looks around. “These small towns are weird. All the women have been so repressed that they’re ready to let their freak flags fly.”

“Dude, that was in Portland before I even moved here. And that’s not the freakiest story.”

“Fuck, I’ve never been happier to be married.”

I point my finger at him. “Good. You better buy Jane some flowers when you get back home.”

Tim and Jane always had the type of marriage I wanted Cassie and I to have. Unfortunately, ours was a ticking time bomb.

“Speaking of small-town living,” he begins. “How goes it?”

“Pretty good. I started my new teaching job yesterday, and it’s going alright.”

Tim says, “I feel like you’ve always been a small-town guy who just never lived in a small town.”

He has a point. I think I’m going to like Lilly Leaf Falls.

“It’s nice so far,” I tell him.

Tim asks, “Are you happy?”

“What the fuck kind of question is that?” I laugh. “When did you become my therapist?”

“Jane wanted me to ask.”

“I should’ve known.” I smile.

“She worries about you. She says you’re my only real friend, so she has to keep you around.”

“You can tell Jane that I’m doing just fine. I’ll have to come down to Texas to see you guys sometime.”

“Good! She misses you.”

Back in the day, Tim and Jane lived about ten minutes from Cassie and me in Portland. We were all pretty close. Now, I really only see Tim when he’s coming into town to visit his mom.

I look at him. “Now, can we get off the mushy shit?”

“Alright, alright. But next round is on you.”