Page 55 of Salvage Him

I wanted to find Brooklyn, shake her, and tell her what her husband saidabouther.

I mean who talked about their wife like that to a completestranger.

After my workout, I met up with Seth. I pulled up and found Seth and Mrs. Davenport sitting on the front porch laughing and sippingsomething.

"Well. There he is. The brooding, handsome one." Mrs. Davenport was old Highland Park and older money. Her husband died ten years ago, and her kids left and never came back to visit. She was a bit of alegend.

She had worked as a pinup model back in the fifties. She had photos of herself hanging on a wall in her study. It was Seth who had discovered them when he was in her house for some charity event his mom draggedhimto.

He made up an excuse to sneak Justin and me in soon after, but sneaking wasn't necessary. She loved to show them off. She told us stories about all the partying she did and who she slept with before marrying Robert Davenport, IV for hismoney.

"Hi, Mrs. Davenport." I leaned over and kissed her leathery cheek. A lifetime of Texas sun showed onherskin.

"Bourbon, really?" I narrowed my eyes and sat in the other chair. “It’s eleveno’clock.”

"Now, Harrison." She patted my arm. "I'm an old rich Texas woman, and I'm allowed to do whateverIwant."

Seth laughed as he tookanothersip.

"What's his excuse?" I motionedtoSeth.

"Well, I can't very well drink alone now, can I?" She waved a hand at Seth. "What's up with you? You looksosad."

"It's nothing. I'm handling it." I picked at the arm of the wickerchair.

"Come on, Harrison, that's what we’re here for, to solve the world’s problems. We started with Seth's. Now, it's your turn." Shepointed.

"What's Seth's problem?" Iasked.

"He's losing his boyfriends"—she leaned closer, and we followed—"to a bunch ofgirls."

This cracked Mrs. Davenport up. She laughed herself into a painful coughing fit. A result of the twenty years she smoked back in theeighties.

Seth shook his head at the oldwoman.

"What's up with you?" IaskedSeth.

"I'm just feeling sorry for myself, that's all." He took another sip and winced. "Justin doesn't want to share anymore. I mean. I knew it would happen eventually, but I didn't think it would happensosoon."

"Is this that SMU student he met?" Iasked.

"Yeah, Piper." He spat out her name andlaughed.

"What's wrong with her?" I had yet tomeether.

"Nah, she's incredible, and she's good for him. And now, you got Brooklyn, and now.” He bowed his head. “I’m allalone."

"Aw, Brooklyn, that's the little vixen's name," Mrs. Davenportchimedin.

"No. I don't have Brooklyn. She's married,"Isaid.

"That's a temporary situation. You two are destined," Seth said while flailing his arms. "It's only a matter of time. Am Iwrong?"

I didn't say a word. He was a hundred percentwrong.

"Anyway, Mrs. Davenport, you'll marry me, won't you?” Seth asked as he raised hisglass.

She raised her glass. "Anytime, anyplace, my sillyhandsomeone."