Page 78 of Smoky Mountain Dreams

The waitress stopped at their booth and handed a beer toChristopher and placed the bourbon in front of Jesse.

“Anything else for ya, sweeties?” she asked, gum smacking,and dark spaces where more teeth should have been.

“Bring two shots of bourbon, too,” Jesse said.

Christopher’s eyes went even more soft and tender as hegripped Jesse’s forearm again and squeezed before releasing him to take a pullfrom his beer.

“Can I getcha anything to eat tonight, hon? Or is it gonnabe liquid dinner?”

“I’m good,” Jesse said. He usually enjoyed the burgers atPuckers, but he didn’t feel like eating. Maybe when Christopher had worked hismagic on his mood, he’d be relaxed enough to get some food. Or maybe they couldjust head to Christopher’s house and he could eat a different kind of meat.

“How ‘bout you, darlin’?”

Christopher smiled at her and shook his head, his brow stillcreased with concern as she bustled away.

Jesse didn’t want to ruin Christopher’s accomplishment withhis bad mood, and talking about Ronnie never did any good anyway. “Tell me moreabout your audition. Who were you up against? Anyone I’d remember seeing onstage?” He sounded brusque, but he felt like an exposed nerve and he couldn’tget himself not to sound like he was ordering Christopher to talk to himinstead of being genuinely curious.

“Martin Delroy and Shane Cruz, mainly. There were others,but those two are my real competition for Lash’s back-up and lead parts on hisdays off.” Christopher sounded cautious like he was talking to a wild animalthat might bite.

Jesse slung the drink back, taking giant swallows. The heatof the liquor burned into his anger like an old friend. He put the glass downempty just as the waitress showed up with the shots. Her eyebrow quirked up,but she didn’t say anything—just took the empty, and walked away.

“That’s more like it,” Jesse said after he’d taken themboth, closing his eyes briefly as the liquor hit his system and thrummedthrough him reassuringly. He opened them again to see Christopher’s handsomeface. He liked the way his chin jutted out, making almost a heart-shape out ofhis face. Looking at him was exactly what Jesse needed. “Damn it’s good to seeyou.”

Christopher smiled and took another swallow of his beerbefore saying, “You too. But I wish I knew what was going on. Are you okay? Isit Brigid and Will?”

“The kids are fine. Brigid’s still earning back her iPadafter the incident with the ice cream float, but she’s okay.”

“Her cranes? They’re okay too?”

“Yeah. She’s made a lot more. Hey, the note you left for herwas sweet, babe. I’m sorry—I meant to tell you that earlier.”

Surprise flashed over Christopher’s face and Jesse took amoment to wonder why before he realized he’d called him “babe.” He’d done itbefore during sex, but a lot of people said things like that during sex—thoughhe hadn’t really with anyone before Christopher. But there was no denying theword meant something affectionate when said elsewhere. That’s why they werecalled endearments, after all.

Hewasfeeling the liquor, but hedidn’t want to blame it on that. He wanted to call Christopher “babe” wheneverand wherever he wanted, and he wanted Christopher tobehisbabe, and to maybe call him something stupid like that back. It’d already cometo this. So fast. And he didn’t even care about that at all.

Christopher cleared his throat. “It seems pretty clear youdon’t want to talk about it, but I’ve got to know. You’re scaring me.Areyou okay?”

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

Christopher tilted his head and gave him a doubtful look.

“Fuck. Fine—no. I’m not okay.”

“What’s going on? How can I help you?”

“Help me? Ha. Yeah, you can’t. No one can help. Or will, Iguess.” Christopher’s eyes got wider and more frightened. “Shit, I’m doing thisall wrong. It’s not even about helpingme. It’sabout helping Mar—” He broke off and pounded a fist on the table, makingChristopher’s bottle rattle. “Jesus, it’s just my fucking bitch sister-in-lawand this goddamn eternal fucking lawsuit. Everything goes along just fine untilI have a mediation meeting with her and have to deal with her smug, righteous,holier-than-thou, sanctimonious bullshit. I’m going ahead with the appeal. Iwasn’t sure before because of what it does to Nova and Tim, but fuck it. Shecan’t get away with this forever.”

Christopher looked bewildered. “Okay, it’s clear you’rereally upset, but I’m not following you at all, and I think it would help if Icould. There’s a lawsuit?”

“Yeah. Well, if I go forward with the appeal there will be.”

“All right. And what’s the lawsuit about?”

“It’s about Marcy. It’s about unplugging Marcy. Sorry to becrass about it. I’m just…I don’t have any delicacy left in me right now. Notafter dealing withher.”

“Unplugging…? Wait, your wife?Unpluggingher?” Christopher shook his head, squinting at Jesse like he was trying totranslate from Russian. “I thought your wife was dead?”

Jesse blinked, taking in Christopher’s gaping mouth and wideeyes.Oh, Jesus.His empty stomach churned with acidand his pulse raced. No, Christopher had known. Of course he’d known! They’dtalked about it! Jesse frantically cast his mind back. Yes, he’d definitelytold him—that night up on the rooftop patio.