Since he was the one who been there every step of the way, Roger got it. “Ignorance is bliss.”
“Exactly. Thanks for telling me, but I agree with Brice. We tell no one.”
“And if it gets out?” Roger asked.
“Then we do what Henderson blood seems to do best.”
Roger cocked a brow. “What is that?”
Caydan downed his drink and said, “We try to make amends for what our ancestors fucked up.”
From where Roger sat, it seemed like they were going to spend a lifetime doing so. But he had to give them credit. At least they were trying.
“I’m glad that’s out of the way,” Roger said.
“Me too. So now we can talk about Gia. Why the hell do I need to hear it from Allyson that you are serious about her?”
“Damn it. Brice was right.”
Caydan asked, “About what?”
“They are always a step ahead of us.” Roger laughed. “And I just realized, I’m in fucking trouble.”
“How so?”
“Gia is not just with Allyson. She’s meeting up with the Henderson clan of women.”
Caydan burst out laughing. “You might as well give up and put a ring on her finger now.”
Roger shook his head. “Don’t you start on my ass too. Besides, it’s too fast. There’s so much we don’t know about each other. And I’m actually looking forward to learning more, at a normal pace. You know, dating. Not sure if you ever heard of it.”
“So you’re not in love with her,” Caydan stated.
“I didn’t say that. I’m saying what is wrong with going slow?”
“Nothing. But you’re in your forties. Life is slipping by my friend. If you want a little Patrick running around, you might want to think about settling down. And Gia is in her early thirties. Women start wanting children around that time. Even women who have careers.”
Roger rolled his eyes. “I never would’ve believed it.”
“What?”
“That meeting her parents was easier than sitting with you. All her father asked me for was to bring him snacks.”
Caydan nodded. “Right. Translate that into come back so we can have a man-to-man talk. Roger, I’ve known you a long time. If this is the first woman you ever cared enough about to bring around to meet me, never mind meet her parents, just accept it. She’s the one.”
He didn’t need Caydan to tell him that. He pretty much had deduced that the moment he laid eyes on her. She was the woman he’d take home to his parents, if they were still alive. “I’ll give you that one, Caydan. There isn’t anyone like her. There’s a lot going on right now. She has a new job to deal with, and she’s caring for her elderly parents. But I’m not going anywhere. Looks like Boston will be stuck with me a little longer.”
“Just don’t fuck it up in the meantime, because I’ll never hear the end of it from Allyson,” Caydan teased. “Remember, they all talk and stick together.”
“Yeah. You’re really selling me on that marriage stuff.” Roger snorted. “Good thing you’re not in sales. You suck at it.”
“Yeah, but Allyson loves my sorry ass anyway.” Then Caydan got up and said, “I’m heading out.”
“To do what?”
“Golf, because I don’t think either of those ladies will be back anytime soon. Want to join me?”
“Sure. It’s been a long time since I’ve kicked your ass.”
Caydan shrugged. “And I don’t think today is going to change that.”
As they walked out the hotel Roger felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He’d cleared the air with his best friend and finally admitted to himself how he felt about Gia. He loved her. Now all he needed to do was find the right time to tell her.
She’s so good at research, she’s probably already figured that out too.