But there was something about playing the guitar alone in the silence of that big empty house that sometimes made him feel worse than before. The notes echoing through the hallways, thrumming through the airwaves in two empty bedrooms. Linc remembered a time when the house was filled with sound and movement and hope. He used to imagine having a family, two kids to fill those empty bedrooms down the hall from his own suite. From time to time, he felt guilty about taking up all that space. When he’d bought the house, he’d never considered he might end up alone there. But such was life.
“Linc! Seth! Come over here,” called one of the older cops.
The other guys were all gathered together around a high-top table in the corner. Seth and Linc exchanged bemused expressions and sauntered over to the group. Everyone was grinning and holding up a drink. Seth lifted his almost-full cocktail, and Linc simply raised a glass of water.
“We’re toasting to Chuck’s engagement and to many future nights like this!” the best man slurred.
“Yeah, right. Like Lindsey is really gonna let Chuck party with the boys once they’re hitched,” joked one of the others.
“I’ll just bring her with me for the next one,” Chuck said, laughing.
The guys let out a collective groan and eyeroll at that one.
Seth added, “Come on, guys. Remember we’re here to celebrate one thing: Chuck found the one. He’s in love, and may we all be so lucky someday.”
“Here, here!” agreed one of the elder officers.
They all clinked their glasses together, and Linc forced a smile, even though he felt a familiar pang deep in his soul. The ache of something missing, an emptiness inside of him that couldn’t be filled—not with work, hobbies, booze, or time. The pain was so soft now, just a split-second twinge compared to the knives in his chest he’d felt years ago, whenitfirst happened.
“Hey, man, you alright?” the best man was saying to Chuck. The bachelor was doubled over, clutching at his stomach and groaning.
Chuck nodded, though he looked sweaty.
“Just a little nauseous. Guess I finally hit my limit, boys,” he admitted.
“I didn’t want to be that guy, but I’m done, too,” said another. “I’m beat.”
“Yeah, my wife wants me home by midnight. If I show up at twelve-oh-one, I’ll never hear the end of it,” added the guy beside him.
“Sounds like the party might be over, my friends,” Seth concluded. He turned to Linc. “Do you want to help me get these guys some rides home?”
“Of course. Anybody need a shoulder to lean on? Some of you are looking pretty wobbly,” Linc teased gently.
“Oh yeah. I’ll be feeling this in the morning,” groaned one of the older cops.
Between Seth and Linc, they were able to slowly migrate the drunken, exhausted group of partygoers out of the private room. The bar area was even busier than before, but Linc went straight up to the bar counter. The same young woman who had brought them shots was behind the counter, and she gave Linc a shy smile as he approached.
He leaned in close and said in a low voice, “We need to close out our tabs.”
“Oh! No problem. Let’s see… looks like it was all on one tab for the party,” she replied.
Linc nodded and pulled out his black leather wallet. He slid her his credit card.
“Put it all on me,” he said.
“But you only ordered a beer,” she said very quietly.
Linc smiled. “I know. It’s okay. Just run the card.”
“Yes, sir,” she answered, printing a receipt for him to sign.
“You coming, Linc?” Seth called from the door. He had Chuck and one of the other younger cops leaning on each shoulder.
Lincoln quickly wrote in a hefty tip and slid the receipt back to the bartender, whose eyes went wide when she picked it up. But before she could say a word about his generosity, Linc was gone. He joined Seth in helping the other guys limp through the grand, echoing foyer to the double doors. The night air was balmy, with the faint scent of ocean on the breeze.
As Linc was piling Chuck and the best man into a cab, the latter suddenly turned to him with a mortified look. He grabbed Linc’s arm and slurred, “I never paid the tab!”
Lincoln gently pulled his arm away and stood up. “I handled it, brother.”