Broken Road Café 1 - The Broken Road Café (7 page)

The night had been long and sleepless. This would have been a time when Dan called Gary, and he would bring over a bottle of tequila and they would talk everything out. Gary would tell him Abe was a fucking asshole who didn’t deserve him, and they would tell horrible boyfriend stories—well, that would be Dan since Gary and Kerry pretty much had been together forever. But they would damn everyone to hell, take a shot, and watch bad movies or sing seventies songs. “Victim of Love.” “Poor, Poor Pitiful Me,” “The Pretender.” Have an all-out pity party, then fall into bed drunk and wake up, and the whole world would look shiny and new again.

Only…this time Gary was part of the problem. Dan may have dealt with Abe—oh, it may only be physically, since he was kicking the cheating scumbag out—but he wouldn’t let the cracks in his heart show to anyone just yet. Even to himself. But he couldn’t— wouldn’t—go there. So he lay there and thought about how he’d call a mover the next day and get all signs of Abe out of his home. He wished he could take a giant eraser and eliminate every memory of the man from his brain and heart, but he had to admit, there had been good times too. Time would heal this, but he would be damned if he put himself in the position of being betrayed again.

As the sky began to lighten, and the first rays of the sun peeked into the bedroom, Dan stretched and rubbed his face, tired and sad, but oddly at peace. When his doorbell rang, he groaned. How in the hell had anyone gotten into the building and up to his door? Dan considered just staying in bed and letting whoever it was think he wasn’t home. Then the bell rang again, and he had the awful feeling it was Abe coming back for some of his shit, or to rub his grimy heel in Dan’s face again. Or maybe pour some rubbing alcohol into the open wounds in his heart.

Pride wouldn’t allow that. He’d be damned if he let anyone think he was a coward. Fuck that. He threw the sheets back and reached for his jeans. Sliding them on, he took a moment to stop in the bathroom and splash some water on his face and run his fingers through his hair. The bell sounded again and he dropped the hand towel he’d been using to wipe his face off and moved to the head of the steps. “Just a fucking minute, hold your goddamn horses,” he yelled down the stairs. Taking them two at a time, he stomped to the door and flung it open, not bothering to check who it was.

Gary. It was Gary standing there, with two Starbucks coffees and a bag. Dan knew it was scones and muffins. The scene was too familiar, and without a word Dan stepped to the side to let him in. Gary moved gingerly past him, careful not to meet his eyes or touch him. Dan closed the door and followed him into the den, and they both took seats at opposite ends of the sofa.

“You must have talked to Abe.” Dan sat, waiting to see if he was going to need to kick Gary’s ass out like he had Abe’s.

Ducking his head, Gary appeared to grow smaller, drawing himself in. Dan couldn’t help but feel sorry for the man. Twenty years of knowing someone, loving him like a brother didn’t just go away overnight. He might wish it did, but even through all the hurt he was feeling, Dan knew a part of him would always love Gary.

“He came by last night. We thought he was staying at a hotel or something.” Gary finally raised his head, and Dan was shocked at the dark circles, almost like bruises, under Gary’s eyes. They were red-rimmed and his face was blotchy and pale—the man looked like hell. “Dan? I had no idea he was up to anything with that guy at your law firm. Greg? If nothing else, I promise you that’s true.”

Dan nodded his head slowly. For some odd reason, he believed him. Abe was a master liar, as he’d discovered the hard way. He still didn’t trust himself to open his mouth, and the tension built. Finally, he spoke. “Gar…how could you?” He knew his voice broke on the last word, but he didn’t care. He was hurting, goddamn it.

Gary flinched and his eyes began to shine, tears welling up and then spilling over and dropping from his eyes like raindrops. “It’s…Dan, I’m so fucking stupid.” He covered his face with his hands and began to shake, not letting a sound out. Dan’s heart broke for him, but he had to hear it, know what happened.

After a few minutes, Gary drew in a soggy breath and spoke, his head never leaving his hands. “Abe and I started hanging out together around the time you were bearing down so hard when the partners told you they were considering you to join them. He said he was lonely, and”—he shook his head—“I was so stupid. I let him play me. We went out and drank and talked and before I knew it, I…I was standing there and he was on his knees, and it felt so good. And then it hit me how I cheated on Kerry and he cheated on you and…he was just so fucking…charming.”

That seemed to give Gary some courage. Still talking with his hands over his face, and his head almost between his knees, he went on. “We talked about it and how it shouldn’t ever happen again, but it did the next week. And before I knew it, I was in bed with him. Fucking him. Then, a month ago it was mine and Kerry’s anniversary and we’d been talking about a one-time three-way, just for him, and you cancelled on dinner with us and Abe came. It just…happened.”

“Did you think I would never find out? Or did you even care?” That hurt the worst. That the three of them started something they knew was wrong, and either didn’t care about Dan, or thought him so stupid they just went on and on.

That caused Gary to finally look at him. “
No!
Dan, I wanted to tell you, even talked to Kerry about it. And Abe. That’s why we were over here the other day, to tell Abe that you needed to know, and he agreed. Then he was naked and it fucking happened again. Dan,” Gary pled with him, “I honest to God have never lied to you about anything before this. And yeah, it’s big, and you don’t have any reason in the world to believe me, but I swear on anything you ask me to, it’s true.”

Dan wanted to believe him. He wanted something in this whole clusterfuck of a week to make sense, and if anything would, it was Gary. But it hurt so badly, so deeply, and he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to trust Gary again. But he really did believe some of what Gary was saying. He’d have to sit and sort it all out, compare what his brain told him and what his heart felt with what the people who supposedly were his family said. He had the feeling something was missing though. Something from Abe’s story and from Gary’s.

“So why? What was so special about Abe that you had to start something up with him? You’ve had chances all these years to mess around, you and Kerry, and you didn’t. Or if you did, it isn’t my business. But Abe? Gary, I trusted you. I
loved
you.”

That broke something in Gary. He reached out across the few feet separating them and grabbed onto Dan. “I love you too. That’s the problem. All these years, I loved you and I was too chickenshit to tell you. I wanted you so bad, and you never looked back at me that way. I just…wanted you. And when Abe offered me something close to you, I took it. Fuck me for a fool, but I took it. I thought maybe, somehow, it would all end up with us together. God, I am such a fucking fool. And now I’m losing everything. Kerry’s probably gonna leave me now—he didn’t know about…everything either.”

Dan thought he understood. And he could almost feel pity for Gary.
Almost.
But Gary chose to betray him in the worst way. Yeah, it was Abe who drove the bus, but fuck if it wasn’t Gary and Kerry who sat in the front seat and watched the damage when he was thrown under it.
“That’s all well and good, Gary, but don’t you think you could have told me instead of, of fucking ruining my life? Abe may have been an asshole, but you could’ve told me. And now I don’t have him— good riddance—but goddamn it, I can’t trust you now. Don’t you see that? There’s no way I can trust my brother again.”
The hurt in Gary’s eyes just about did Dan in. So long, they’d been friends so damn long. Hell. They were family. And now…nothing. Dan hurt, but after everything that went on that week, his life would never be the same.
Gary took a napkin from the bag and wiped his eyes and blew his nose, laughing a little. One of Dan and his running jokes was what an uncouth bastard he could be. Dan realized he’d miss that. He’d miss the hell out of the jokes and bad movies and hugs and…yes, love.
But.
It was that
but
that killed him. Without the trust that bound them together, there was nothing. Abe, Gary, Kerry—they’d all broken trust with him. And now Dan would be alone. At one point in his life that would have crippled him. After his parents died and there was no one else, there was Gary. Now, he was almost startled to find that the thought of being alone, starting over, didn’t scare him like it did ten, fifteen years ago.
Dan realized Gary was sitting there, looking miserable. It was his own doing, and part of Dan—a very big part, if he was being totally honest—just wanted to walk away, push him out the door with a
see ya around
. But goddamn it if he didn’t have that little bit of him that couldn’t quite be the bastard he wanted to be.
Standing, he moved to the other end of the sofa and pulled Gary up into a bear hug. When Gary broke, huge sobs pulled from his chest, Dan did too. All the grief, the hurt, the betrayal came pouring out. He wasn’t sure how long the two of them stood there, clinging to each other like their lives depended on it. But Dan slowly pulled away.
“Someday. Not today, not tomorrow. Maybe not ever, but I think…someday I may be able to forgive you. For now, you have to go”
Wiping his face with his sleeve, Gary looked up. Tears still leaked from his eyes, and he looked devastated, but he held Dan’s gaze and nodded, not able to speak.
“Don’t call me. Just leave me be. I’m leaving Atlanta, and I need to be alone. You’ve done this. You and Kerry and Abe. You did this to me.” He tried to soften his tone so the words wouldn’t hit like stones, but from the expression on Gary’s face and the slump of his shoulders, he wasn’t sure he succeeded. “I know you’re hurting too, and I hope you and Kerry can work it out. But I need you to leave now.”
Dan took Gary’s hand and walked him to the door. Opening it, he watched as Gary stumbled down the hallway toward the elevator. “Gary?” The man stopped, but didn’t turn. “In spite of it all, I love you.” He closed the door before Gary could answer.
Then he stood with his head against the door, sucked in deep breaths as he cried for everything he’d lost.

The check had come via courier around noon two weeks before. Thankfully—and a little surprisingly— it was for the exact amount he demanded. The separation agreement and confidentiality agreement and non-disclosure agreement and non-competition agreement—so much lawyerese Dan had to laugh— were all included. He reviewed them, signed it all, then called a courier to come by and take them back to the firm. Dan wanted this done; he was a little in shock they’d sent the check with the paperwork. They wanted his ass gone, or they were scared of him, or some combination of the two.

Either way, Dan felt as if a weight had been lifted off his chest. As scary as the future might look sometimes, he was so glad to put the past behind him he wanted to celebrate. Oddly enough, he felt drawn to the people in Blue Ridge. Patsy would make him laugh, and Jake would flirt with him a little and make him feel like he wasn’t alone.

And Nick…now why in the hell would he care what the chief thought? The man was straight, a pain in the ass, and no one Dan wanted to associate with.

Now, though, it was two weeks later and as much as he liked sitting on his ass and watching court TV, Dan had a decision to make. Several, actually, but the main one drove everything else.

around him. He had the valuations and comps, the inspection he’d had done, the evaluation from the bank as to what they’d loan, and the name of an architect who could start designing the remodel immediately. Lying next to all that, he had his savings statement, a copy of the buy-out check, his 401(k) statement, and a legal pad with all the pros and cons as to whether he should buy the restaurant.

In one separate stack, he had copies of real estate listings of homes he might want to look at. He had a good amount of equity in the condo, and the complex had a waiting list of buyers salivating at a chance to buy the lofts.

So, what was he waiting on? Staring at the paperwork and his phone, Dan shoved it all aside and reached out to dial. Putting the handset on speaker, he felt a fine line of sweat break out across his forehead as the call connected. “Patsy Verline Realty. How may I help you?”
Dan cleared his throat. “Patsy, it’s Dan O’Leary. From Atlanta.”
A loud squeal had him scrambling for the volume button. “Yes, doll baby. How are you? It’s been way too long since I heard that sweet voice of yours. Now, tell Patsy what she can do for you today?”
Rolling his eyes, but loving it, Dan grinned. “I’d like to make an offer on the Blue Moon.”
“Well, now, darlin’, I’ll have to look. That’s a hot property, you know. I have two people gettin’ ready to fax over offers today, and—“
“Now, come on, Patsy. You and I both know that’s pure country crap. The sweeter the honey, the colder the property. I have a solid offer, fifty-fifty cash and financing, and on top of that, I have three residential properties I want to look at this afternoon, ‘cause I’ll be wanting a house in the area too. So, do I wait for a call back in the next half hour, or do I call Jan Barnes Realty over on Main Street and see what he can do for me?”
There was a long pause. “Oh, you are an evil little man, aren’t you, Dan O’Leary? Butter wouldn’t melt in that pretty little mouth of yours, would it? Well, sit yourself by the phone and let me call Bill and Adele and I’ll get back to you. Oh, and sweetie?”
“Yes, angel?”
“I’m tied up this afternoon, but if you fax the property listings up with that offer, I’ll see if I can’t give you the keys to go look for yourself. After all, a high-priced Atlanta attorney like yourself can be trusted up here in little old Patsy’s town, can’t you?
“Nice doing business with you, Madam Mayor.”
“Yeah, and don’t you forget it.”
The line went dead, and Dan chuckled. He gathered up the offer he was faxing over as well as the property listings he wanted to see and placed them in his fax machine. Dialing in Patsy’s number, he hit send and felt a thrill go through his body.
He was doing this. By God, he was, the good lord willing and the creeks don’t rise, as his grandmother used to say, going to leave Atlanta, buy a restaurant, and join small town life.
Within fifteen minutes, his phone rang. Without even looking, he hit the speaker button. “Dan O’Leary.”
“You know, you could’ve at least let it ring like, five times, and pretended that you were playing hard to get.”
Dan blinked. “Charity?”
“None other than, boss man. How’s unemployed life treating you?
Settling back in his chair, Dan smiled. “Nothing better. No clients, no meetings with partners. No asshats breathing down my neck.”
“Sounds like heaven. Listen, scuttlebutt around the salt mines today is your boy Greggie is upset. Like, major league. Something to do with the Delgado case. I was advised by a mutual friend that your name was bandied about at the partners’ meeting this morning, and how they are supposed to try to get you back for the trial. Evidently”—and her voice went very soft—“the client wants a partner on the hook, according to Davonna. As in, if the client goes down, so does the partner. Sounds like a load of…well. A lady doesn’t use those words, but you know what I mean.”
Dan frowned and rubbed the bridge of his nose with his finger and thumb. “That sounds like some Al Pacino,
‘say hello to my little friend’
crap to me. Seriously?”
“Look, I’m just relaying to you what Davonna told me to. She’s your goomba now?” They shared a laugh, then Charity’s voice went serious again. “But really, Dan, have you ever known her to be wrong, or to screw with you? There’s something that just doesn’t smell right here. I don’t trust Greg Simkins any further than I can spit him, and since he’s not getting within a mile of my mouth for any reason, that’s not very far.”
“Do me a favor and keep your ears open, okay? Don’t do anything to get yourself in trouble, but I trust Davonna. Oh, and Charity? Before you hear it from anyone else, Abe and I are history. The little buttweasel we were just talking about? He and Abe have been knocking boots for the past few months.”
There was silence on the line, and Dan thought he lost the connection. He was about to hit the redial button when her voice came back. “Knocking boots? Dan, honey, you barely tan. Remember when you went to the beach last time and burned, and it all peeled off and you just looked like a scaly lobster boy? You aren’t gangsta. Please don’t use words like that.” He started to sputter and laugh, not sure whether to be offended or laugh his ass off. “Now, that does explain the rumor mill around here. The secretary pool was at the water fountain, and that little Jackie O wannabe assistant of his was bragging about how Greggie had a new lover. Odds were it was either a Russian mail order bride or a lobotomy patient. Guess we know which one now.”
“God, I do love you.”
“Buy me a pair of Jimmy Choo’s and we’re even.”
“Find out more about this Delgado deal and you got that and a Vuitton bag.”
“Darling. I love it when you talk dirty to me. Ciao.”
Dan disconnected the line and sat back again. What in the fuck was happening? He needed to do some digging and find out about this Delgado