Falling for My Ex's Uncle novel · Chapter 12 of 32

Chapter 12: I Did

Nobody at the table breathed.

Sherrie set her fork down very carefully.

Brice was staring at his plate.

His hand was flat on the tablecloth, and it wasn't steady.

Wick didn't look at his brother.

He looked at me.

Then he pushed his chair back and stood up.

"Thanks for dinner, Hal," he said. "Brisket's dry."

He held out his hand to me.

Not to take mine.

Just open, palm up, an offer.

I stood and walked out ahead of him, and I didn't take it, and I hated myself a little for not taking it.

Hal called after us down the hall.

"Think about it, little brother. The offer's good till Blue River."

The front door shut on his voice.

We drove for ten minutes without a word.

Ward Parkway, then the boulevard, then the long bridge over the river with the lights of the West Bottoms below.

He drove with both hands on the wheel, at exactly the speed limit.

I had my hands pressed between my knees.

I'd shaken his hand on it.

I'd turned a duck painting around for it.

"Did you?" I said.

He didn't pretend not to understand.

The tires hummed on the bridge.

"You said you wouldn't ask," he said.

"I know what I said."

"Then why?"

"Because your brother just handed me a knife at the dinner table, and I want to know if I should be holding it."

He was quiet so long I thought he wouldn't answer.

Then he did.

"I did."

Two words, flat and even.

I looked at him.

He kept his eyes on the road.

"Were you drunk?"

"Does it matter?"

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