Anthony laughs. “Yeah, well, my social life is going to enjoy it too. I’m ready to handle my business. Oh, speaking about business, Martha and I found the perfect property for you.”
“Oh yeah?” I ask, being pulled into the conversation. “What property is that?”
“Remember the ones she was supposed to look at? She’s been holding down the fort really well, I think. She spent all week going around, then she put down a retainer deposit on two of them. She took me to both of them, and I’ve gotta say, you’ve got to see the one down by the university. It’s awesome. We have an appointment to see it in two days.”
“What was it?” I ask, leaning back. “University’s a crowded area. It can’t be cheap.”
“Yeah, but it’s a steal, man. I ran the numbers, and it’s good. Used to be a Chinese restaurant.”
“Chinese, huh?” I reply. “Too many of those around.”
“Yeah, well, the place might smell a lot like moo goo gai pan, but hey, I’ve got a lot of good memories of moo goo gai pan,” he says with a lift of his eyebrow, trying unsuccessfully to lighten my mood.
Good memories. I’d like to have good memories again.
“Everything’s good,” Gavin says, leaning back in the deck chair. I really should have checked in with him a few days ago, but I had to spend the last two days just getting some rest.
“That’s good,” I reply, leaning back in my own chair and sipping at an iced coffee. “You look like a man who’s having a good streak.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not gonna risk the money again,” Gavin says with a chuckle. “You know, it’s a shame things didn’t work out between you and Mindy. I had hopes.”
“She’s a remarkable woman,” I say, “but sometimes, stuff happens. You know how it is. I had fun, at least.”
“That’s a shame,” Gavin replies with a sigh. “She’s back in town at the coffee shop, by the way.”
“Oh, yeah?” I ask, surprised. “I feel like six feet of warmed over leftovers. How in the hell did she do that?”
“Good question. Bri and I tried to insist that she take a few more days off, but she walked into the shop Wednesday and went right to work. She’s not having much fun, I hear. She and Brianna have been talking every day. She’s even been taking Rafe with her, hoping that Rafe would cheer Mindy up. Trust me, that could totally boomerang on us. Mindy sometimes doesn’t have much of a filter, and Rafe is . . .”
“A tape recorder?” I ask, and Gavin nods. Even though I’m still depressed, I have to laugh at that. “Yeah, I bet. And I know what you mean. Most of her family’s that way. It was surprising, but I liked it. They’re real.”
Gavin laughs. “Yeah, I can imagine. So the rest of her family’s the same?”
I nod, laughing for a moment. “You should meet her little sister. Roxy’s a total trip. The time she took us to the club and . . .”
Memories flood me, not only of the fun times but the way Roxy sang for us, and I clam up, draining the rest of my coffee and looking out at Gavin’s backyard. “Anyway, it was what it was.”
“I can imagine,” Gavin says quietly. “You know, Oliver, sometimes things get weird. If you asked me three years ago, I’d have told you that I’d be riding out the biggest contract of my career. I wouldn’t have guessed I’d be retired and a family man.”
“Why’d you do it?” I ask him, turning and looking him in the eye. “Not giving up football and all that. I get that. Why’d you put that money on the line for Mindy? Hell, until the last card, I had your ass.”
Gavin looks back at me, and I know he’s measuring something in me. Finally, he answers. “If it hadn’t been for Mindy, I’d have never had a chance with Brianna. She’s a wiseass, but she’s also totally amazing, and I was hoping . . . well, I was kinda hoping that she’d find the same happiness that she gave me and Bri.”
I nod, getting up and grabbing my empty cup. “I hope so too, Gavin. I really do. Thanks for the coffee.”
“No problem,” Gavin says, getting up. We shake hands, and he walks me around the house to my car. Just as I’m about to get in, he stops me. “Oli, one more thing.”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t walk away.”
“Looks like the property is yours,” the agent says, shaking hands with me. “I mean, I still need to run this by City Hall to get the title transfer registered, but I’ll have that to you by Monday afternoon.”