My Last(74)

Riley couldn’t help but smile and shake his head a little. Some things never change, he thought.

“Can I get you guys something?” she asked, her attention still solely focused on Alex.

“How about a pitcher of Bud and some hot wings,” Bobby suggested as he set the menu down.

“Sure, yeah...um...comin' right up,” she said, blushing, clearly a little flustered at the sudden reminder that there were actually other people at the table. She glanced once more at Alex before heading up to the bar.

Bobby’s phone beeped and a huge grin spread across his face as his fingers typed out a message.

“It’s like having dinner with teenagers,” Alex said to Riley before turning to Bobby. “No phones at the table, Bobby.”

Bobby didn’t respond to Alex baiting him.

Alex smiled as he shook his head, “Tell Sophie her favorite brother-in-law says Hi.”

“Okay,” Bobby said without looking up, “I’ll tell her Jason says Hi.”

Riley chuckled, “Married life looks good on you, little brother.”

Initially, when he had heard of his baby brother's plans to get married, he had thought it was a very bad idea. Riley remembered what he himself had been like in his early twenties, and he knew for a fact that there was no way he would have been ready to settle down at that point. He would have ended up being miserable, and – moreover – so would the poor woman who had the misfortune of marrying him.

He had talked with Jason, though, who had convinced him it was a good thing. Jason had explained that Sophie was Bobby’s world and that they were good together.

From the look that Bobby had on his face while even just texting his new bride, Riley had a strong suspicion that Jason was right.

The waitress reappeared with the pitcher and three chilled glasses, again her cheeks turned a deep rose color when she saw Alex.

“Nina, do you know my brother Riley?” Alex heartily patted Riley on the back.

Her eyes widened, “You’re Riley Sloan?”

“Last time I checked.”

“Wow,” she breathed in awe. “I’ve heard so much about you. My brother Kenny was a few years behind you in school. And…wow, I just…all the stories I’ve heard…I can’t believe…”

Riley wanted to move on from this topic of conversation, “You shouldn’t believe everything you hear.”

“Oh, no! It was nothing bad, I think my brother just idolized you a little bit, him and all his friends. I would hear them talk about all the pranks you and Eddie Thomas would pull,” she said, clearly impressed by whatever she had heard.

“That was a long time ago. I was a kid,” He shot back, his voice hardening a bit with every word, until it was solid concrete by the time he spit out the last of it. He didn’t want to be mean, but he really wasn't in the mood to take a trip down memory lane tonight. In fact, if he went the rest of his life and never reminisced about a single memory in his childhood, that would be just fine with him.

“Don’t mind him,” Alex said giving her his go-to mega-watt smile. “He just got back from overseas and he’s a little cranky.”

Riley shot him a look that in no uncertain terms conveyed exactly how he felt about being described as ‘cranky’ - not to mention about having his travel itinerary spilled to complete strangers.

Alex completely ignored the look Riley threw him.

Riley decided that, at some point over the next few days while he was here, he and Alex were going to have to have a little talk about what Riley considered appropriate and inappropriate.

“Oh!” She snapped her fingers, “That’s right. You were in the Marines, right?”

Why she was still standing here - at their table – talking, Riley had no idea, but maybe if he answered her questions she would just go away. Why did people find him so damn interesting, anyway?

“Yep.”

“Are you home for good or just here visiting?” She asked, seeming to be genuinely interested in his reply.

Riley had forgotten how much people pried into your personal business when you lived in a small town. He didn’t like it…at all.

“I’m here for a few days.”

“Are you heading back overseas after that?”

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Alex’s smile get even bigger. Clearly his brother was enjoying the fact that Riley was clearly not enjoying this conversation.

“No.”

“Oh,” Nina said, finally taking the hint and dropping the subject.

“See, I told you,” Alex said as he “covertly” pointed in Riley’s direction and mouthed, “cranky.”

She giggled, “Well, let me know if you guys need anything else. Your wings should be up in a minute.”