having a ‘day off from the world’ now and then. She goes off and does her thing without having to worry about being a wife or a mom for a while, and comes back happy, relaxed, and grateful,” Noah explains.
“Mac’s the same. But then again, with our three hellions, she deserves a break,” Daniel says, backing him up.
“Did you hear from her this morning?” Thomas asks, like a dog with a bone.
“I’m seeing her after she finishes at the club tonight. What gives, Thomas?” I ask, wondering if I’m missing something.
He claps me on the back. “Nothing, man. It’s just unlike her. Maybe she had a bad night?”
Having now put the thought in my head that I might’ve missed something last night, I’m grateful when Daniel steps up to the tee.
He rears back and takes a well-practiced swing, hitting the ball a good two hundred yards to land in the middle of the fairway.
“Nice shot,” I remark.
“You doubted me?”
“Not with the amount of golf you play. I’m surprised you’re not a pro.”
Daniel sighs dramatically. “It was hard saying no to the PGA, but a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.”
We all snigger as Thomas walks up to take his tee shot.
“And how’s Abi?” Noah says, not trying to hide his shit-eating grin.
“So golf and gossiping now? Just how I saw myself spending a Saturday.”
“You should be used to it by now. Noah and I have inquisitive wives who drill us for info the minute we walk through the front door,” Daniel says with a laugh.
“He’s right. In fact, I swear the only reason I was allowed out today was to get the low-down on you two lovebirds,” Noah adds.
I snort, knowing that my best friend is not lying.
“Things are good. Real good.”
“How’s the campaign going for Cade Senior?” Daniel asks.
“Apparently he’s a shoo in. Like there was ever any doubt,” I reply.
“Over it yet?” Noah asks.
“I’d rather just go about my business and not be stopped by everyone everywhere, wanting to talk to me about my dad. How happy they are that he’s running, asking me to tell him that he has their vote, wondering if I’m going to follow in his footsteps . . .”
“You knew it would happen,” Thomas says
“Have your parents gotten over the fact that you’re not dating a woman of their choosing?” Daniel asks.
Thomas walks towards me and slides his golf club back in his bag. “Oh, you mean Annabel and Cade Senior accepting that their children are allowed to date whoever they want? Sure, of course they have.”
I grimace, but he’s not wrong. He’s annoyed—at my father, not me—because last week he was called to Dad’s office where it was intimated that if Thomas was to give him information about Abi, he would be ‘handsomely rewarded.’
“We had a reporter approach us for a comment when we were out for dinner on Wednesday. They wanted to know what I thought about the latest poll showing my father leading the race.”
All three guys grimace.
“How was Abi with that?” Noah asks, pulling his own club and ball out to take his tee shot.
“She was fine. Well, she seemed okay with it anyway. She just ribbed me about it later.”
“It’s a strong woman who’ll take on everything Carsen,” Noah muses.
“So no more talks with your dad?” Daniel asks.
“I don’t think he’s that stupid.”
Thomas’s brows lift, and I know he’s wondering what drug I’m on and how to get some.
“As long as they don’t go after her. Are you worried about that?” Daniel says
“I was but nothing has come from their warnings so far. He knows not to push me. I don’t think they’d be that stupid. They’ve got to know by now that if they did, I’d turn my back on them completely.”
“Is she worth it?” Noah asks.
“Of course she’s fucking worth it,” I growl.
“Woah there, buddy. I get it,” he replies, holding his hands up.
“She’s the breath of fresh air I never saw coming.”
“What do you mean?” Daniel asks.
“Her. Us. What we have.”
“Jeez Carsen, sounds like you’ve got it bad,” Noah says with a grin.
“Finally,” Daniel muses. “It’s about time another one fell.”
Thomas starts singing ‘Another One Bites the Dust,,’ and I burst out laughing.
“No wonder you’re having a dry spell, if that’s what your voice is like,” Noah says, and we all chuckle.
“So Thanksgiving with Abi’s family . . .” Noah says.
I narrow my eyes at Thomas, who just shrugs. “You’re a worse gossip than a woman. Maybe you need to get laid so