to bet, it matches his. I focus on my beer and he focuses on his.
Joseph and I hit it off when he and Cheryl started dating. I never did like her previous boyfriends, but he treats her right. He’s a good fit for her. A good husband, and a good father. Even though he’s working his ass off while Cheryl’s out on maternity.
“Sorry to hear that,” I tell him, the beer right there at my lips. I don’t know what else to say. I don’t know shit about babies.
He lets out a heavy sigh, “It’s alright.” His eyes are distant when I look at him. He’s got a few days’ worth of scruff and I’m only now noticing the dark bags under his eyes. He huffs out a small laugh and takes another sip of his beer.
A chuckle leaves me at his next comment, “My ma said it was karma for how I was as a baby.”
With a long sigh, he adds, “She’s a daddy’s girl, though.” A sparkle hits his eyes, and I finally ease up some.
“Yeah, that’s what Cheryl says.”
Wiping his forehead with the back of his hand he takes a seat beside me. “At like two in the morning, every morning, she’s up and hungry. She doesn’t want me then.” He makes a face with wide eyes and it makes me laugh as he takes another drink. “But any other time, she’s my baby girl.”
The pride in his voice makes me smile. “I’m real happy for you two.”
With a nod and a smile still on his face, he admits, “I always thought you’d have one first.”
I grunt a response, “I’d need a woman to make that happen.”
“You had one when I first met you.” My body tenses some. I know Ma’s always bringing it up around everyone. She’s always pushing me to settle down, but I don’t need to hear it from my brother-in-law. I only put up with it from Ma, cause she’s my ma.
“I’m just sayin’,” Joseph takes a deep drink. “You’d make a good dad, if you ever wanted to.”
That’s my cue to stand up and stretch; I do without looking Joseph in the eyes. “Yeah, well. Maybe one day.”
I take a few steps to head upstairs, but turn when I don’t hear Joseph following me. The site of him is nothing but casual although he’s looking at me like he’s waiting for something.
“I heard you got a woman.”
I run my hand over my face with frustration. Why does everyone have to complicate everything and get into my business? I don’t need anyone in my head or trying to push things one way or the other with me and Grace.
“She’s nice,” I tell him.
“She’s in the wedding?” Joseph’s got a cocky smile on his face and it breaks the tension. I let out a laugh as he stands up, taking another drink. “Must be serious if she’s in the wedding.”
Shaking my head, I stare at the back wall, at the unfinished bar. “I’m going to need another beer soon,” I mutter to my brother-in-law. It makes him laugh, deep and low, and he relaxes his posture, leaning forward in his seat.
The downstairs would be a good place to hang with him after all.
I need to get down here and finish this room off.
“She’s real sweet. A graphic designer.” I add the last part absently.
“You met her at the bar?” I look back at my brother-in-law to see his face twisted, and his forehead pinched.
I shove my hands in my pockets and answer, “We hit it off there. It was just friendly at first.” I remember way back when I first laid eyes on her.
“That’s the way to do it,” Joseph comments with a nod and then sucks his teeth. “Friends first.”
“Yeah… then I got to missing her.” I surprise myself with the omission.
“Yeah I bet.” I’m thankful for his simple comment and not looking any deeper into what I just said.
When I bought the bar, Joseph was the only one who backed my decision. Everyone else told me not to pull the trigger, saying it was too risky. That it wasn’t a real career. But Joseph was right there. He gave me the pen to sign the papers with. He’s a logical man, but in that hairy ass chest of his is a heart of gold.
“So two stable people, two good jobs.” Joseph’s voice carries a bit.
“We just started seeing each other.” Even though my voice is harder than it should be he’s unaffected.
He