into my arms. “You’re not going to disappoint me, right?”
She hummed in her sleep, and I took it as a promise that she wouldn’t.
Thirty-Eight
Travis
I pulled into a parking spot at the bar where we were meeting my friends for the Fourth of July. Since the holiday was on a Thursday, Lilah had suggested that we go to Stillwater for the day. It was a scenic town east of the Cities on the St. Croix River. It had bars that were in walking distance to each other and a fireworks show to watch after dark.
It was hopefully going to be a fun and relaxing day. Sydney had yet to meet my friends, so I was excited and nervous for them all to meet. Broderick had told me, as long as I didn’t bring Christy, he approved, so maybe I was worrying too much.
The first stop was the Freight House. It had a lot of deck space and was a perfect place to sit outside to eat and drink.
I pulled out my phone and checked my messages. “They’re already here.”
Sydney took a deep breath. “Great.” She sounded like she didn’t quite mean it.
“Are you nervous?”
She smiled. “Maybe a little.”
I took her hand. “Come on, let’s go.”
It was mid-afternoon, and despite it being a holiday, the bar wasn’t too busy. I led Sydney through the establishment to the back where the deck was. When I spotted Broderick, Dan, and Lilah, I waved.
They all smiled at Sydney and me, and I saw it as a positive sign that they were going to be open to meeting her.
“Hey, everyone, this is Sydney. Sydney, this is Broderick, Lilah, and Dan. Dan and Lilah are married.”
Lilah wiggled her left ring finger.
“And Broderick is hopelessly single.”
“Uh-uh-uh…I brought a date,” Broderick corrected.
I looked around. “Is she invisible?”
“You think you’re funny, but she’s in the restroom.”
“Or she ran away,” Dan said. “Did either of you see a blonde running away when you came in?”
“You guys are dicks,” Broderick said.
I looked over to see Sydney laughing, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“Let’s sit.” I left the seat next to Broderick open, pulled out the next one for Sydney, and then sat next to Dan.
The server came over as soon as they were both seated. “What can I get for you?” he asked.
“I’ll have a beer.” I was taking one cheat day in the middle of my training for my next shoot since it was a holiday. I looked over at Sydney. “Wine?” She always drank wine, so I figured it would be a yes.
“No…I think I’ll have a beer, too.”
My eyebrows rose. “Really?”
She held up her hands. “Yeah, this feels like a beer day.”
“Okay.” Travis turned back to the server. “Two beers.”
“And cheese curds,” Sydney said.
I turned to see that she had one of the menus on the table open. We’d only been here for a couple of minutes, and I loved that about her. I liked that she ate.
“Okay, two beers and cheese curds,” the attendant said. “Anyone else need a refill?”
Broderick raised his glass.
The server jotted down Broderick’s request and took off.
Two seconds later, a short blonde walked toward the table. This had to be Broderick’s date.
“Hey, Alice. I’d like you to meet my friend Travis and his date, Sydney.”
“You’re the model?” she asked me as she took her seat. She had that look in her eyes that some women got, like I was an exciting new toy.
“I am.” Sometimes, I got annoyed that this was what people first thought of me.
Why did Broderick have to tell her that?
“But he’s also a personal trainer,” Sydney said with a stern voice.
And I could’ve kissed her. I didn’t need her to stick up for me, but it sure was sweet.
“Oh. That’s…nice,” Alice said.
Sydney smiled as if she’d won a competition with the other woman. “It is nice.”
I threw my head back and laughed.
“I have to go use the ladies’ room,” Sydney said when we got to the next bar.
“Me, too,” Alice said.
Despite the rocky start, the two women had been getting along well for the rest of the afternoon.
As soon as they were out of sight, Lilah said, “Oh my God, I love her.”
I chuckled. “How does Dan feel about that?”
Dan shrugged. “Fine with me. She’s great.”
“Yeah, she’s a hundred times better than Christy, dude,” Broderick said. “Where did you find her again?”
“At a book signing.”
“The very thing Christy didn’t want you to do,” Lilah said. “Is that like irony or something?”
“Beats the hell out of me,” I said. “But I’m