Page 101 of Thick

“They’re engaged?”

“As of now, yes.”

He pushed his cup to the side. “Before you go any further, I need to tell you something. If I don’t tell you now, I’ll damned sure forget it.”

“Okay.”

“Bobbi. I’ve never seen her happier. And, when I say never, I mean never. I don’t know what your intentions are, and I knew nothings etched in stone, but I’d like to ask you if and when you let her go, let her down easy, will ya?”

I shook my head. “I’m not going to let her go.”

“That’s not an easy promise to make, and that’s not why I brought it up. I don’t expect an assurance, all I want is to make sure she doesn’t get hurt. She thinks the world of you, Tate. She really does. When a girl feels that way about a man, losing him is never easy. I’m asking that you make it as easy as you can.”

I pushed my coffee cup to the side and leaned against the edge of the table. “You wear hearing aids?”

“Not yet, why?”

“I was going to ask you to turn ‘em up.”

He chuckled. “Smart ass.”

“I’m not leaving her, Mr. Madden. Not now, not ever. If we split up, it’ll be because she gets sick of me.”

“Mr. Madden died twenty years ago. Call me James from here on out, will ya?”

“Okay, James.”

He reached for his coffee, took a sip, and then gave me a look of slight confusion. “Well. It sounds like you two are off on the right foot. Color me stupid, but did you stop by here to tell me your president is getting married? Is that the reason?”

“I wanted to make sure you got an invite from me to the wedding. I want to make sure you’re there.”

“Is it important to you that I come?”

“Very.”

“I’ll be there, then.”

“Want me to tell you when it is?”

“At some point, I suppose. When is it?”

“Two weeks from Saturday.”

“What time?”

‘Two o’clock.”

“I’ll be there.”

“I’d sure appreciate it.”

He finished his cup of coffee and then studied me. “You’re unique, Tate. I like that about you.”

“Unique? How?”

“Just from all I’ve learned about you. The TV, no sports, no internet. You’re an odd one for sure. Odd in a good way. And, I think you’re good for Bobbi. It makes me happy thinking you two might make it the distance.”

“We’ll make it the distance.”