“The guys are here.” Mia puts her phone back down.

I’ve been sitting at a large table, not too far from the band and close to the bar where Alyssa is, with four gorgeous women and getting looks of envy from nearly every guy around. Even though the girls are great friends, family even, I’d trade every one of them in to have Kelsey with me instead.

“Hey, come with me,” Christian says as he comes from the back and stops at our table.

“Where?”

“I need you to hold a table for me.”

It’s probably better that I hold it than one of the girls. They’d get hit on right and left. As a group, they can take care of themselves.

I follow Christian to a small table for two stuck in a back corner. “There’s already a reserved sign on it.”

“I don’t trust that some asshat won’t remove it to have privacy with someone.”

There is that. “Fine, but for how long.”

“As long as it takes,” he answers. “Thanks man.” Then he disappears.

I sit on a chair and look around. The place is filling up and soon there won’t be room to move. Whoever got this table was smart to plan ahead. It’s a great place to be away from the crowd and actually have a conversation. Further out, with the larger tables, people will end up shouting over each other and the band to be heard.

It’s always like this at the Poison Apple. The place is always packed with men, women, cross-dressers, gays, straight, and any label someone may want to attach to themselves. It’s a fun environment without judgment. Just people in their twenties wanting to have fun.

Zach pushes his way through the crowd. He’s really done himself up tonight. From the blond wig to the red lipstick, he almost resembles Marilyn Monroe, which I’m sure is what he was going for. Ryan is with him and taking photos of the people, the place, and then he aims the camera at me. I’m about to make a face when Zach steps aside, revealing Kelsey.

My mouth goes dry. That red dress hugs her like a second skin, and those gorgeous legs go on forever.

Her eyes widen when she sees me.

Our friends did this. They set us up, and I hope to hell she doesn’t bolt.

I stand and she takes a step forward. She searches my eyes, and I’m not sure what to say. I could start the planned groveling now. “You look beautiful.” That isn’t groveling but the truth.

A blush stains her cheeks. “Thank you.”

Christian pushes his way through the crowd. He’s carrying two glasses and a bottle of wine and sets them on the table.

“I thought this was reserved.”

“It is. For you. For however long it takes.”

“Talk.” Ryan points to me, then Kelsey, then back at me and then the guys turn and are swallowed up in the crowd, leaving Kelsey and I very much alone. Or, about as alone as you can be in a packed bar.

“”Want to sit down?”

She shrugs. “Sure.”

I hold the chair for her and then sit back in mine before pouring wine, hoping she’ll stay long enough to enjoy a glass.

“I forgot this.” Christian says as he puts an ice bucket on the table and the pushes the bottle of wine down into it before taking off again. Beside the bucket are party hats and noise makers. They were here when I sat down I thought they were for another couple, but they are for us. I hope we have a reason to blow the horns to celebrate at midnight, and I’m not licking my wounds instead.

“To you.” I lift the glass and toast to Kelsey. “The most beautiful and strongest woman I know.”

Her blush deepens and she raises her glass. “To you. The kindest and most thoughtful guy I know.”

My heart skips a beat, and I search her eyes. “You’ve forgiven me?”

The corners of her mouth tip. “Yeah, but we need to talk.”

“Okay.” I try not to sound too hopeful, or desperate.

“You know what you did was wrong.”

“If I could turn back time, stop and think, I’d change everything.”

“She called me.”

“Mrs. Cross?” That’s got to be who Kelsey’s taking about.

She gives a quick nod. “She’s going to hold onto the letters and give them to Brandy when she is old enough.”

“That’s great!” So the situation isn’t as bad as I feared and maybe I can make it right.

“She shouldn’t have been given them in the first place.”

Shit! She’s still pissed even if she has forgiven me.

“Those were mine, and you took them.”

“You don’t know how sorry I am. I wish I could take it back. I tried to get them back.”

Kelsey places her hand on mine. “I know. But you need to promise never to do something like that again.”

“You have other things?”

“No.” She turns more fully toward me. “You can’t fix all the crap I my life. Sometimes the crap can’t be fixed, and I just need to work through it.”

“Okay.” If I can’t fix it, how the hell am I supposed to help her?

“What I need when that happens is a shoulder or an ear. That’s all.”

“That’s not being very helpful,” I tell her.

“It’s worth more than any action you could take.” Tears spring to her eyes. “That is what not being alone is about. I had no idea how much I needed someone I could talk to. To confide in. To know that someone had my back, or supported me, or loved me no matter what. I was so alone until you.”

“You don’t have to be.”

She looks into my eyes. “I was hoping you would say that.”

A tear slips out of the corner and trails down her cheek. She swipes it away before I have a chance.

“I love you, Kelsey. I thought I’d lost you.”

“I thought I lost you. I was such a bitch, but you never called.”

Why didn’t I just pick up the damn phone? So what if she kicked me in the balls, at least she would have known I still cared. Instead, I left what balls I had back at the brownstone when I walked out. “I was giving you time.”

“I thought you were done.” She twirls her glass and then takes a drink.

“I didn’t leave because of the fight. I left because I realized how badly I fucked up and was afraid to look you in the eye again.”

“So you don’t run whenever there is a fight?”

“Only when I’m pissed at myself and need to figure out how to fix it.”

“I should have called,” I admit.

“No, I should have.” She smiles.

I grab her hand and kiss the back. “Maybe we both should have, but I was afraid you’d never want to see me again.”

“That’s the same reason I was afraid to call.”

“Let’s not do that again.”

“Fight?” she asks. “I’m not sure that’s possible.

“No. Let’s not stay away from each other when we do.”

“As long as you promise not to try and fix something without talking to me first.”

I wince. “That’s going to be hard.”

“I know. It’s a guy thing.” She smiles. “But it’s important to me.”

“Okay.” I make a cross over my heart with my index finger. “I will ask before I try to fix. Deal?”

“Deal.” She sticks out her hand as if making a bargain.

I grab it, but pull her close. This isn’t a business deal. This is love, and I kiss her.

Kelsey sighs when she pulls back.

“I’ve missed you.”

“Not as much as I missed you.” Then I pull her onto my lap. There’s a lot of kissing and fondling to make up for. Not that I’ll really fondle her in a club, but I can sure do a hell of a lot of kissing.

“It’s about time.”

I pull back and look up. Christian is on the low stage standing at the mic, grinning at us.

“Let’s give it up for the two stubborn fools in the corner who finally made up.”

The crowd starts cheering as Kelsey hides her face in my shoulder. All I can do is laugh. Here I thought tonight was going to suck, but it may just turn out to be the best night ever.

“So, what are you doing later?” I whisper in her ear.

“I was hoping to take you home with me.” She looks up. “And, I might not ever let you leave.”