A Good Measure, page 20
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“ARE YOU OKAY?” CHASE ASKED AS THEY WALKED ALONG HISTORIC BAKER Beach, carrying their sandals.
“Yeah,” Liam replied, even though his eyes were still rimmed with tears. “I don’t know why I’m so shocked by their reaction. I knew how they reacted the first time I tried to explain—like if they ignored what I was saying, it wouldn’t be true . . . so why’d I think it would be any different now? Why’d I think they would suddenly become accepting?” He shook his head. “It was foolish on my part.”
Chase nodded. “You were hoping they would. They’re your parents and they’re supposed to love you unconditionally, no matter what, but honestly, I can’t believe they’re even related to you because they couldn’t have been more unkind or less compassionate.”
Liam ran his hand through his dark hair. “I know, and look at how excited they are about my sister getting married. If they really knew her fiancé, they wouldn’t be so happy. They’re just brainwashed because he’s such a freakin’ charmer and because he owns his own sporting goods store, like he’s some kind of genius.”
“Do they know we own our own business?”
“They do—I’ve told them, but I guess they don’t consider a travel agency to be a real business.”
Chase didn’t say anything. He wanted to tell Liam the way his parents had treated him was an outrage—he was their son! And he wanted to assure him he was better off without them, but he felt like it wasn’t his place. He would’ve never been able to walk away from his own parents—it would destroy him, and he’d be crushed if they’d ever spoken to him the way Liam’s parents had or said they couldn’t believe he was their son just because of who he loved.
“It’ll be okay,” he said softly, intertwining his hand with Liam’s. “We’ll get through it.”
Liam mustered a smile. “I know we will.” He wiped his eyes with his shoulder. “You hungry?”
Chase laughed. “I am hungry. Those steaks were smelling pretty good when we left.”
“They were,” Liam said, laughing, too.
“It’s a good sign that you’re laughing . . . and hungry—it means you’re gonna survive.”
Liam gestured to the Golden Gate Bridge looming in the distance. “Why don’t we see if we can find a restaurant with a view of the bay.”
“Works for me,” Chase agreed, and they turned to walk back to the car. “You wanna drive and I’ll look for a place? You’re more familiar with the area.”
“Sure,” Liam said, brushing the sand off his feet and slipping into his sandals. They climbed into the little MINI Cooper and Chase pulled out his phone.
“Am I looking for a place that serves steak?”
“Doesn’t matter. Pub fare would be good.”
Chase tapped his phone and began searching for restaurants overlooking the bay. “Looks like there are quite a few,” he said, scrolling down the page, searching for reviews, and then he paused to read the reviews of the highest-rated restaurant. “I found a place,” he said. “It’s reasonably priced, has outdoor dining, a spectacular view, and everything from steak to wild Pacific salmon.”
“Perfect,” Liam said, putting on his sunglasses. “Which way?”
“Left,” Chase said.
TEN MINUTES LATER, CHASE POPPED A MINT IN HIS MOUTH, PUT ON HIS SUNGLASSES, and climbed out, but when he paused to look at his reflection in the car window, muss his short blond hair, and adjust his shirt, Liam frowned. “You have a date or something?”
“Me? Ha! Nooo. Only you!”
Liam eyed him suspiciously, anyway, and then turned to look at the restaurant sign. “Wait a minute,” he said. “Quince Café . . . is this your friend’s restaurant?”
“Maybe,” Chase said, grinning impishly as they walked across the parking lot.
Liam rolled his eyes and laughed. “I forgot her restaurant was out here.”
“I forgot, too. I thought of it when the name popped up.”
“I wonder if she’s here tonight.”
“Well, it’s Saturday, so I hope so.”
They stepped up to the hostess stand and requested a table on the deck, and the young woman seated them at a table with an amazing view of the bridge. “Your waitress will be right with you,” she said, setting the menus in front of them.
Chase nodded, and then eyed her. “Is Quinn here tonight?”
The hostess’s face lit up. “Quinn? She’s always here! Is she a friend?”
“She is,” Chase said.
“I’ll send her right over.”
“Thanks,” Chase said, feeling his heart pound. He looked at Liam and raised his eyebrows. “Whatcha drinkin’?”
Liam shook his head. “After the day I’ve had, whiskey, leave the bottle!”
Chase nodded. “That’s the truth!”
They perused the list of cocktails and beers. “I don’t know,” Chase mused. “It all sounds good. We’ll have to ask Quinn what she recommends.” He looked around to see if she was coming, but there was no sign of her. A moment later, though, he saw a slender young woman with wispy shoulder-length blond hair wearing slacks and a light blue V-neck sweater stop to talk to the hostess. He watched them and when the hostess gestured toward their table, the young woman turned. She raised her eyebrows and then a slow smile crossed her face, and as she walked over, Chase smiled, too. “Damn, woman!” he said, standing up, “you can even make a gay boy cry!”
“Ha!” she said, laughing and wrapping her arms around him. “And you can definitely make a straight girl cry!” She pulled back, eyeing him. “Look how you turned out—so tan and buff and hip and handsome! What are you doing here?”
Chase smiled. “We’re here for the weekend.” He gestured to Liam. “This is my partner, Liam Evans.”
Liam stood and politely extended his hand, but Quinn laughed and said, “Heck no!” and gave him a warm hug instead. “It’s so nice to meet you!” She smiled, studying Liam’s handsome face, sun-bleached chestnut-brown hair, and playful, friendly eyes. “Yep, you definitely look like you could be the partner of my old best friend,” she said.
“Can you sit for a minute?” Chase said, gesturing to a chair.
“I can in a little bit,” she said, looking at her watch and realizing it was almost nine o’clock. “The crowd’s starting to thin out. Let me just do a few things and I’ll come back.”
Chase nodded. “Oh, before you go, what drinks would you recommend?”
“Hmm, for you . . .” Quinn said, eyeing him. “I know you liked JD when we were in high school. Is that still your poison?”
Chase laughed. “It can be . . . that or Tito’s.”
Quinn nodded and then turned to Liam. “Are you into the hard stuff, too?”
Liam smiled. “Well, since I hang around with him, I drink just about anything.”
“Those Tennyson boys, right?”
“Yeah, they’re a rowdy bunch!”
“Okay, I’ll have James bring over a couple of my favorites from the outdoor bar. Oh! And everything’s on the house, so order whatever you’d like!”
“You don’t have to do that,” Chase said, frowning. “We’re here to support you.”
“I insist,” she said firmly, “but you can leave a generous tip for my amazing waitstaff.”
“We can do that,” Chase agreed.
Quinn smiled. “Dang, Chase, I can’t believe you’re here!”
He nodded. “It’s been too long.”
“It has . . . and when I come back, we’re gonna talk about why that is.”
“Sounds good,” Chase said as he and Liam sat back down.
Five minutes later, a young bartender brought over two glasses. “These are special order from the boss,” he said, setting them on coasters. “I have a Cool Hand Cuke for the gentleman on the right, and an Old Glory for the gentleman on the left.”
“Thanks,” Chase said, eyeing the drinks. “What’s in them?”
“Sooo, the Cool Hand Cuke is Tito’s, Aperol, honey simple syrup, lime juice, and cucumbers, and Old Glory is Tito’s, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, Oregon Pinot Noir, and blueberries.”
Chase nodded approvingly. “Sounds good. Thank you!”
“You’re welcome,” James replied. “Let me know if you need anything.”
And after he walked away, Liam smiled. “So gay.”
“Oh, yeah,” Chase agreed, and then held up his glass. “Here’s to us!”
“To us!” Liam said, clinking his glass and taking a sip. He licked his lips. “Damn, this is good. How’s yours?”
“Really good. Want to try?” he asked, offering his glass.
They exchanged drinks, took sips, and although they both approved of each other’s, they were happier with their own—Quinn had chosen well.
Chase looked over the menu. “I think I’m gonna have steak. This one,” he said, pointing, “with cabernet sauce and melted blue cheese sounds good.”
“It does,” Liam agreed. “Can’t go wrong with cabernet sauce.”
They placed their orders, and even though they hadn’t even looked at the appetizers, a waitress showed up with a plate of oysters. “Compliments of the owner!”
“All right!” Liam said.
The two men chatted, drank, marveled at the view, devoured the oysters—and their steaks when they came—and were almost finished when Quinn finally returned. “Sorry!” she said. “Things got a little hectic in the dining room. You never know what’s gonna happen on a Saturday night.”
“No problem,” Chase said. “We’re not going anywhere.”
“Good,” Quinn said. “Anyway, I think my staff has everything under control now. Mind if I sit down?”
“Not at all!” Chase said, pulling over a chair, into which Quinn collapsed with a sigh. “Dinner was excellent, by the way.”
“Yes,” Liam said. “Maybe we can get the recipe for that cabernet sauce.”
“Oh, absolutely,” she said. “It’s easy.”
Chase eyed her. “You look like you could use a drink.”
“I could,” she said, laughing. She caught James’s eye and he nodded.
“You boys want an after-dinner drink, or have you had enough?”
Chase grinned. “You’re supposed to say, ‘Do you want a cocktail or the whole rooster?’”
“Oh, right,” Quinn said. “I forgot!”
Chase eyed Liam. “You up for another?”
“Sure, so long as you’re driving.”
Quinn eyed them. “Have you had Buffalo Trace? It’s my new favorite.”
“No,” Liam said, shaking his head. “What is it?”
“Bourbon.”
“I have,” Chase said, leaning back in his chair.
“Of course you have,” Quinn teased.
Chase smiled and eyed Liam. “Up for some bourbon?”
“What the heck. I’ve just been disowned by my parents, so keep ’em coming!”
Quinn raised her eyebrows at his comment, and then looked at James. “Three Buffalos, please, sir,” she said. “On second thought, just bring three glasses and the bottle.”
Chase laughed. “You know me too well.”
James brought over the bottle, three glasses, and two more votive candles for their table.
“Seems like he’s done this before,” Chase teased.
“Maybe,” Quinn said, laughing, as she poured two fingers in each glass and held hers up. “To old friends,” she said with a smile.
“To old best friends,” Chase corrected.
“Indeed!” Quinn said, and then she turned to Liam. “You don’t have to answer, but you mentioned being disowned . . . and sorry, I can’t really let that pass . . .”
Liam took a sip of his bourbon and licked his lips, and then he explained what had happened. The only time Quinn interrupted him was when Liam said they’d come out to tell his parents they were getting married.
“Wait!” she said, holding up her hand and looking at Chase. “You’re getting married and you didn’t tell me?!”
Chase laughed. “I know . . . well, we kind of lost touch, you know?”
She nodded. “Yes, well, we’re gonna talk about that, too!”
Liam smiled. “Anyway, that’s how we ended up here.”
“That is unbelievable,” Quinn said, shaking her head. “I don’t know your parents, Liam, but I’d say you’re better off!”
Liam gave her a grateful look and took another sip.
“I didn’t get along with my dad, either. From the time I was little, I hated the way he treated my mom.” She looked to Chase for confirmation. “Right?”
He nodded and took a sip of his bourbon, thankful that Quinn—who had always spoken her mind—was saying all the things he wanted to say to Liam.
“My dad treated my mom like a doormat . . . like she was a maid who had to answer to his every beck and call. He made her give up everything she loved and ignored her needs.”
Quinn shook her head. “I honestly think people shouldn’t feel bound to their families just because they share the same blood. We can choose our family—our tribe—just as readily as we can choose our friends. Only we know the right fit, so . . . I know it’s hard to let them go, Liam, but you have Chase . . . and along with him, you get the entire Tennyson tribe so I hope you know what you’re getting into!”
Liam laughed, his heart feeling suddenly lighter. She was right.
“He does have the whole Tennyson tribe,” Chase said, acknowledging the name because it was perfect—they were a tribe. “My brothers—even my mom—have welcomed him with open arms, and Gage and his fiancée, Maeve, are even insisting we get married on the same day.”
“Are you going to?” Quinn asked.
Chase looked at Liam and he half smiled and nodded. “Gage already included us on the invitation, so we really don’t have a choice.”
Quinn eyed him again. “Um . . . I don’t remember getting an invitation,” she teased.
“I’m not sure if they’ve gone out yet. Liam and I haven’t really invited anyone . . . besides his parents, and we all know how that turned out.”
“Well, I better be invited!” Quinn insisted.
“You’re gonna come home?” Chase asked. “Don’t you have a restaurant to run?”
“I’ll figure something out,” she replied. “Do you think I’d miss what will probably be the most legendary Tennyson boys’ party ever?! Besides,” she added with a knowing smile, “we literally grew up together.” Quinn turned to Liam. “Did Chase tell you we went to our senior prom?”
“He did—he showed me a picture, and said if he could’ve ever fallen for a girl, it would’ve been you.”
Quinn smiled wistfully. “And then he broke my heart.”
“You mean you broke mine . . .”
Quinn frowned. “How so?”
Chase took a sip of his drink, wondering if it was the right time to have this conversation . . . or if there would ever be a right time, especially since it had happened so long ago, but all the alcohol he’d consumed was getting the better of his ability to reason, and he pressed his lips together. “You were the only person I told, Quinn-Fin,” he said softly, “and somehow, right afterward, my dad knew.”
Quinn raised her eyebrows, his quiet indictment confirming her theory about why they’d lost touch. “You think I told someone,” she said, “even though I promised I wouldn’t. Even though I crossed my heart.”
He searched her eyes. “I never told anyone but you.”
Quinn sipped her drink and nodded. “You know, Chase, my mom was visiting a couple of weeks ago.” She looked around. “It was a night just like tonight, and we were talking about you, and she told me something I never knew before. She said the night you and I talked about this on our front porch, my dad—who, as you well know, was a busybody and a gossip—was eavesdropping, and she said when he came to bed that night, he told her what he heard . . . and she said she knows she wasn’t the only one he told.”
Chase raised his eyebrows and slowly shook his head—which suddenly felt like it was spinning. For years, he’d stubbornly harbored a silent resentment toward his best friend, blaming her for his parents finding out before he was ready to tell them. He never once considered the possibility that they’d found out some other way. He’d never once asked Quinn about it or given her the chance to explain. Without a word, he’d judged her, and without any explanation from him, he’d kicked their lifelong friendship to the curb, sentencing her to years of silence. “Wow,” he whispered, realizing the depth of his betrayal. “I don’t know why you’re even talking to me,” he said, “when I just assumed it was you.”
“I’m talking to you because I love you, Chase. You were my best friend . . . and I also know you must’ve decided to forgive me . . . because you’re here.”
“I did forgive you . . . mostly,” he admitted. “It happened so long ago, and it doesn’t matter now. I’m not one to hold grudges—I saw what it did to my dad and my brother.”
Quinn nodded. “Well, I’m glad we got that settled,” she said, pouring more bourbon into their glasses. “How ’bout we talk about something fun . . . like when the heck is this wedding so I can plan my trip,” she said, laughing. “And are there gonna be any kiddos in the Chase and Liam Tennyson household . . . because I always thought you’d make a great dad.”
Chase hooted. “You haven’t changed a bit, Quinn,” he teased.
“What?” she said playfully. “Because I say what’s on my mind?”
“Yep! It’s one of the things I love most about you. You’re not one of those women who makes a guy figure out what they’re thinking.”
“Maybe that’s why I haven’t met anyone,” she said. “I scare men off with my brutal honesty. I’m too blunt.”
“Nah—you’re authentic, and any guy would be lucky to have you!” Chase said. “As far as kids go”—he looked at Liam—“we do want to have a family—I love big families and lots of chaos—but we’re not sure if we’ll adopt or try to find a surrogate.”
“It would be neat to have a biological child, but we have to do a little more research,” Liam added.
Quinn nodded thoughtfully. “One of my customers works for a dot-com called Surrogate. I can ask him for information.”
