The waiter, Matthew Larkin, came by for their drink order and Noel didn’t argue when Trip ordered two margaritas. He could drink them both himself.
“How are you doing, Noel?”
Noel smiled broadly at Matt. His wife, Josie, had come into the labor and delivery ward in August with their first child. They were five years younger than Noel and Josie was terrified. Noel kept them calm by asking them about their life, how they met. High school sweethearts, married at eighteen. Josie had her cosmetology license and worked in a posh spa in Sun Valley, while Matt was in a technical program for welding.
“I’m great, Matt. How are Josie and Liam? When do you finish your program?”
“They are great. Liam’s getting chonky. And the way he smiles, man…it’s something.”
“Aw, do you have pictures?”
“Yeah, yeah.” Matt whipped out his phone and tapped a few times before handing it to her. “I finish my program next month and then I go for my test. My teacher actually put me in touch with a company out of Boise and once I pass my certification, he said he’d set up an interview.”
Noel studied the baby, who’d been eight pounds at birth, and now looked as though he’d tripled in size. “His leg rolls are adorable.”
Noel handed him back his phone and Matt slipped it into his pocket. “I know, right? Listen, I don’t know if I ever said thank you for keeping me calm. I know I wasn’t chill when it was all going on.”
“Matt, grown men in their thirties panic when their wife is in pain. You did great.”
“That’s good to hear, ’cause Josie keeps saying she wants a half a dozen kids and she told me if we move to Boise, I have to drive her all the way up here just so she can have you and Dr. Copeland.” Matt chuckled. “You really made an impression on her.”
“You tell her I’m not going anywhere and she can see me as often as she wants,” Noel said with a wink.
“With all due respect, I will not tell her that! We’ll end up with three sets of Irish twins.”
Trip cleared his throat loudly, and Matt tapped the end of the table sheepishly. “I’ll go put your order in. It was really good to see you.”
“You too. Tell Josie I said hi and kiss Liam for me.”
“I will.”
Matt walked away and Noel caught Trip’s glare.
“What?”
“That was rude.”
“How? I was saying hi to someone I hadn’t seen in a while and catching up. It only took a few minutes.”
“Not just a few minutes, but you’ve also been out of it tonight. Not really listening, just nodding your head and smiling.”
Rather than tell him what a child he was being, Noel opted to placate him. “Sorry, Nick’s birthday was last night and I didn’t get home until late. Then I got up with Gabby and did some shopping for her wedding and I guess I didn’t get enough sleep.”
“Giving him a happy birthday, huh?” Trip sneered.
“Not that it’s your business, but no. We’ve decided we’re better off as friends.”
“Well, I’m sorry to hear that.” Funny, he didn’t look sorry. He preened like a self-satisfied peacock and Noel suddenly wondered what the hell she was even doing there.
“Trip, I want to get home early, so why don’t we cut to the chase about why you wanted to meet up tonight.”
He pretended offense. “I told you, I want no hard feelings between us.”
“We’re good. Don’t know what else I can do to prove that.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes. I’m fine. We’re fine. All good.”
“There is one thing…”
Here it comes. “Go on.”
“Right, well, I know when we were hanging out, I mentioned my microbrewery idea to you a few times.”
Noel had no idea what he was talking about, but she nodded. “I vaguely remember.”
“In this economy, it is really hard to qualify for a business loan. But, if I get enough investors, I don’t need to jump through the bank’s hoops.”
“Ooookay…”
“I know your parents left you some money and I was hoping, maybe you’d want to invest. Like a silent partner?”
Noel sat in disbelief, warring between are you fucking crazy or are you just an idiot? “You want me to give you money my dead parents left me…for beer?”
“No, not for beer. I am presenting you with a golden opportunity.”