“No, I moved here because my sister got a promotion, and I agreed to look out for Nana. And I consented to cut my work hours down for a few weeks, not cut them completely.” He hadn’t really wanted to leave Atlanta, but he agreed that someone needed to keep an eye on their seventy-eight-year-old grandmother. Andrea had uprooted her life several years ago and stepped in to care for Nana after a stroke had left her with weakness on one side. Although she’d made a complete recovery, neither had wanted her to be alone. His sister had put her dreams on hold, and now, at thirty-two and four years his junior, it was time for her to live them. And as she’d pointed out during their phone conversation two weeks ago, Gabriel could do his software engineering job anywhere, particularly since he owned the company with Brent and Darius. And, yes, he’d been working…a lot…okay, nonstop for the past couple of years, but work helped him forget about things he’d rather not remember.

Brent waved a dismissive hand. “Semantics. The goal is the same. I agree with Glenn, and since he’s the doctor here, he knows what he’s talking about.” Glenn worked as a physician in his father’s family practice.

“Thank you,” Glenn said. “I didn’t go to school all those years for nothing. The slower pace of a small town will do you some good.”

“Whatever.” Gabriel stood. “I don’t know why I keep y’all around,” he said, trying to hide his smile. They’d all met at Morehouse, pledged the same fraternity, and were as close as brothers. No matter how much they got on each other’s nerves at times, he knew there was nothing they wouldn’t do for each other.

Darius shrugged. “Somebody’s got to keep you in line.” They all laughed. “Speaking of small towns, are there any women here under the age of fifty? We’ve been here for twenty-four hours, and I don’t think I’ve seen one. The two women I saw down the block were definitely over forty.”

Chuckling, Gabriel said, “I have no idea. Why is that always your first question every time we go somewhere?”

“Because I like women. And you ever know when I might luck up on my Mrs. Right. I can’t leave Glenn in marriage-land all alone.”

Glenn grinned. “Don’t hate. But he does have a point. At least Darius and Brent make time to play, but you work all the time. When was the last time you had a date?”