Free I'll Be Seeing You by A.P. Hallmark

same thing to my palm, I bring her hand to my lips and kiss her fingertips.
    "When he kissed you, I reacted. My behavior was appalling and I will apologize to Brian as well." Bringing her hands to my mouth again, I kiss the middle of her palm, gently touching my tongue to the center. When she takes a deep breath, I look up at her and see that she’s smiling. I’m forgiven.
    "Okay, Matthew," she says quietly. "But just know that Brian and I are friends and always will be. He and Laura have been in my life since I was twelve, and I won't give them up. Besides, I think he likes your sister." She gives a little giggle, nudging my knee with hers.
    Finally, Jessie makes his appearance known. He has his arm draped over Laura's shoulder, and she’s looking up at him as if he hung the moon out just for her. He's already had her. She has that look in her eyes, just like all the others.
    "Laura and Jessie just got here," I say to Joy, patting her hand before standing. "I'll call them over to introduce you to him."
    "Jessie," I shout to get his attention. He looks my way, and then whispers something in Laura's ear. Once they reach us, Jessie holds his hand out to me, and I take his palm into mine.
    "Matthew, I'd like to formally introduce you to this lovely lady. Even though we’ve already bumped into each other, Laura, this is Dr. Matthew Davis," he says, removing his arm from around her shoulder. She holds her hand out to me.
    "Nice to meet you, Matthew. I've heard a lot about you." She smiles and walks to stand behind Joy.
    "Nice to meet you too, Laura." I turn to Joy, placing my hand on her shoulder.
    "Joy, this is Dr. Jessie Montgomery, my best friend and colleague."
    "Nice to meet you."
    "Nice to meet you as well, Joy."
    Jessie turns to me, "You’re right, she really is beautiful."
    "Of course she is and you look as lovely as ever. Who did your hair?" Laura giggles, bending down to kiss her cheek.
    "Hey, Laura. You're late. How come?" she asks, smiling up at her friend.
    "Now that's the operative word," Jessie says boastfully.
    I look at him and can tell he's in rare form. So much for hoping Laura would have a positive effect on him, his rude behavior shows he doesn’t intend on changing even for her.
    "Laura, I was going to get Joy and me something to drink. Would you sit with her until I get back?" I ask her.
    "Absolutely. Would you get me a beer while you’re at it, Modelo if they have it?" she asks, taking my seat next to Joy.
    "I'll only be a minute," I say quietly in Joy's ear, kissing her cheek before taking Jessie's arm, persuading him to go with me.
    "Ouch, Matthew. What the fuck, dude?" he nearly squeals like a girl at my overzealous grip on his arm.
    "You are a piece of shit, Jess," I say to him. "You walk in here with this beautiful woman, and you treat her with total disrespect. I know you fucked her already, but do you need to let everyone know?"
    "What? What did I say, man? She’s hot, isn't she?" he boasts, looking back at Laura.
    "She's beautiful, and she's a good girl. I asked you to break the date if you were going to do this. You disgust me," I admonish him, walking away to go back to Joy, leaving him standing alone.
    "Hey … hey, Matthew," Jessie says, reaching out to catch my arm before I get to the girls. "What the hell, man? Why are you so emotionally involved in who I fuck? You've never interfered before, and, quite frankly, I don't like it that you are doing it now."
    "I told you the other day. Laura is Joy's friend. She has been hurt before, the very same way you obviously intend on hurting her.”
    "She's sweet and I really like her, all right?" he says sincerely.
    Maybe I'm just getting too involved where I shouldn't. I've never cared who he dated or who he bedded. I just don't want him hurting Joy, which he will indirectly, if he hurts Laura. I head back to Joy, grabbing our drinks as I go.
    Maddie calls Brian over to man the grill, and when he gets up to go to her, I look at him, giving him an