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"You too, bro." He gripped my hand firmly and shook, clapping my shoulder with his other hand. "How are my favorite nieces?"
"Doing pretty well, thanks. With Stephanie 'til tonight. How’s Ava?"
Ava was Ethan's daughter. She was eight years old, and a martial arts superstar. Poor thing lost her mom in an awful car wreck when she was barely two. Ethan, of course, had never been quite the same since. Poor man had been through hell. I've got nothing but respect for the guy. We both ended up as single fathers living lives we never saw coming.
"She's great, actually. She’s got that jujitsu grading coming up. School's good.”
Ah, the grading. It was another chance for Rhea to get a new belt. Poor thing was already nervous.
Ethan continued, “And, of course, she’s excited to see her cousins this weekend."
"This weekend?"
Ethan quirked an eyebrow. "Jack's party?"
Oh, fuck. "Right. Of course."
"You forgot?"
I rubbed my face in frustration. "More like actively pretending it wasn't happening."
"Come again?"
"I'm just so fucking busy, man. Had all these plans to catch up on shit around the house this weekend."
"With the girls at home?"
"I know, I know, it's not ideal."
"I get that life is busy, brother, but you really should take some time for yourself. Live a little. Enjoy your time with the girls. They won’t be that small forever.”
“Actually, that’s kind of what I’m here about. I need a favor."
"Shoot.”
"Remember Elara O'Neil?" I asked, scratching my salt and pepper stubble.
"Patrick's kid? What about her?"
"Not a kid anymore. She's nearly twenty-five now."
Ethan whistle. "Well, that makes me feel fucking old."
“Tell me about it. Well, she inherited her dad's bar. Dad agreed to handle the reno."
"Course he did."
"Did he mention he went and fucked up his back?"
"No shit. How'd he manage that?"
"Bending over wrong, apparently."
Ethan shook his head in disbelief. "Bending over? He must be furious."
"Point is, he can't do the job now. I was hoping maybe you could step in and take over for him."
"Me?" Ethan’s brow furrowed. "Why not you?"
