I raise my own beer in thanks to Adam, though it’s even more embarrassing that my baby brother has to defend me against the rest of these hyenas. Noah puts his hand on my back, and his face sobers.
“We’re sorry, bro. We’re not laughing atyou, just the situation.”
“Yeah,” Cory adds, still sounding pained from the punch. “That little shit tried to school you when his balls have barely dropped.”
“Sure,” I grumble.
“How ’bout I buy us another round as a peace offering?” Noah suggests. Adam and Cory readily agree. I, however, shake my head.
“Can’t. It’s a school night.” I know they’re gonna rag on me as soon as I say it, but it’s the truth.
Cory bites his lip to keep from laughing, Adam turns to hide his snickering, and Noah leans over to the bartender to get everyone else’s drinks.
“Do you have a bedtime too?” Cory teases. I bump him with my elbow, making him chuckle.
Once the drinks arrive, Noah and Cory head to the pool table in the corner to hustle some twenty-year-olds, and I continue nursing my beer. Adam swivels on his stool to face me.
“You know they’re just joking, right? Everyone’s really proud of your new job, which you’re totally going to kill once you figure out how to get through to that kid.”
“I know,” I reply, still subdued from the third-degree burn that kid delivered. “It’s mainly that he’s not wrong.”
“Who? Cory?”
I roll my eyes and take another swig of my drink.
“No. Carter.” I turn away to look out of the bar’s windows. We’re in Williamsburg, so the sidewalks are bustling with bar-hoppers, even on a Wednesday night. “Ididn’tmake it to the NBA. Iamwashed up. Iamcoaching high school basketball.”
Adam puts his beer down hard on the bar, making me turn to look at him.
“Cut that shit out, Damon. You’re not washed up; you’re retired. You didn’t make it to the NBA, but you were professional; you had your own chant when I came to see you. And you’re coaching basketball for one of the top teams in the state.”
“Assistantcoaching,” I correct him.
“Still! That’s hardly failing. That sounds like winning to me.”
I sit in silence, letting the bar noise drown out my thoughts, when Adam taps me with the neck of his beer.
“If you need a pick-me-up, you could always go talk to that brunette checking you out.”
I sneak a glance at the woman. She’s petite, with a pixie cut and a goth vibe. She’s cute, she’s just not…I turn back towards the bar before she makes eye contact and comes over.
“Not my type,” I mutter.
Adam looks at me in disbelief.
“Since when are you so particular?”
I turn to him with a raised eyebrow and a sardonic smile.
“Are you calling me a slut?”
He rolls his eyes like I’m being dense.
“Duh! Of course you’re a slut.” I laugh because it’s the truth. Or at least it was…before a certain copper-eyed beauty became my obsession.
“Cory used to be the biggest slut among us, but you and Noah definitely gave him a run for his money. Now, you two are the last men standing.”
I just shrug and take another sip of my beer. I’m not ready to get into my dating life—or lack thereof—right now. One heavy topic per night is the limit.
