Page 14 of Happily Ever Maybe

I nodded as I sipped my beer. “If I ever see it around me,though, I’ll do my best to make sure it doesn’t happen twice.”

Noah nodded. “I know. Everyone in our building knows. Wehave good people around. Unlike before.” A dark cloud crossed over his eyes,and I knew what he remembered. Something none of us wanted to talk about.

“But the gallery’s up, the café’s doing great, and thetattoo shop’s kicking ass with a huge waiting list. And we’re not doing too badourselves.”

“Again, Montgomerys taking overthe world,” Kane said with a grin.

“And, apparently, you’re adding an ax shop to it,” I added.

“Or at least something with better food,” Kingston mumbled,taking notes.

I didn’t know which would be better: notes for the job, orperhaps actual plans for taking over the world. Suddenly, he smiled softly, andI realized it wasn’t any of that. It was a woman. Interesting. I hadn’t knownhe was seeing anyone. From the curious look on Kane’s face, he hadn’t knowneither.

“So, you ever going to tell us what happened between you andJennifer?” Kane asked out of the blue, startling me.

Sawyer leaned forward. “Jennifer? The woman he works withand never stops talking about? That Jennifer?” mybrother asked.

I flipped him off. “Subtle. Real subtle.”

“Yes, I’d like to know, too,” Noah added.

“We’re friends. We’re coworkers. It would get messy if itwas anything more.”

Both Noah and Ford looked at each other, then at me. “Yes.It gets messy. But as long as it’s consensual anddoesn’t bleed into work, it wouldn’t be a problem. Wehonestly don’t care as long as you don’t hurt anyone.That’s our goal with anything,” Noah said.

I swallowed hard. “Just friends. That’s all we want.”

“Are you sure about that?” Kane asked. I glared at him, butthankfully our check came.

We pushed the subject to the side, though I knew my brotherand my coworkers would bring it up again later. And I’d have to find a realanswer for them.

We all headed out, my brother leaving first since he had anearly morning. As we made it to the cars, Noah cursed under his breath.

“I knew they hadn’t left quietly,” Noah mumbled.

I turned around and cursed right along with him. “Well,hell.”

“Aren’t we too old for this?” Kingston asked.

“Hey, assholes. You really thinkyou can get us kicked out of our favorite joint?” one of the guys slurred.

“I’m pretty sure you did that yourself,” I put in.

“Let’s not get them any angrier than they already are. I’mnot in the mood to deal with the cops tonight,” Noah said.

“It would be nice to kick their asses, though. Again,” Fordsaid.

“Fuck you.” The man leered at Ford and then said a word thatmade me want to kick his ass to make sure he never said it again. He staggeredforward, fist out. Ford easily ducked, and I moved quickly, taking the man’s wrist and twisting his arm behind his back. I bent him overso he couldn’t try to hit anyone again.

“You’re going to want to stop doing that.”

“Fuck you. Get your hands off me.”

“Don’t you dare touch my friend!” theother drunk guy slurred as he came forward, fists moving quickly toward theguys.

The group was drunk, ignorant, and made of dumbasses, especially going against people who were highlytrained and could deescalate without violence. So, we did. We moved, pinningthem to their cars.

Ford sighed. “It would’ve been nice to punch the asshole inthe face, but no, we’re going to deal with it like adults.”