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“Saw you leave with that boy last night.”
“So? He needed a ride home.” I kept my face averted as I added cream to my mug.
“He don’t look like your type. You should prob’ly leave him alone.” Gordy shoved a forkful of gooey pancakes into his mouth.
“Excellent advice. That’s exactly what I plan to do. Let’s go out tonight. We could shoot a game of pool at the bar and grille, order some hot wings and watch the game.”
Gordy nodded, never once looking up from his plate. My brother, however, looked less excited. “Oh, yay. Subpar food and football, two of my least favorite things.”
I smiled and ruffled his hair as I took the empty seat next to him. We might be identical twins, but Carly and I were as different as night and day. There wasn’t much we had in common besides our childhood memories and our family, and of course, our faces. Despite our differences, he was my best friend. There was nobody I trusted more than Carlisle, and no one I loved harder.
* * *
Walking into Limericks’original location, the bar and grille, always brought back so many good memories. I started working at my uncle’s bar right out of high school. With its brick walls and jukebox, it was a far cry from the swanky new lounge downtown.
My uncle waved to us from behind the bar. “If you’re all here, who’s at the lounge?”
“Uncle Graham, we aren’t your only employees. Relax, we deserve a night off every now and then. When’s the last time you had a night off? You want to join us?” Like he would ever say yes. The man didn’t know how to relax. He was either working, sleeping, or riding his motorcycle. And I guarantee he was thinking about work while riding.
“No. Someone has to work in this family,” he grumbled. “And you’re paying for your beer.” He focused his blue eyes on us and his frown slowly turned into a reluctant smile.
My uncle was a formidable man, if you were on his bad side. Otherwise, he was a giant teddy bear, all bark and no bite. He had a heart of gold and it beat for his nephews, his family. And Shannon.
“Let’s grab a table.” I led them to the grille side, where they served food and danced. “It’s too bad Shannon couldn’t join us.”
Gordy tensed, his face pinching until my brother explained, “He had to work the bar tonight.” Then Gordy’s shoulders visibly relaxed, his face smoothing out into its usual grimace.
When Gordy disappeared to the bar, I asked my brother, “What’s their deal, anyway? I’m so sick of their shit. It’s like they can’t stand each other. They’re cousins.”
“Well, maybe they don’t see it that way.” Carly flagged down a server.
“They used to be best friends. I don’t get it.”
“Leave them be, Carson. They’re grown men. They’ll either work it out or they won’t. It’s not our business.”
Clearly, my brother wasn’t as wise as he thought he was. I was about to argue when a flash of pink caught my eye. A double take revealed a very familiar face.
“Isn’t that your friend?” Carly didn’t waste a second. He waved wildly. “Hey, Ryan!”
What the hell was he doing here? Gordy rejoined us, a beer in his hand. “Is that a planned coincidence or a real one?” He nodded toward Ryan.
“Real,” I grated.
Carly dragged Ryan across the bar, cutting through the crowd to our table. Christ, he looked almost irresistible with his pink polo buttoned up to his neck, as usual, hair combed and parted to the side.
My fingers itched to mess him up.
13
RYAN
“Hi, Cary.”I smiled breathlessly, panting from hurrying after Carlisle.
“Hey, Boytoy. What are you doing here?”
He looked at me strangely, an odd mix of what seemed like amusement and heat. My stomach reacted to that look, rolling with butterflies. “I’m meeting some—”
His hand landed heavily on my shoulder, squeezing, his fingers pressing hard, claiming me. “You’re not meeting a guy here, are you? You didn’t tell me you had a date. Any guy that wants to take you here for a first date isn’t worthy of you.”
