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Dane grabbed it and inclined his head in thanks. “Why didn’t you correct me and tell me your name is Rick?”
He still felt like an idiot getting his name wrong.
Brick shrugged. “It didn’t seem right at the time. A few others heard you call me Brick, and I can’t seem to get people to stop. It’s growing on me.” Brick leaned against the bar and crossed his tattooed arms, his sleeves halfway rolled up, eyeing him. As if weighing whether to inquire about his problems.
Wasn’t that what people did with bartenders? They acted like therapists, people spilling their whoa-is-me problems without a thought or care who they were telling their issues to.
“I quit my job.”
Brick’s brow rose.
Wow. How did he do it? Dane confessed the monumental way his life just altered courses, and Brick didn’t even ask him to confess. Yet, a part of Dane felt even lighter than before. More of that nasty weight shifted away by telling someone.
“Any particular reason why?”
Dane rubbed the label on the beer. He barely knew this guy, other than he was a fabulous bartender who deserved the best tip on the planet.
“I was sick of working under my brother, who doesn’t do shit. I can do better on my own.” A wistful smile touched his lips. “At least, I was told I could by someone…important to me.”
“You don’t strike me as the type to quit on the spot.”
Dane exhaled, letting the air escape on its own due time. “Well, for my mother’s sake—it’s a family business—I should’ve given two weeks’ notice. But to hell with my father and brother. I didn’t tell them anything. I did tell my office manager, so he won’t be put on the lurch. My father will think I’m making the worst mistake of my life when he finds out.”
Tom was a good man. He had promised to keep the information to himself. A few minutes before Ms. Wallace had knocked on his door to tell him the day was over, he had sent his father an email, cc’d his brother. It wasn’t an elaborate and long explanation—a few simple words to get his point across.
I quit. With regards, your least favorite son.
He hadn’t received a call yet from his father, so he could only assume he hadn’t seen the email. Or maybe he didn’t care.
“Are you?”
Dane didn’t even need to ponder that question. “Hell, no. I’ve only made one mistake in my life, and it would never involve my brother.”
“Well, I sure in hell hope the mistake you’re referring to is leaving Gabby, you dumbass.” Jaxson appeared out of nowhere, settling on a barstool right next to him.
“Umm…” Dane cocked a brow, completely confused by Jaxson’s irate manner. “Gabby broke up with me.”
“Yeah, because that’s what she does best. Pushes people away. She loves to help people, but when it comes to herself, she doesn’t let anyone in. She pushes and pushes and pushes people out, and you let her.” Jaxson slammed his hand hard on the bar top. “You walked away without a fight. I thought you loved her. You said so yourself.”
“Yep, I heard it, too,” Brick said as he produced another beer it seemed out of thin air and set it in front of Jaxson.
“You didn’t…you didn’t say I said that to her, did you?” Because if Jaxson had, then Gabriella didn’t love him back. She would’ve come to him if she knew he loved her.
He hadn’t heard a peep from her in the past two weeks.
“It’s not my place to tell her.” Jaxson leaned closer. “It’s yours. We might not have gotten along in the beginning, but I can see how perfect you’re together. She’s perfect for you, and you’re perfect for her. And only an idiot would walk away from something so damn perfect.”
“Hold this conversation.” Brick walked away to the other end of the bar. It appeared two patrons were giving the woman bartender—Dane didn’t know her name—some grief. A few words from Brick, with a menacing glare, and they stopped whatever attitude they had.
Jaxson and Dane watched the entire scene, oddly enough, waiting for Brick to start the conversation back up.
“Okay, continue,” Brick said as he leaned back against the bar once again with his arms crossed. “Does she know you up and quit your job?”
“You what?” Jaxson asked as the surprise slid across his features.
Dane shrugged, hating to get into his family affair once more. “It was time. I’m starting up my own company. I already have a secretary. I just need to find some clients.”
He had enough money to start his own company. Money was something he never worried about. Plus, he rarely spent it, and he knew how to invest wisely. He even found a modest space to rent for the time being until he built his company up to something amazing. And he would. If nothing more than to spite his father and show him who was the better son at architecture and making the business thrive.
