AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The Sidecar was packed, which was a little unusual for the middle of the week, but they got a comfortable spot at the bar and decided to stay there for the rest of the evening. They’d been there for thirty minutes and Gavin was still unclear on why there were so many people. Judging by Graham’s perma-scowl, he wasn’t happy with the crowd either.
“How are things with you and Ginny?”
Gavin rolled his eyes at his brother. “Why do you always bring me to crowded places to have these intense heart-to-hearts?”
Graham chuckled and Gavin glanced at his brother curiously. Of the five of them, Graham was the grumpiest. He kept his beard thick and full, hiding his mouth, and his hair short. Despite the amount of frowning he did, his forehead was clear of wrinkles, but it had been alongtime since he’d seen his brother smile. Every now and then, Graham would chuckle or guffaw and it would catch Gavin by surprise, because those were louder sounds than Graham was used to making. It was mostly grunts and grumbles, a few growls scattered around.
And still, he was Gavin’s favorite brother. He was the only one who listened and provided sensible advice these days.
“To answer your question, Ginny and I are fine. We’ve unintentionally moved in together and it’s been pretty great.”
“Fuck, youloveher.”
“I’ve been in love with her since I was thirteen.”
This time Graham rolled his eyes. “That was young, puppy love bullshit. This is the real deal.”
Sighing, Gavin nodded a thanks to the bartender as his new drink was set in front of him. “Yeah. And she loves me too.”
“Get out of here,” Graham said, grabbing Gavin’s shoulder and giving it a squeeze. “It’s been an honor watching you grow up.”
“Oh fuck off.” Gavin chuckled and shoved Graham gently. He glanced at his brother as he finished his beer, clearing his throat before speaking. “On a totally different subject, why were you meeting with your lawyer?”
“Signing the papers to end the alimony payments.”
“Holy shit,” he mumbled, staring at Graham. His brother so rarely talked about his ex or the toxic bullshit that was their marriage. “Congratulations.”
Graham blew out a long breath and nodded. “Thanks. I actually lost track of time, automated the payments and then one day…it’s all done.”
“Must feel good, right?”
“Fuck yes. I’m now finally free of that woman and I never have to think about her ever again.”
Gavin clapped his brother on the shoulder and they shared a smile, which was interrupted by a body stumbling into them. Both of them reached for the brunette, but it was Graham who got to his feet first, steadying her.
“You okay?” Graham asked. Gavin watched his brother check out the curvy woman without a hint of shame.
“Absolutely. But could you do me a favor?” she asked, putting her full attention on Graham. “Pretend to be mine?”
Graham barely had time to respond, outside of his eyes widening, when a Captain America looking dude walked over and reached for the brunette. Gavin saw the second Graham snapped back into his usual grumpy persona and blocked the woman from everyone else.
“Can I help you?”
“Yeah, she and I were in the middle of something,” Captain America said, trying to shove past Graham. But his brother stood firm, feet apart, arms crossed over his chest.
“Is that right, babe?” Graham asked, looking over his shoulder and when the brunette shook her head, he turned to the man. “She’s with me, so whatever you thought was happening, you were mistaken.”
Gavin glanced at the brunette and chuckled at the smug smirk on her lips. She was the kind of trouble that Graham needed in his life, someone to keep him on his toes. Especially when he had come to her defense without even knowing who the fuck she was. The woman inched forward and peered around Graham, her arms snaking around his waist, because that’s all she could reach.
“I told you I was here with someone, you just don’t like taking ‘no’ for an answer.”
“Darling, youknowyou’re with the wrong guy.”
She made a soft tsking sound. “And that’s exactly why he’smyguy.”
Gavin watched the next few minutes with the biggest grin on his face. Graham glanced at the woman as she pushed up onto her toes and kissed him. But then Graham shifted and wound his arm around the brunette’s thick waist and hauled her against him as the kiss deepened. It was way too obscene for public consumption, especially when one of Graham’s hands grabbed her ass. Their spectators watched until Gavin glared them away, then he whistled and cleared his throat, pulling the two apart.
“Didn’t know I was getting drinks and a show, Graham,” Gavin teased as his brother seemed to return to his body slowly.
