The bar’s already thick with bodies, music thudding low enough in the chest to feel before you hear it. Henry spots me first, raising his beer like he’s been waiting all night. Tade’s beside him, Landon sitting across from them with a whiskey, already half gone.
“About time.” Henry grins.
“Had to bring an entourage.” I steer Hailey toward the high-top table like luggage I haven’t decided where to drop yet, then slap hands with Henry and Tade before sliding in next to Landon.
“What’re you drinking?” Landon asks.
“Whiskey. Neat.” I don’t look at Hailey when I add, “Be a doll, sweetheart. Two doubles.” Waving my finger in a circle, I add, “And whatever my brothers want.”
She nods like she’s been handed a sacred mission, weaving off through the thick crowd.
“Who’s the plus-one?” Henry asks, chin tilting toward her retreating figure.
“The president’s charity project,” I say, which earns a smirk from Tade.
The drinks arrive, and the conversation turns into easy trash talk—Henry about his latest car mod, Tade about a pledge who puked in the trophy case, Landon about a girl who keeps “forgetting” she’s married. I laugh, toss back my whiskey, order another.
Hailey’s still planted at my elbow, fake laughing when theguys do, nodding along like she’s part of the inner circle. She’s not.
“Sweetheart,” I cut in mid-story, “go see if they’ve got those pretzels with the beer cheese.”
“Oh, sure!” Off she goes again, quick to please.
“She doesn’t get it, does she?” Lan mutters.
“Not her job to get it,” I reply as I lean back in my chair. “Her job’s to follow instructions.”
When she returns, flushed from the crowd, she sets down the pretzels like they’re a peace offering. I slide the plate to the middle of the table without a glance.
“Thanks, babe. Now grab me another whiskey, would you? Oh, and some cheese fries for my brother, Henry.” With a tilt of my head, I smirk. “Those are his favorites.”
He taps his glass to mine and smiles broadly.
It goes like that for a while. Every time she thinks she’s settled in, I send her on some errand. Napkins. Water. Find out if the DJ takes requests. Tell Ryan and his girlfriend we saved them some seats when they arrive.
By the fourth trip, Landon’s grinning over his glass. “You’re gonna run her ragged.”
“That’s the point,” I say, low enough so only they hear. “If she’s moving, she’s not talking. And she’s not near me.”
She comes back smiling anyway, sliding the drink toward me with a little too much hope in her eyes. I take it and raise it toward the guys.
“To brotherhood.”
The glasses clink. Hailey’s not invited to the toast.
“Hey!” Ryan pulls up a stool, ignoring Hailey entirely as he hauls his appointed, Pippi, onto his lap. I shove a whiskey at him, already feeling the burn of the shots stacking in my veins.
“Sup.”
Ryan clocks the girl next to me, hovering like she’s waitingfor permission to breathe. He catches my look—the silent green light.
“Doll?” he says, all charm. “Grab my girlfriend a vodka soda, yeah? Thanks, darling.”
He never breaks eye contact with me while he says it.
My guy.
I’d die for any man at this table. No hesitation.