“He reads,” Brew says, coughing into his fist.
“Hey, nothin’ wrong with that,” I say when Brew and Haze laugh at him.
“I don’tjustread,” Logan defends. “I work on projects at home, plus there’s all the inventory, stock control, orderin’, operatin’, you know what it’s like when you have your own business, it never ends.”
“Which means you never get any pussy,” Haze sighs. “And that makes for one hell of a grumpy Logan.”
“I get plenty,” Logan mutters.
“Really?” Brew side eyes him. “When?”
“Shut the fuck up,” Logan warns. “Or I’ll punch you all in the fuckin’ mouth.”
“Which is code for I don’t get any pussy because I’m at home readin’ books and pickin’ out wallpaper,” Haze laughs.
“Hey, Bronco started a book club,” I say. “He got so much shit for that.”
“Yeah, and he and Amber are the only two members,” Brew mutters. “Asshat.”
“Duh, he only did that to get the girl,” Haze tells us. “Because she reads those fuckin’ porn books.”
“Uh,romance books,” I correct when Haze shoots me a glance. I add, “Nova told me not to confuse the two.”
“Jesus,” he mutters.
“You guys want me to join the Rebels and this is the shit you get up to over there?” Logan sighs. “Might have to rethink things.”
“Don’t tease us like that,” I say. “For a second there it sounded like you were thinkin’ about it.”
Logan runs a hand through his hair. “Just sayin’, money doesn’t grow on trees.”
“You good, bro?” Brew asks, concern in his voice. “You know we can help if you need money.”
“Do you know how much a building costs on Bourbon Street?” Logan asks. “Because let me tell you, it’s a lot, and the bank will only lend me so much.”
“So, we’ll all pitch in,” Haze chimes. “Think of it like a loan, but with no interest. We just get to eat and drink there whenever we want.”
“You already drink there whenever you want,” Logan grumbles. “Now I’ve got to feed you, too?”
“You’re not sellin’ it to me,” Haze says. “Not like I’m askin’ for a business plan or anythin’, just some free grub.”
“That’s three meals a day,” Brew agrees. “For some of you.”
“Well, we don’t all have a wife at home who cooks,” I say. “Or a Manny at our disposal.”
“I have a wife at home…” Haze starts, then thinks for a second. “Oh, yeah, she doesn’t cook.”
“They can eat at the clubhouse most nights when Manny’s there,” I say. “Pick up lunch at the bar. Seems like a fair deal.”I like how I’ve inserted myself into this conversation putting no actual dough in, and they haven’t even noticed. A free meal is a free meal.
“As long as you can make those breakfast wraps, like how Hustler does them at Muso,” Brew says. “Then I won’t have to drive all the way across town.”
“Puttin’ your orders in and the building isn’t even a done deal yet,” Logan says, amusement in his voice. “I guess I can’t deny your enthusiasm.”
“You know we’re behind you, bro,” Haze says. “All jokes aside. I think this would be a great thing for you, then you could come out of your nocturnal cocoon.”
“Gotta be nocturnal to have a business on Bourbon Street,” Logan says. He thumbs to the back. “So, what else do we know about the goons back there? Sawyer gave me a basic rundown.”
“One of Big Papa’s men got talkin’ to them, and he was askin’ about girls and if anyone was interested,” Brew says. “Then when Big Papa’s man pretended to be interested, he started askin’ him how young he liked them.”