Despite myself, I laugh. “Got it. Hurt Riley, get stabbed.”
Bobby shrugs, sipping his drink. “More or less.”
“Look,” I lean forward, matching his serious tone. “I’m not playing around. What Riley and I have… it’s real. I’ve never felt this way before.” The sincerity in my voice surprises even me. “I won’t hurt him.”
Bobby studies me for a long moment, then nods, apparently satisfied. “Good. Because I’ve never seen him like this over anyone. Not even Renata back in the day.”
My chest tightens at the mention of Renata. I know there’s nothing there anymore. I’ve seen how Riley looks at me versus how he looks at her. But it still sparks something possessive in me.
“So…” Bobby’s expression shifts to gleeful curiosity. “How the hell did my buttoned-up brother end up with someone like you? No offense, but you’re not exactly his usual type.”
“What’s his usual type?”
“Boring,” Bobby says bluntly. “Safe. People who match his whole controlled vibe. Well, except for Renata, but even she couldn’t shake him up like this. Then here you come, all…” Hewaves his hand vaguely at my everything. “Like this. A walking fight poster. How’d you tame the Brickhouse?”
I smirk, unable to help myself. “Who says he tamed me?”
Bobby raises an eyebrow. “Didn’t he?”
“Maybe,” I concede, lowering my voice, “he knows how to handle me.”
Understanding dawns on Bobby’s face, followed by a theatrical grimace. “Oh my god, no details. That’s my brother you’re talking about.”
“You asked.”
“And I immediately regret it.” He downs half his drink in one go. “Let’s change the subject before I have to bleach my brain.”
I chuckle, relaxing for the first time since we sat down. “Fine by me.”
Bobby tilts his head, studying me again. “So, you know what I do for work, right?”
“Riley mentioned something about OnlyFriends.” I try to keep my expression neutral. “You make videos?”
“That’s one way to put it.” Bobby grins. “I make content. Videos, photos, live streams, personal messages, custom requests. I’ve got an online persona that people like to connect with. They want to see all kinds of content, not just the spicy stuff. Though, yeah, spicy too.”
I shrug. “Sounds like a decent gig.”
“Really? That’s your reaction?” Bobby looks surprised. “Most people get weird about it.”
“I punch people for a living,” I remind him. “Not gonna judge how you pay your bills.”
“It’s more than bills,” Bobby says, spinning one of his rings. “I live pretty well, actually. Way better than some office job killing my soul nine to five.”
“Can’t argue with that.” I raise my beer in salute.
Bobby raises his glass in return, and we both drink.
As I set my beer down, my attention is drawn to a group at the pool tables. Two men and two women, all mid-twenties to early thirties, laughing over beers and a game. One of the men—tall, with glasses and a serious face that softens when he smiles—keeps glancing our way. More specifically, at Bobby.
Bobby follows my gaze and quickly averts his eyes when he realizes who I’m looking at.
“You know them?”
“Just one of them. Kind of. Not really.” Bobby looks flustered for the first time tonight.
“Kind of, not really?” I raise an eyebrow. “That sounds complicated.”
“It’s nothing.” Bobby sighs. “Forget about it.”