I grunted, letting my head fall back against the headrest. “Fuck.”

  18

  AVA

  Zeke never showed. Some of his teammates came into Manny’s, gave me looks, but remained on the restaurant side of the place. I frowned but kept working, though I checked my phone. Zeke had said he was going to come over after their game. There were no calls, no texts.

  It was a little after ten when the side door opened, and in came Heather Jax, or Monroe since she’d taken her husband’s last name. She wasn’t alone. Her alone wouldn’t have sent alarms going through me since she was my boss, had been in some varying way since I was a teenager. She owned Manny’s along with her brother, but she came in, saw me, and headed right for me. Behind her was her sister-in-law, Bren Monroe.

  Bren was also one of the most beautiful women I’d known growing up, with dark hair, large doe-like eyes. I knew she had a reputation of being fierce and primal, like a wolf, which had been what her crew was once called. The Wolf Crew. I went to school in Roussou, but I’d not been a part of the crew system.

  She and Heather together made sense. They were family. Heather owned the place. No reason for alarm…but they weren’t alone. Tasmin Ryerson was also with them. Blaise’s sister. She was the other brother’s twin, but all three of them shared the same good looks. Tawny hazel eyes. Naturally tan. Beautiful golden blonde hair.

  All three together, all three looking my way, and my heart sank a little.

  Zeke and I were together. There’d been no official conversation, but I knew we were. I’d accepted it. There’d been no need for me to worry about exclusivity. Zeke had made it clear he only wanted me, but besides knowing Bren, Tasmin, and Heather in different ways, I wasn’t really ‘in’ their group.

  My core had been my ex, my mom, and my grandmother. There’d been one other girl that I sometimes went to a movie with, but she moved away a long time ago. I was digressing. I was trying to say that I wasn’t a casual friend type of person. It was fine. It was how I was, and I fully knew that Zeke was more in this group than I was. They all liked him, put up with him at times, but since high school, they had adopted him. Or he made them adopt him, which was probably more the way of it and now I was with Zeke, so I’d been wary about telling any of them.

  It just felt weird. I didn’t know my place anymore. Bren, that was easier because she wasn’t around that much anymore, but Heather was. Brandon wasn’t a fan of Zeke and since he was Heather’s brother, and I knew they were tight, I’d been well, I’d been quiet about my relationship. Though, I adored Heather. Adored her. I’d do almost anything for her. She’d given me so much over the years. I’d never be able to repay her kindness. And knowing all of that, knowing Zeke and I had been together for a while, and seeing her giving me a look, my stomach was doing a tango.

  I was thinking ‘the talk’ was about to happen.

  “Ladies.” I was the only one manning the bar tonight. Derek had left twenty minutes ago. “What would you like to drink?”

  “We’re not here to drink.”

  Bren was the one who spoke, but Taz raised her hand. “I am. I’m here to drink. Can I get a vodka spritzer, please? Thank you.”

  Heather was looking around. “We’re busy. You’re alone tonight?”

  I was reaching for the vodka and the cranberry juice as I nodded. “I’m okay. I can handle the bar.”

  “Derek left?”

  I nodded as I made up the drink, glad I’d already cut new mint leaves ten minutes ago. I was swirling everything together, a couple strawberries thrown in as I asked Heather, “Sure you don’t want anything?”

  “Uh.” She was eyeing the glass as I handed it over to Taz, whose eyes were lit up. “Actually, that looks good.”

  I gave a nod, reaching to do another and glanced at Bren. “You sure?”

  She gave a nod. “Just give me a water.”

  “Water coming up.”

  As I finished Heather’s drink and poured Bren her water, I kept watching them. They weren’t talking, but all three were on their phones. That’s when I felt my own phone buzz in my pocket. Finally. It was Zeke. He was going to tell me he’d stayed late to chat with someone and was heading over now. He’d apologize for not texting sooner.

  That’s what I was expecting as I slid both drinks over the counter to them and began to reach for my phone.

  Bren said, curtly, “Don’t do that.”

  I paused, my eyebrow going up. She had a very serious look on her face. Taz was watching her, watching me, but closed her mouth over her metal straw and took a sip. A long sip. Heather was frowning at her own phone. “What the hell?”

  And that was my question too, because this couldn’t be good. None of it.

  My whole stomach just shrank in size. I braced myself. “Was he in an accident?” The elephant in the room had been acknowledged.

  Taz started coughing, spitting out her drink.

  Bren’s eyes got big. “No. Oh, no. Nothing like that.”

  Heather was giving me a grim face.

  I kept cutting to her. “What? Just tell me. What is it? What happened?”

  She hesitated, and this was Heather Jax. She never hesitated. Ever. She was the queen of kicking ass, I mean, after Bren. They were both up there, taking no bullshit. Bren was in an actual fisticuffs way, but you still didn’t mess with Heather Jax. She’d cut your balls off.

  But the hesitation did me in, and I whipped out my phone.

  “Ava—” Bren started to stand up from her stool.

  I turned my back and read the text that was just sent through.

  Unknown number: This is Zeke. I got arrested. I’m fine. Lawyer Kade should get me out soon. Don’t worry about me. I swung on someone, but there was reason. Don’t let anyone twist it, please. Let me tell you what happened first.

  I texted back:

  Me: Whose phone is this?

  Unknown Number: This is his lawyer. Working on bail.

  My God. Bail.

  He swung on someone? What did that mean?

  Unknown Number: Don’t talk to anyone. That’s imperative.

  I frowned. Talk to no one?

  “What did that just say?” Bren had come around to my side of the bar, and she was looking at my phone.

  I put it away, even warier because I liked Bren. Like I said, she’d been a sort of protector of mine, but I backed away. “I—it was his lawyer. I’m not supposed to talk to anyone.”

  “Who’s his lawyer?”

  I glanced at Heather, who was finishing her drink. She looked concerned, but also not that concerned because she was looking at her drink like she’d just discovered chocolate for the first time.

  “It said Lawyer Kade. I—I’m not sure who that is.”

  Heather’s head jerked up. “Logan?”

  “Wait.” Tasmin shot a hand up, her drink done and pushed over for a second. “Logan Kade is in town?”

  She and Bren looked in Heather’s direction, which made sense since Heather was friends with the Kades. Her husband was also really good friends with Mason Kade, Logan’s brother. Both were well-known in the area, considered legendary by some. Lord knew, I was aware how much Zeke was fan-obsessed with Mason Kade. He told me one night that he kept a picture of him in his locker in high school.

  I laughed so hard that I had to run to the bathroom.

  Heather looked startled. “I—uh—” She laughed, a sheepish grin showing. “I’m sorry, but I’m so distracted.” She picked up the glass. “This is the best drink ever, and I know the recipe, but you added something extra to it. What did you add?”

  Some of my tension eased a little. “I’m not telling my secret.”

  She shook her head, a slight laugh coming from her. “I could drink seven of these in thirty minutes. This is that good. Ava, you’re like magic. Pure liquor magic.”

  More of my tension eased again. “Thanks, Heather. Means a lot coming from you.”

  “Can we keep to the issue at hand. Zeke’s in jail, and we were sent to help you.”

  “Help me?” That ball just wound back up again. “What do you mean?”

  “The fight was over you.”

  “Bren!” Taz said.

  “Over me? What? What do you mean?”

  “It’s all fine.” Heather finished her drink and pushed it over to me. “Give me a refill, please.”

  “Me too!” Taz grinned, holding her glass up.

  “Guys.”

  “It’s fine, Bren.” Heather shook her head. “Logan’s here. Logan’s on the case. Logan will get him out.”

  Bren snorted. “You might think Logan Kade is a god, but I don’t. With what Race said, the case is clear cut. Open and shut. Zeke full out just took a bat to the guy.”

  “What?” I almost shrieked now. Because, what the hell? “What happened?”

  Bren gave me another grave look. “That’s the other reason we’re here. You and Zeke. Your relationship.”

  Taz held a hand up. “Um, I like their relationship. Zeke is different with Ava.”

  Bren looked her way. “Zeke’s slept with almost all of my friends, excluding you. And he would’ve slept with you if you hadn’t already been dating Race.”

  “Those were Aspen’s friends from college, but yes. I see your point. You made other female friends later, and he did sleep with them.”

  My stomach was now like a rock.

  Taz kept talking. “But he loves her. He said it tonight.”

  I’d been holding a glass, prepared to dip it in for some ice, but those words—I dropped it.

  Heather gasped, lurching upright.

  Bren frowned.

  Taz’s eyes got wide, and she stopped talking. “Oh—oh no. I just let it slip.”

  Zeke…

  I reached out, grabbing the counter.

  Zeke loved me?

  I whispered, “What did you say?”

  Heather held her hand out. “Guys, it’s fine. It’s all fine. Zeke, that’s for him to say.” She focused on me. “We don’t know what triggered Zeke, but the guy has turned his life around. He’s a good guy. I can’t believe I’m saying that, but he is. If Logan is his lawyer, one, that’s shocking enough since he lives on the east coast, but I know Logan. If he’s here and he’s handling Zeke’s case, there’s a reason. Zeke will be fine.” She swung around, giving Bren a meaningful look. “They’ll take care of it.”

  Bren narrowed her eyes. “They’ll make it go away?”

  “Probably, but Zeke will be fine.”

  I had to take a step back, still dazed.

  Bren bent down and scooped up the glass. It hadn’t shattered since it was made up from some special kind of material. It only bounced on the rubber floor we had under the bar, put in place for this very reason. As she put it in the sink to get rewashed, Heather let out a breath of relief. “Oh, good. In her state, I was worried she’d cut her hand or foot or something.”

  “Huh?”

  Zeke was in love with me…

  Bren noted my state and grunted. “She’s in shock. Who am I kidding? I’m in shock too. Zeke Allen? In love? He’s been a pain in my ass—”

  “Don’t.”

  She quieted, going still at my command.

  I blinked, feeling a weird sensation coming over me, like new skin. But I had to back it up even against Bren Monroe. “Don’t talk about him that way.” I took a step back, just in case, but my whole body was shaky. “He’s—he’s not that guy anymore.”

  Taz added, quietly, “He hasn’t been for a long time.”

  “I know, but he still needles me.”

  “That’s you. Zeke’s been different for a long time, since high school.”

  “I know that too.”

  Zeke was in love with me.

  The information just kept swimming in my head.

  I couldn’t believe it.

  But he’d stood up for me how many times?

  He came to my place, worried.

  He broke into my place.

  He got into the tub with me.

  He moved me into his place.

  He told his ex to stuff it.

  He—I loved him too.

  I loved Zeke Allen.

  But, God.

  I think I fell in love with him a while ago.

  “I love him,” I said it quietly, to myself, but I lifted my head up.

  Heather, Bren, and Tasmin were all focused on me. A gun could’ve gone off, and I didn’t think they would’ve looked away.

  I swallowed over that lump, making it go away. “I don’t care what he did. I’m sure he had reason. I love him.” I turned to Bren. “Oh, my God. Is this bad? This is bad, right? I shouldn’t be in love with him, but wait.” I remembered what Taz said.

  He said he loved me, and Zeke didn’t lie.

  He didn’t lie.

  Bren moved in closer, her hand coming to my shoulder. “Should you, maybe, uh… Heather?”

  “What’s up?”

  “She’s going into shock.”

  Heather snorted. “No doubt, but it’s about time Ava got some life into her.”

  I looked her way. “What does that mean?” I had life in me.

  Life. Me.

  I was full of life.

  Heather must’ve been watching my face because she only nodded. “Uh huh. Okay.” She wiped her hands before standing up. “Okay, this is what we’re going to do.” She came around to my side, motioning for Bren. “You.” She was talking to Bren. “Go back over there.”

  “What are we doing?” Taz asked as Bren did what she was told.

  Heather addressed the other two, “This is what we’re going to do.”

  “I want like five more vodka spritzers.”

  “Yes.” Heather pointed in Taz’s direction, but she was looking around. “We’ll get those, but this one is a little stunned right now. And since I haven’t worked behind the bar, in like years…” She moved me around, guiding me out of the bar area. “You. Go and sit. Bren, come and get her.”

  Bren nodded, doing as she was told. Again.

  Heather pulled out her phone when I got to the stool.

  Taz beamed at me before slapping the bottom of my seat. “Pop a squat, our new family member.”

  “Family member?” I was still in a daze.

  “Who are you calling?” Bren was asking Heather.

  “I’m calling someone to come and fill in here because this is what we know.” She held her hands out, addressing us. “Zeke got into a fight. He told Race that he’s in love with Ava—”

  I squeaked, another wave of shock coming over me. Shock, but excitement, and then panic, and then—Heather said, “Which is not our place, and we’re very sorry that we’re the ones who broke that news because it should be a totally private and romantic moment with you and Allen, but I gotta admit that I kinda love the kid. Of course, he’d realize he was in love in the back of a squad car—”

  “Squad car?” But wait. Yes. He’d been arrested. “I need to bail him out.”

  “No.”

  Heather spoke, but it was Bren who put my phone in front of me. I had no idea where it’d been. I’d thought I had it. Bren said, “He’s at the police station, and according to Heather, Godlike Lawyer Logan Kade—”

  Heather added, “He got him out.”

  Bren stopped, but added, relenting, “Okay. Godlike Lawyer Logan is taking care of Zeke. We have no idea why Zeke did what he did, but let’s all be honest. It’s not the first time Zeke’s been arrested, and it won’t be the last. This is kinda what he does.”

  Taz shook her head, leaning forward to speak around me, “That’s not true, and no offense, Bren, but you don’t know the real Zeke. You never have.”

  Bren was trying for patience here. I was in my whole glaze thing, but even I could tell that.

  After a second of silence, Bren added, her voice a little tight, “Okay. Zeke was ‘the enemy’ when I first met him and through college, he remained an asshole, but I’ll admit that he became a likable asshole.”

  Taz said, “He’s different with Blaise, and he’s been different for a long time. I’ve always thought Zeke’s been kinda lonely.”

  My head folded, but I started to look in Taz’s direction. She wasn’t wrong. He’d admitted something similar to me, and I’d noticed it too. It was what made me start looking at him in a different light.

  “Okay. I’ll—”

  “I like the little dipshit myself,” Heather added, putting her phone away. “And we have someone coming to take over for Ava.”

  I lifted my head up. “Zeke’s in love with me.”

  “You two have been living together and bonking for two months. This is actually surprising to you?”

  It was. It really was.

  “I think it’s great.”

  I gave Tasmin a small smile.

  “Me too.” Heather gave me a smile, but hers was wide and proud. “Now. We need to make as many of those vodka spritzers as we can before Derek gets back.”

  “You called Derek?”

  “Told him it was sort of an emergency. We needed a girls’ night. He’ll be here in ten.”

  Ten minutes. The bar was not going to be tended to for ten minutes. That couldn’t happen. I started to stand up.

  “No!”

  “No.”

  “What are you doing?”

  I paused at all of their reactions. “Shock aside, I can still work. I’ll make those drinks—”

  “No way, you won’t.” Heather was busy grabbing the vodka and all the mixes. “If I do it, we can claim some ignorance. I don’t know what I’m doing, but if you do it, we’ll have to pay. Brandon doesn’t let his sister get free drinks, so shhh. Sit down. Let me fool around back here, at least for five minutes.”

  “You make ’em, and we’ll squirrel them away in the back.”

  That was a horrible idea.

  Heather brightened up at Tasmin. “That’s a great idea!”

  Tas beamed back. “I know. That’s why I’m here.”

  Bren sighed.

  Heather paused. “We know you’re worried. We know you’ve always felt like you needed to protect Ava, but I’ve known Ava and in some ways, more than you ever have. If there’s anyone tough enough to handle Zeke, it’s her. She has been through some extreme stuff, like extreme extreme, and you’d never know it. She’s tough. Hella smart. Adaptable and she’ll outlast us all. That’s what I know about Ava. To me, it’s no wonder Zeke Allen fell in love with her. He was probably falling for her already back when you went to high school. I wouldn’t be shocked. He came in here sometimes by himself and sat in her spot, just so she’d be his waitress.”