Page 12 of From the Embers

Eric seems confused—no wonder he’d been single a long time up until recently—so I use that time to yank my card out anyway and pay for the drinks.

“Women’s lib,” I say, drawing my shoulder up to my ear and smiling sweetly at Denver’s narrowed eyes.

“It’s not cool you did that.” His brow creases and I try not to laugh.

“You can still pay for the beers, and the glass of wine I’ll have after I finish.” I bite my bottom lip because he’s still annoyed. Oh, chivalry isn’t dead, how refreshing.

“Deal.”

I glance at the clock. “Ten minutes.”

“Would you like some food?” he asks. “Me and the boys were gonna order pizzas to eat here.”

“Pizza sounds great, thank you. I haven’t had a break for hours, I’m starving.”

“Any preferences?”

“Surprise me.”

“Leave it to me.” I watch him slide off the stool toward the end of the bar where you order food. I mean, he could’ve ordered on the app, but Denver is kinda old school.

I steer my attention away from the boys for a few moments while I serve some waiting customers, but my attention follows Denver who I can still see from where I’m standing.

Man, his ass is mighty fine in those jeans. And like clockwork, female heads turn as he walks through the crowded space.

“He’ll be back before long,” Brax says. My head flicks toward him in surprise.

“W-what?”

Brax grins harder at me getting caught watching Denver and pops a shoulder. A sly smile, followed by a wink as he mouths, ‘It’s alright, sweetheart, your secret is safe with me.’

I stare at Brax with my hand on my hip. “Secret?”

“This is the third week in a row you two can’t take your eyes off each other.”

I laugh haughtily because I know that sentiment is very true—from my end anyway—but I don’t need one of Daryl’s friends pointing that out to me. It means I’m making it very fucking obvious. I’ve heard about Eric and Brax here and there from my brother, but I’ve never met them until now. I can see already, from Brax’s cocky nature, that he doesn’t pull any punches.

“I’ve known D for a long time,” I reply. “It’s not like that.”

He purses his lips, as if deliberating what he’s going to say next. “Well, he hasn’t been able to stop talking about you since you hugged him across the bar three weeks ago.”

His words settle deep into my chest, comforting me somehow.

“That can’t possibly be true.” I’m Daryl’s little sister. I know Denver has probably had more women than he knows what to do with. Okay, he may not have a wife and kids, but it doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a girlfriend, or a legion of female followers. Heck, I sure wouldn’t mind being one of them. I can’t exactly ask my brother if he’s single.

“Oh, but it is,” Eric chimes in for good measure. “I keep telling him he’s been single too long now.”

And that right there is like I just struck gold. Thanks for the information, Eric.

I also push out the thoughts swirling. rationalizing to myself that Denver is Daryl’s oldest friend, they’re like brothers, and I should not be crushing on him so bad right now, or at all.

It’s bad enough that ever since we saw each other again, Denver is all I’ve been able to think about.

Part of my brain keeps reiterating that he’s just being nice to me because I’m Daryl’s kid sister, the one he saved a lifetime ago, but another part has been imagining what it would be like to be with a guy like Denver. He’s my type in every way.

My thoughts have done more than wondering, and I can’t seem to be able to stop.

Maybe it’s just that I’ve been single this past year and have not dated at all. Perhaps once I get established in my new digs, I’ll start dating again. I mean, I love the thought of finding the right guy, of falling in love. I’m not afraid of it. The last year has been about me and building myself up and trying to figure out what I want to do with my life. It hasn’t been about dating or finding someone else to fill the void. I needed to find me, and I have.