Page 80 of Ancient Obsession

“Ready to leave yet? Be honest.”

Oliver grinned. “Honestly, I would have stayed in bed once we got back from booking the gardens yesterday.” He looked around the bar. “But this is really nice. It’s good to see all our friends having fun instead of running for their lives from some nightmarish terror. We need to have get-togethers like this more often.”

Dave took his hand and ran a thumb over the ridges of his knuckles. “We can go if you like.”

The door bumped open, and three tall men entered the bar. One of them had to duck to miss the top of the frame. It took Dave several seconds to recognize them, as well as the shorter man and woman who came in behind them.

“Where is he?” The tallest man shouted, his deep voice bringing all conversation to a stop and cutting through the music from the jukebox.

“Brady, stop that posturing right now,” scolded the woman.

“Mom?” Dave sat back. “What…?”

Cody set a beer on the table in front of him, along with a shot glass filled with something golden. “Surprise, little brother.”

Dave stood, swaying slightly. Grant, Roman, and Brady swarmed him. They delivered brotherly hugs, slightly painful backslaps, and affectionate greetings couched inside gentle insults.

“What are you all doing here?” Dave pushed his brothers aside and wrapped his arms first around his mom and then his dad. “I thought you were coming in tomorrow.”

“Some dickhead got an idea about us coming in early.” Roman smacked the back of a hand against Cody’s chest. “We were going to sneak into town early and have a day to chill until your party tomorrow night.”

“Yeah, Daves,” Grant said in his laid-back, cannabis-fueled style. “What’s the deal, little bro? Why’d Codes make us rush over right from the airport?”

“Don’t call me that,” Cody said, but Grant didn’t acknowledge him.

“Oh, hey, is that Dems? Hey, man, good to see you little bro-in-law.” Grant pulled Demetrius into a warm hug.

“Don’t call him that,” Cody said, once again ignored.

“Well, things have been a bit crazy. The venue flooded⁠—”

“What?” His mom practically shrieked.

Dave held up his hands in a placating manner. “But we’ve found someplace better.”

“On such short notice?” His father’s eyes were wide and slightly panicked. “How can that be better if it was just sitting there available? Is it more expensive?” He leaned in and lowered his voice. “Do you need money?”

“Hey, how about we all get some drinks,” Demetrius suggested. “We can toast to the happy couple…” He tugged Oliver up against his side, arm around his shoulders. “And then have some fun.”

Oliver smiled, but the corners of his eyes were tight. “It’s really great to see everyone.”

“But, where is this new place?” Dave’s mom said. “Do we need to decorate it? Will it hold all your guests?”

“Mom…” Cody slid an arm around her, leading her off toward the bar. Dave was relieved to see his father follow. Demetrius trailed after them, and Oliver started explaining to a wide-eyed Robin the identities of the new arrivals.

“You okay, big brother?” Brady asked. Three years younger than Dave, he was the baby of the family. At six foot seven, he was the tallest.

“I’m okay. It’s just been a lot lately with the venue issues and work and stuff.” He loved his family, but he also hoped Sunday came quickly.

“Yeah? You sure? I haven’t heard from you in a while.”

“I know.” Dave nudged him. “Phones work both ways, you know.”

Brady grinned, teeth white inside his dark beard. Dave remembered the fall off the swings in their backyard that caused the faded scar at the corner of Brady’s left eyebrow. How was this giant of a man that same small kid he’d comforted?

“What about you?” Dave sat and waved to the chair beside him.

“Things are going well. Erin’s growing like a weed.” He shrugged a bit sheepishly. “Hilari stayed home with her, but she’s also taking care of her dad. He’s been pretty sick lately.”