Page 2 of Good Time Boyfriend
I smiled, shaking my head. “I don’t know what we would do without her. Yeah, we would probably figure it out, but Grace actually knowing what she’s doing without having to ask a thousand questions? Yes, you’re marrying the right woman.”
“Did I just hear that you’re marrying me for my math skills?” Grace asked as she came in.
While Ace was well above six foot, big and bearded and full of tattoos, Grace was a tiny slip of a woman. She had bright red hair, luscious curves, and could probably fit in my pocket. She also had the biggest laugh and smile, and her face lit up every time she saw Ace. But the best part? My growly and grumpy friend lit up right back.
“I think he is also marrying you for your spreadsheets.”
She grinned at me and then went to her tippy toes to kiss the bottom of Ace’s beard. He leaned down for her, and they kissed a bit more. I cleared my throat after a moment.
“I would ask if you’d like a room, but we share that office. I don’t want to know what goes on when the door is closed.”
Grace blushed, but Ace grinned. “Then we won’t tell you.”
I groaned. “Really? At least bleach it afterwards.”
“And on that note, I’m going to go work on those spreadsheets. Alone. Because I don’t trust you.” She waved her finger at him.
Ace rolled his eyes. “Fine. I see how it is.”
“You better.” She waved us off. I laughed before going back to setting up.
We were open from three until one. I wouldn’t be closing, our team would. Usually Ace and I didn’t open together, but on days when Grace was here doing the accounting, we both wanted to be here in case there were any questions. And, frankly, even though I was still in my twenties, I liked being home to sleep in my own bed before midnight.
I set to work on the kegs and ensuring that all the glassware and prep were ready from the night before. I had oranges and lemons and limes to cut, more cherries to procure, and countless other things. Keeping the cherries in stock when everyone kept stealing them was a hazard of the business and meant that I had to hide them from my own staff. It was that way when I was a server and busboy when I was sixteen, and the problem had only gotten worse as time moved on.
The door opened before we were open for business and I looked up to see Greer walk in, making me smile.
My sister looked like us. Brown hair with subtle highlights from the sun, bright light eyes, but in a petite frame.
While Luca was slightly smaller than August and me, he was still bigger than Greer by far. And Luca was bulking up from his day job, lifting huge sixty-to-eighty-pound dogs onto a vet table.
“Hey there, little sister. I didn’t know you were coming in today.” I moved around the bar so I could come up to her, arms outstretched. She smiled at me before wrapping her arms around my waist, hugging me tightly.
We stood there for a moment, taking it in, the situation still new enough that I wasn’t quite sure when the novelty of it would wear off. We had been apart for so many years, and I hadn’t known when she was sick or feeling grumpy or what her favorite book was. I hadn’t known anything until we were old enough to be able to contact each other outside of our parents. They hadn’t liked us calling the other house, connecting with the parent who hadn’t chosen us.
I was getting to know this Greer, but I sure as hell missed the young Greer I never got to know.
We split apart, and she grinned at me. “I was in the area and figured I’d say hi.”
“You work like twenty minutes west of here, and I thought you were closing today.”
She nodded but held out her phone. “I had to meet with our backer, and since her shop is only a few blocks from here, I figured I’d walk to you to say hi before I caught the light rail back.”
“Do you want my car? You’re welcome to drive it back.”
She waved me off. I knew I sounded a bit eager. I just wanted to protect her, to help her. The fact that Greer was now engaged to not one, but two men meant that I didn’t need to protect her. She had the two loves of her life for that. Hell, she could protect herself. The fact that Greer’s men also happened to run a security business? Well, that meant I felt a little out of sorts. A little unneeded. But that was on me. Never on her.
“My car is at my place. But with traffic because of an accident on 25, I decided to take public transportation. It’s really okay. I have a pass and everything.”
“And I realize it’s better for the environment, but I just like to give you things.”
“I know. And I’m grateful. And I did bring something for you.” She handed over the paper bag and I could smell the deliciousness before I even opened it.
Plump pastries, bagels, and other goodies—at least a dozen.
My mouth watered, and she smiled at me. “I know you have drinks here, but I figured pastries from not only our shop, but Haley’s too would be welcome.”
“Did I hear the word pastry?” Ace asked, practically pushing me out of the way. “There’s my Greer.” Ace hugged her tightly as Greer laughed, and Grace came running in, throwing her arms around both of them.
