Page 27 of Good Time Boyfriend
“Oh. Well, thanks.”
Addison nearly pulled me off my heels and we staggered back to the booth. I was grateful for my drink, and for the avocado egg rolls on the table.
“So, I’m going to need a lot more information,” Addison said after a moment.
“Honestly, same. Because wow.”
Addison nodded, and as we toasted our drinks, I wondered what exactly just happened.
ChapterSeven
Heath
“Are you heading out?”
I turned to Ace and nodded. “Yeah. You good closing tonight?”
“My girl has a late dinner with the bosses, and then is probably going to head home and pass out after such a long week. I’m fine closing. You go do your family dinner. It’s why you’re here after all.” He winked as he said it, but I still rubbed a hand over my chest wondering why I was so nervous. It had been my idea to move here. My idea to pick up everything and start over in a new state. But my baby sister had done it, and I wanted to get to know her. And it hadn’t taken much convincing to get the others on board. After all, they were all just starting off in their careers. And while it had taken a little finagling to get the right qualifications to move their jobs to Colorado, it worked.
And now it was time to get used to the whole family thing.
Meaning a family dinner, where I would try not to solve whatever problems my family had.
“Call me if you need me.”
“I’m not going to need you, but don’t worry, we know we can always rely on you.” Ace gave me a look and cleared his throat. “And your family can count on you too. Don’t be so nervous, brother.”
I sighed and glared at my friend. “I don’t know if I appreciate how well you can read me.”
“It just takes practice. Plus, when it comes to your family? You always stress out so I can read your face.”
I picked up my things and frowned, nodding at a regular as they came in to sit at the edge of the bar where our other bartender helped them out. “What do you mean always?”
“I mean you lost precious time with Greer, but you have it now. You guys see each other at least once a week. You and your brothers are close as hell, closer than I am with my brothers. Hell, I’m closer to you than my brothers.”
“And considering I don’t like you, that’s saying something.” I winked, and he flipped me off.
“See? We act like family, and you’re even closer to your sibs. You were denied a relationship with your little sister growing up, but you have it now. You don’t have to fix everything for her. She knows that, and I wish you did.” He paused. “In fact, I don’t think there’s anything to fix. She’s happy, getting married to not one but two guys who would burn the world down to protect her. So maybe you can just sit back and be the big brother she needs. Not the protector.”
“I’m not sure if I know how to do that.”
“Because you’re learning, or because you want to be the big growly bear who doesn’t want anyone to touch the baby sister?”
“No, she’s doing great on her own. I’m just trying to figure out where I fit in her life.”
“Heath. You fit where you need to. You’re there.”
“I just don’t want to screw it up. And I want our family to actually figure things out.”
“You do dinners and you have holidays together. From where I’m standing, you’re already there. And maybe, just maybe, you could settle down with more than just family.”
He gave me a pointed look, and I shook my head.
“I’m out.”
“Tell Devney hi.”
I flipped him off again as a few of our regulars laughed, and made my way out back to my car.
