Page 25 of I Wanna Be Your Lager

Lach

Since Eve arrived, I’ve been avoiding Jake as much as possible without looking suspicious. It’s hard to look your best friend in the face when your face has been between his sister’s legs. There’s no easy way to start that conversation without it ending in bloodshed. Most likely mine. Luckily, I don’t have to work with Jake tonight but instead Nora, which is only slightly better.

“Why are you fighting this? Because of some stupid rule you made up?” Nora rests her hands on her hips. “After witnessing that kiss last night, it’s hard to deny the chemistry you two have.”

With a furtive glance over my shoulder, my heart pounds in my chest. Since the coast is clear, I turn my attention back to Nora. “Jake’s my best friend, and he asked me to look out for her. I don’t think having sex with her is what he had in mind.” I rest my palms on the bar, locking my arms. “Jake, you, Dessa, and Rylee. You guys are all I have. You’re my family. And if I fuck this up with Jake, he’ll get you guys in the divorce, and I’ll be left with nothing.”

“I don’t think Jake would divorce you.”

I turn my head to face her. “I’ve seen him do a lot more for a lot less.”

“I’d be thrilled if I had a sibling date my best friend.”

“Too bad Eve can’t be your sister instead of Jake’s.”

Nora’s blonde braid whips around as she spins and rests her butt against the cooler. “So you’re just going to deny yourself happiness? Because you’ve never talked about a girl like you have her.” She leans in closer to me. “I’ve never seen you look at a girl like you look at her either. It’s like your eyes fucking sparkle when she’s within five feet of you. That doesn’t happen with just anyone.”

She’s right. I’ve never felt this way with anyone else, but that’s not the issue I’m most concerned about.

“Is it worth the risk?” She holds out her hands, palms up, moving them up and down like a balance scale. “Lose the girl and be miserable, or know that Jake will understand about the whole situation and be happy for you.”

I shake my head. “‘Jake’ and ‘happy’ aren’t necessarily two words that go hand in hand.”

A sly grin takes over Nora’s face. “You’re aware you and Eve are closing the bar tonight, right?”

I blow out a deep breath and drop my head. “I saw it on the schedule yesterday. I was tempted to call in sick today.”

“That seems unlike you.”

“That’s exactly why I’m here. Unknowingly, Jake’s certainly not making this easy on me.”

“What is his story, anyway?” She rests a hand on her hip. “He’s all business twenty-four seven. Can the muscles in his face do anything else besides scowl?”

“Jake’s?” My brows lift. “It’s complicated.”

“Clearly. He’s a ball of string knotted together. I’m going to go see if he wants to talk to me. Maybe I’ll try to convince him to set up a profile on OneDate. Someone may need a grumpybrute to intimidate an ex or something.” She pushes herself off the cooler.

I laugh. Jake on a dating app… That would be one cold day in hell. “Good luck.”

“I’d ask you, but you’re off the market and in love.” She winks as she strolls past me.

“Hardly.” I shake my head.

“So, Lach, I hear you’re hooking up with—” Dessa strolls behind the bar.

She returned to Harbor Highlands from her honeymoon yesterday. Being the resident mixologist, she creates all the drink specials at Porter’s. Since her now-husband is the catcher for the Seattle Warblers baseball team, she’ll spend the off-season in Minnesota, spring training in Arizona, and Seattle during the regular season.

“Shhh!” I zip my fingers over my lips.

Dessa clamps her mouth shut. Leaning in, she whispers, “Oh, so we’re keeping it a secret.”

“You remember that ‘I owe you’ you owe me? I’m cashing in.”

Last year, Dessa conned me into helping her go on a wild goose chase to find some tourist-trap machine where you put a penny in and turn a wheel, and it flattens the penny, imprinting it with an image. I spent my entire day rummaging through five fully crammed storage buildings to find it for Garrett, and now I’m asking for my favor in return.

“What is it?” She reaches for a shaker and tosses in a scoop of ice.

“You can’t say anything to Jake.”

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