Page 77 of I Wanna Be Your Lager

“That’s not fair.”

“You’re right. It’s not. But neither is punching your best friend.” I raise a brow. All he does is continue to glower. He’s never been good with his feelings, especially since the accident. When I turned eighteen, I shouldn’t have left, but he seemed to be doing better. I needed to rise on my own two feet instead of standing behind Jake. He had the bar to run, or maybe the bar was only there to mask what was happening deep inside. I blow out a heavy breath. I need the two people I care most about to stop fighting not only for me but for each other. “Look, I get it.Lach’s your best friend, and he hurt you. I’m not innocent in all this either. But why all the hostility? Wouldn’t you want me to be with someone you trust? Who you know won’t hurt me?” Jake says nothing, so I continue. “That’s what I don’t get. And you know Lach is exactly that type of man.”

“He has his own issues to deal with.”

I roll my eyes. “Everyone has issues. Much like my older brother.”

My romance with Lach has been a whirlwind. Sure, we don’t know every single facet of each other’s lives, and we’re still getting to know each other. But he’s right. At the beginning, Lach was very hot and cold, apprehensive about us. While Jake was a big part of that, I know deep down there was more. There’s a reason their friendship runs as deep as a trench. When he’s ready, he’ll open up. He’s very guarded, much like my brother. Maybe that’s why they’re so close. But I know Lach wouldn’t go all in if he didn’t have feelings for me as well. That’s all the reassurance I need right now.

“He wants to be there for me. And I want to be there for him.” I rest my elbows on the counter and scrub my hands down my face. Sometimes it’s like talking to a brick wall. “I won’t stop seeing Lach. If you want to be in my life and your niece or nephew’s life, then you need to talk to him. Without the flying fists. Or I’ll get you some giant inflatable boxing gloves. I don’t want to choose between my brother and my boyfriend, but if I have to, I’ll pick him because he’s not making me choose. So this bullshit needs to stop. You need to realize how much better he’s made my life. And I know you miss your best friend. You’re extra grumpy, and it’s annoying.”

Jake sits in the chair in complete silence. Maybe he’s letting my words sink in. Maybe he tuned out everything I just said. I rest my hands on the counter, throwing everything out there because I give zero fucks anymore. Someone else nowcommands my attention. I rest a hand on my stomach. “Also, I’ll be moving out next month.” His gaze jumps to mine. “Lach found us a great townhouse, and I’ll be moving in with him.”

He nods before picking up the paper again, shoving his face between the pages. All I can do is shake my head. I will go on living my life, and he can stew in his. I have more important things to do, like packing my belongings. Again.

THIRTY-NINE

SIX-PACK APOLOGY

Lach

The past two months has been much of the same. Jake avoiding me. Eve avoiding Jake. Even the vibe at Porter’s has been off. Everyone is tiptoeing around each other, or maybe it’s me. Sure, I have the most amazing woman by my side now, but at the expense of my best friend. It fucking sucks. When I picked up the keys from the property manager, I was shocked when she mentioned my employer had given her one of the best references she ever received. I was tempted to ask her if she had called the right number, but I only provided one number, and it would be odd if a stranger gave me such a positive reference. Eve mentioned she had a friendly chat with Jake, but I wonder how friendly it was. She stood up to Goliath, and she did it for me. I’m keeping her.

To say I was excited about leaving Rylee’s couch is an understatement. Don’t get me wrong, Abby’s adorable, but I won’t miss waking up to her inches from my face. It was really sweet the one time she brought me a glass of orange juice though.

Moving my belongings in was a breeze. All I had were my clothes, a computer, a few boxes, a TV, and a stack of artwork. Eve was a different story. She has a bed, two dressers, a loveseat, recliner, and a small pub table at Jake’s. All the other miscellaneous items we need have been ordered, and we’re waiting for them to arrive. All the baby furniture was delivered in record time, even though the baby hasn’t arrived yet. Eve brought over a suitcase full of clothes that will tide her over until we can get everything else.

I slide the scissors through the tape on the top of the box, breaking the seal. With a flick of my wrist, I open the flaps and pull out all the wood pieces along with two plastic baggies. One holds a variety of nuts and bolts. The other includes an Allen wrench and several metal brackets. In the palm of my hand, I hold everything that will keep this crib together. I’m somewhat skeptical all this will hold anything over five pounds. Among the foam padding, I find the instructions. The thick paper feels sturdier than the crib. I scan the diagram of pictures and then all the parts. Seems easy enough. I toss the paper to the side, it floats to the floor, and I unwrap all the wood pieces.

A knock on the door echoes through the townhouse and to the second floor. I climb to my feet and jog down the stairs to the front door. Since we don’t have curtains yet, I peek out the wide-open window. My chest tightens, and my brows pinch together. He’s the last person I’d expect to see standing on my doorstep, especially after avoiding me for the past month. Unless he’s back to finish what he started. At the door, I twist the knob and pull it open.

“What are you doing here?”

Jake’s gaze lifts to mine. “Eve yelled at me.”

I rest a hand on the doorjamb. “So you came here to tell me Eve yelled at you?”

He squares his shoulders, but his scowl diminishes a fraction. “Not entirely. But she made me realize I really shouldn’t be mad. In fact, I should be happy. Not only is she with a guy who makes her happy, but also someone I know is a good guy who won’t treat her like her ex.”

A part of me questions if Eve wrote a script for him to recite. But I know coming here saying what he said, even if it’s scripted, was genuine. He wouldn’t have done it otherwise. “Thanks. I appreciate it. I know sneaking around behind your back wasn’t the right decision. I’m sorry for that.”

Jake nods. “Also, I brought this.” He holds out a gift bag with cartoon giraffes, elephants, and tigers printed on it with white tissue paper spilling out the top.

I lift an eyebrow. It’s too pretty to be something Jake put together himself. “What’s this?”

“A gift for the nursery. Nora helped me wrap it.”

I nod. “That explains the presentation. Thanks.”

“And this is for you.” He passes me a six-pack of my favorite beer that can only be bought in Wisconsin.

The fact he drove across state lines to bring me a peace offering is telling. Granted, it’s only a twenty-minute drive, but it’s the thought that counts. “Thanks. Do you want to come in?” I fully open the door and step out of the way. Jake passes through, and I close the door behind him. He toes off his shoes on the mat next to the door.

“This is a nice place you got here.” He glances around the bare walls and stacks of boxes.

“Thanks. It’s still a work in progress, but it’s an upgrade from my previous apartment. Plus, I wanted Eve and the baby to have a nice place to call home.”

Jake crosses his arms over his chest, his gaze settling on me. “You know you don’t have to do this, right? You don’t have to take care of her.”

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