Page 21 of Unbar the Barred
Apprehension was there, but with it was hope. “As long as you don’t go forgettin’ my kiss before you leave, we’ll be fine.”
Cassidy chuckled and lifted his head. “I’m sure I can manage that.”
Trey had a week of shifting his schedule around, with Cassidy doing the same, and as much as they’d been able to see each other every day, the nights had become an issue. Trey’s wolf was pretty sure Cassidy was pregnant. The nights sitting at the bar, waiting for Trey, weren’t good for their little chick, especially when he had to get up at dawn for work. Cassidy didn’t say a word about the pregnancy, so Trey held back the need to go into protective mode. That was something he was dealing with, though maybe not totally when Kendrick was ragging on his ass about his mood swings. He kept hold of those in front of Cassidy when he didn’t want his mate feeling he was to blame.
He had gotten Cassidy to agree and go back to his cabin to sleep, so he got rest. Trey fucking hated waking alone and being sensible. He wanted to head to the ranch every night and wake Cassidy up to…
“If you keep wipin’ at that like it’s pissed ya off, the thing is gonna need replacin’.”
Kendrick’s voice broke through Trey’s brooding, and he eyed his friend, thinking he’d be a better target to take out his frustration on. The beer taps were so shiny, Trey could see his grumpy expression on them.
“Whatever ya got goin’ on in that head of yours, forget it. I ain’t in the mood for a boxin’ match when we gotta open up in half-an-hour,” said Kendrick.
“You sure? I ain’t the only one in a fuckin’ mood.” He wasn’t. Kendrick had been off for the last few days, which wasn’t like him. “Your new fuck buddy leave town?” Trey hazarded a guess.
“What you know ‘bout that?” Kendrick snapped back, now wearing a similar expression to the one Trey wore.
“I ain’t heard anythin’. Just putting the numbers together, is all.”
Kendrick eyed him for several seconds before he cursed. “That guy Rue, him and one of the others in the group he came with. We got a thing goin’. It was… interestin’.”
Trey arched his brow, taking the distraction. “Interestin’ how? And I didn’t notice anyone hangin’ with the rhino shifter.”
“Did you notice anything other than Cass sitting at the bar eye fuckin’ ya?”
Trey grinned, his good mood returning despite knowing Cassidy wasn’t coming in later. “Why would I want to notice anythin’ else?”
“Fuck you!”
“Only person doin’ that with me is Cass,” Trey pointed out because he could, and it made him feel like a damn pack leader. “So Rue, he gone back to Hazardville with Silas and his brothers?”
Kendrick gave a disheartened sigh, and Trey narrowed his gaze on his friend. “You’re interested in more than fuckin’,” he exclaimed, not giving Kendrick a chance to answer.
“It seems this”—he lifted his hands, air quoting—“wantin’ more, seems to be catchin’.”
Trey slapped at the bar. “Holy fuck, man, I never thought I’d see the day—”
“Don’t go fuckin’ gloatin’. You were the one pissed off ‘bout Cass not comin’ in tonight.”
There was no arguing with that, and Trey deflated, growling at his friend. “What a fuckin’ pair we are.”
“At least you have Cass. He’s your mate.”
That stopped Trey as he went to take a step. “You wanna mate with Rue and this other dude?”
Trey didn’t think Kendrick was going to answer. He wouldn’t look in Trey’s direction as he lifted a tray of clean glasses out of the dishwasher.
“Thinkin’ ‘bout possibilities,” he muttered.
What Trey felt for his friend was mixed. He didn’t want him to leave, but he also knew if anyone deserved happiness, it was Kendrick. “Would they be interested?”
He shrugged while emptying the tray of glasses. “Don’t know.”
“If there’s anything I can do to help, ya know I will.”
“I know, thanks.” He glanced back at Trey. “Did you know ole man Granger? He’s selling his small holding out on the Hudson?”
Trey’s pulse gave a nice nudge. “I didn’t hear that.”
