Page 82 of Summer Heat
"Of course. If you want to hang out later, I'll be here."
I moved away from her, irritation clogging my throat.
"You're not going to hang out with her?" Hudson asked me.
"I thought you wanted a guys' night," I said tightly.
"Since when has that ever stopped you?" Cooper asked, resting his elbows on the bar.
"I haven't gone out in a long time." And it had been even longer since I'd hooked up with anyone. It felt weird to be here at the bar. I'd gotten so used to our quiet nights grilling out back and longer ones gazing at stars on the rooftop deck. I'd give anything to be there now.
"Everyone's talking about the videos on social media," Brady said.
I got the bartender's attention and waved him over. "That's because we're local. That doesn't mean anyone else cares."
Brady shrugged. "There's a lot of buzz about them online."
"The women love you and Maya together," Hudson said with a smirk as he turned to face the bar. "You could probably pick up any woman in here tonight."
The bartender stopped in front of me. "What can I get you?"
"Whatever you've got on draft is fine."
He moved down the bar and poured beer into a glass and handed it to me. "I'll put it on the Kingston tab."
Whoever got here first put their card down and covered the evening. It was a pattern we'd developed over the years.
Cooper nudged my shoulder with his. "You're the only brother who's single."
I grimaced, swirling my beer in the glass. I wasn't feeling the beer, and that statement wasn't exactly true. I chanced a glance over at Kinsley, who was seated between Elena and Daria, speaking animatedly about something.
They were probably talking about the videos and the influence they had. I didn't want her to feel insecure because women online were ogling me. It didn't change anything between us.
"I didn't want to do those videos." But so far, no one had mentioned that I was scattered or disorganized.
"They want you to work without a shirt." Dalton lifted his beer and tipped it toward his mouth, drinking deeply.
He got out even less than I did because he had a young daughter, Lilliana. I assumed she was with her mother tonight.
"I don't want the attention."
"You're the lone single brother. You have to take one for the business," Brady said.
He worked in the online space as well, filming a video game show for kids on a popular streaming service.
A hand touched my arm, and I moved, hoping it was Kinsley. But when I turned, it was a blond woman with boobs that threatened to fall out of her tube top. I shifted my gaze to her face, hoping Kinsley wasn't watching.
"Would you like to dance? My friends want to meet you." She pointed toward the dance floor where a few women were dancing in heels. One wiggled her hands at me, and another winked.
"I'm hanging out with my brothers," I said, trying to turn my body away from her.
Her face fell. "Oh, well, if you change your mind, we'll be over there."
She moved away, and my gaze snagged on Kinsley's. She'd seen every awkward moment. Before I could react, she looked away.
I wished I could talk to her or that she was by my side. This pretending to not be together sucked.
How many more hours did I need to be here before we could disappear? I wanted a follow-up to last night. I wanted to remind Kinsley that she was mine.
