Chaser (Dive Bar #3)(81)

“It’ll be easier.”

She smiled. “Yes. It will be.”

“Sweet.” I patted Ada’s diaper-clad butt. “Kind of sounds like we’re settling into that apartment together, though. Is that a sign?”

“You mean about Florida?” She leaned her forehead against my shoulder. “I know I’m dragging it out and just need to make a decision. God, I’m sorry. I feel like such a flake. Every time I think I know what the right thing to do is, I get panicky and change my mind.”

“Eh. Eh.” Ada smacked me on the nose, demanding my attention.

“Yes, Ada?”

She gave me a dribble-filled grin.

“Clever and gorgeous.” I smooched on her chubby little cheek until she giggled. “Yes, you are.”

“Thank you,” yelled Joe from behind the bar because he thought he was funny.

“Shush up.”

At that, my brother laughed. Vaughan, sitting at the bar, joined in. Chuckleheads.

“Give me the baby,” demanded Nell, appearing at my side and forcibly removing the child from my arms. Though I didn’t really fight hard, on account of the fact the woman was huge. I’d told her to go home and get off her feet hours ago, but she wouldn’t listen.

Before I knew it, Rosie was there too, crowding me out while they gushed all over the baby. It was hard to blame them. Ada had hit a stage where she would stare right at you for about four seconds, and then her whole face would light up in this radiant smile, as if you were just the best thing ever.

“Come on,” I said, taking Jean’s hand to lead her to a table over by the bar just in case I was needed. “What do you feel like eating, sweetheart? You hungry?”

“How’s things, Jean?” asked Joe.

“Good.” Jean smiled. “How are you and Alex doing?”

“Great, yeah.” The bearded wonder kept polishing glasses. “We’ve been talking about lots of things lately. Lots.”

Jean just blinked. “Um, great.”

Bastard.

“Communication is the bedrock upon which any kind of solid relationship is built,” joined in Rosie for some goddamn reason. I really did regret ever seeking wisdom from any of them. “Don’t you agree, Eric?”

“Absolutely,” I grated out. “Sounds like you’ve all been talking a lot. Really building those relationships.”

“Well, we’re a family.” Nell came closer, rocking Ada in her arms.

“Are we?” I asked, raising a brow.

“Yes,” she said. “Even when we disagree almost to the point of violence sometimes.”

“Or quite frequently,” I corrected. “Can you guys not do this?”

“Not only does it affect us all, but I’m not convinced it’s what you want.”

“So you read minds now? Seriously, Nell?” I grabbed the edge of the table, trying to stay calm. “It’s her choice. You all need to stay out of it.”

Nell’s chin went up, ginger hair fiery beneath the lights. Guess she might have been on her way home, because her chef’s cap was missing. “And because she’s my friend, I respect her enough to tell her everything.”

Beside me, Jean stirred, leaning closer. “All right you guys, what’s going on?”

“Do you love him?” asked Nell, gaze zeroing in on Jean.

She just stared.

“Because he loves you.” Nell shifted Ada to her hip, trying to make allowances for the size of her belly. “I honestly never thought I’d live to see the day he put anyone ahead of his own interests. Don’t get upset, I’m not out to insult him. It’s just the way he’s always been … until you.”

Jean tipped her head. “Where are you going with this?”

“Do you love him?”

“It’s all right, you don’t have to answer that,” I said.

“He helped build this place with his hands,” said Nell, forging on. Goddammit. “And I’ll be the first to admit he’s been slack sometimes, being late, going off early. But not anymore, not for a while now. Even when he was driving me nuts, he always put everything into each drink he made. It’s like he thinks he’s a cocktail wizard or something. I don’t know. But slinging drinks is his gift and that over there is his bar.”

“Okay,” said Jean, her voice quiet.

“I’m asking you to think about staying here and not moving to Florida.”

“Shit,” I muttered.

“I know you’ll miss your folks sometimes. Despite all of the crap they pulled, they’re still your parents. It’s a given,” said Nell. “But let us be your family. We won’t let you or Ada down, I promise. We’re not temporary and we’re not fair weather, we’ll be there for you both.”

“We will,” said Joe. “Just give us a chance to prove it.”

“You’re all ganging up on her.” I rose to my feet, shoving my chair in. “This is not fair.”

My brother, Vaughan, Nell, Rosie, and Taka stood around us, forming a circle. I don’t know if they’d organized it beforehand, but it was not cool. They were like an out-of-control mob of loving idiots.

“No, Eric,” Jean said, reaching out to take my hand. “It’s all right. I needed to hear this. I want to.”