Lead Me Home (Fight for Me #3)(74)

My brows pitched high. “That’s the reason you love me? My bar?” I razzed, shaking my head like I was completely outraged.

Jenna’s brown hair swished around her face. “You’ve got to admit that having a friend who owns a bar is filled with all kinds of perks. I wish I would have known you earlier. A girl could use a guy like you right about the time she turns twenty-one. I have major catching up to do.”

“I take offense to that.”

Rex waved his beer in the air. “Why do you think I still put up with your sorry ass?”

I lifted my arms out to the sides. “Uh . . . because I’m awesome. That’s why.”

This was always just our way, going from heavy to light in a second flat, giving each other shit as if they hadn’t just been right there, coming beside me when they always knew I needed them most.

Kale laughed. “Sure, sure, man, you just go on thinking that.”

Hope swatted at his chest. “Leave Ollie alone.” She turned her attention to me, her eyes wide with playful sympathy. “I know you’re awesome. Ignore these monsters.”

Incredulous, Kale snorted. “Monsters?”

“Monsters,” I agreed, giving Hope a smile.

Kale pointed at me with his index finger, the rest of his hand still wrapped around the glass. “If anyone looks like a monster around here, it’s you. Seriously, I’ve seen grown men shudder in their damned boots at the sight of you. Little do they know, you’re nothing but a pansy under all that muscle. What a damned waste.”

A smile threatened at the edge of my mouth.

Assholes.

All of them.

“Keep dreaming. Nothing wasted here.” I flexed like one of those fuckers showing off on Venice Beach. “Guys piss their pants when they see me because they know I’m not to be fucked with. Unlike you.” Was doing my best to keep a straight face and not bust out laughing as I played along.

Kale puffed out his chest. “Oh, come on, Ollie. You know I could take you.”

I laughed under my breath.

“You think so, huh?”

“Yup. Remember that time in fourth grade behind the swing sets? Totally whooped your ass, my friend.”

My brow lifted. “That’s because I let you win.”

Nikki widened playful eyes, her attention bouncing around the group, that mesmerizing color so pretty where they glinted under the lights.

“I can now attest to the fact that Ollie is, in fact, a monster. A bear. Or maybe an ogre. I’m concerned for my safety. The man actually growls in his sleep.”

The last week had been nothing but cruel.

Being with her and not being able to touch her.

Trying to keep that promise that I needed to figure my shit out before I hurt her again.

She draped an arm around Jenna’s shoulders. Swore, two of them might have been twins separated at birth.

Lillith’s hawk eyes darted between us. Swore she could spot a rat from a hundred miles away. “So, how is the whole roommate thing going? Should I thank you for not killing my best friend yet?”

I glanced at Nikki for a flash before I set my palms on the bar and leaned toward Lillith. “Yet being the operative word.”

Rynna giggled. “Tell me she’s not as messy at your place as she is at Pepper’s Pies. I swear to goodness, that whirlwind leaves a trail of crumbs everywhere she goes like she’s leaving behind a distress call.”

Nikki’s mouth dropped open. “What in the world are you talkin’ about, Rynna? I bus those tables faster than all those kids you hired combined. I run circles around them.”

“Oh, so that explains the crop circles of bread crumbs scattered around the floor.”

“That’s it, I quit.”

Nikki was fighting a grin behind her overexaggerated pout. But there was no missing the way her sexy mouth twisted with affection.

“I’m just playing!” Rynna cried, rushing her friend and taking up her other side. “Don’t leave me yet. I might up and die. Don’t know what I’m going to do without you. Crumbs and all.”

“We’ll find someone awesome to take my place, don’t worry. I mean, hello, not as awesome, because we all know that would be totally impossible, but someone who will make do.”

Rynna pouted. “But I love you best.”

“I’m feeling totally left out here.” Hope pursed her lips where she was tucked against Kale.

Nikki reached out and waved her in. “Well, get in here then . . . we aren’t complete without you and Lillith.”

Hope didn’t even hesitate. She rushed into the circle.

Lillith rolled her eyes. “Are we seriously group-hugging in the middle of the bar?”

Nikki’s brows shot to the ceiling. “You know what they say, how are your friends going to know you love them if you’re not drunk at two a.m. on a Saturday night?”

Lillith glanced at the glittering diamond watch wrapped around her wrist, a gift from Broderick for her birthday. “Its nine, Nikki. Nine.”

“Semantics. Get your ass over here.”

From behind, Broderick gave her a tiny shove, his grin wolfish when she looked back at him. “Go on, baby. Get a little of that group love. That’s enough fantasies for an entire week.”

Nikki pointed at him. “Eww, Brody. Just no. Don’t you dare go there.”