Page 3 of So I'll Know
Tris leans close to me, his lips close to my ear. “Where’s Ash?”
I grimace. “We broke up.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”
I bark a laugh. “No, you’re not.”
“You’re right. I’m not. She was too uptight.”
“I’m uptight.”
“Yeah, and we only need one of you.”
I roll my eyes and make a beeline for the bar. “I need a shot of whisky, please.”
The bartender assesses me with a smirk. “You must be new here.”
I smile politely. “What makes you say that?”
“Just a lucky guess.” His eyes rake down my body. “There’s a coat check in the corner if you want to take off a few layers,hun.” He pours some amber liquid into a large glass and slides it toward me. “It can get pretty warm in here.”
I eye the glass. “Did you just make me a double?”
“I thought you could use it.” He winks. “You’re going to bereallypopular tonight.”
“Thanks.” I look over at Tris and the others, who are watching the whole exchange with amusement. “What?” I ask before I throw back the whisky with a quick swallow. It burns all the way down and instantly heats my limbs.
I can do this.
“Nothing, Marcus,” Tris says before ordering his own drink. “Just glad to see you made it out of your stuffy office.”
“My office isnotstuffy. It’s cozy.” The new Brothers’ Beer & Bourbon location is situated on Alaskan Way with a panoramic view of Elliott Bay, and my office is on the top floor with a big window. The walls are a soothing blue and decorated with local artwork and family photos.
Everything has a place and a purpose. It feels safe. Organized. It’s definitelynotstuffy.
Tris gives me a deadpan look as the bartender pushes two drinks in his direction. “As soon as my designer friend gets back from Europe, I’m going to make him include your office space in the pub design assessment.”
“That sounds terrible. I like things the way they are.”
Tris places a gentle hand on my shoulder while we wait for his friends’ drinks. “You can’t live like this, honey. You need to loosen up. Most of the staff are afraid of you, grumpy man.”
“They are not.” I eye him, deciding whether he’s serious. “Are they?”
Tris nods. “You’re too serious, Marcus. Let loose and get drunk with me and my friends tonight and see if it helps.” He presses his palms together and gives me a flirty smile. “Since it’s my birthday and all.”
“Stop it,” I grouse.
“Stop what?” he asks innocently.
“Giving me those fuck-me eyes. You know I’m straight. They don’t work on me.”
“Everyone is a little queer, Marcus. Even a burly bear like you.”
“Sure,” I say placatingly. I shrug off my jacket and take it to the coat check, sticking the little red ticket from the attendant in my jeans pocket. I turn and almost run into a man with a shoulder-length blond bob reminiscent of He-Man. His grin drips sex, a dimple popping in his left cheek.
I blink.
“You’re kind of rustic.” His finger traces over one of my shoulders. “Like the Brawny Man.”
