Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Xavier went home after leaving Zest, but he didn’t stay there long. Salty Dog was “packed,” according to Hank, the kitchen manager. When Xavier received the phone call, he’d just kicked off his shoes. Then he’d put them back on, grabbed his keys, and headed for the restaurant.
By this time of year, the tourists had mostly trickled out of the Cove to return to their regularly scheduled lives. But there were still plenty of Evergreeners who flocked to Salty Dog year-round. Which meant that tonight’s “pop in” was looking more like he’d be here until close.
As a restaurant owner, a packed house was great news.
But not today, when he’d planned on seeing May after work.
Coming in had added one more task to his already bloated to-do list. If he could find another Cheyenne, he could lighten the load.
That was a big if, though. She’d done the work of two, and since she’d managed restaurants before, needed little to no direction.
Selfishly, he found himself wishing that her divorce could’ve waited until next summer.
After five hours of hustling, bussing tables, and keeping a smile on his face for the regulars, they cleared out earlier than expected.
As the last patron left, he flipped the Closed sign with relief.
He’d had a long day as it was, so staying open another hour-plus wasn’t happening.
He said good night to his employees, made one last pass behind the bar, and began the short drive home.
He had texted May earlier to let her know tonight was off, since he’d had to work unexpectedly.
What had gone down earlier today at Zest still bugged him, but he reminded himself that they’d ended on a high note.
A smile, a kiss, and he was counting the sassy eye roll as a win.
If it wasn’t so late, he’d text or call her now to tell her he was thinking about her.
He was halfway to talking himself into doing just that, on the off chance that she was awake and wanted company, when he turned onto his street.
That’s when he noticed a shadowy figure walking on the opposite side of the road.
It looked like a guy, hands in his pockets, shaggy head down, watching his sneakers.
“What the hell?” A flicker of recognition had him leaning forward to peer out of his windshield for a better look. When the headlights swept over the guy’s face, Xavier felt his own face go slack.
“Lynx?” At once, Xavier was shocked and pissed off.
He tapped the brakes, coming to a stop in the middle of the road, and then reversed. Window down, he called out, “Hey! What the hell are you doing out here?”
Lynx stopped walking and turned—not very steadily. “Xavier?”
“Yeah, what are you—” Then he noticed that his brother was cradling one arm and sporting a fresh black eye. His lip was bleeding. Before he thought about what he was doing, Xavier was gently shoving his brother toward the passenger side of the SUV. “Who did this? Why didn’t you call me?”
“I was walking to your house. I stopped by Salty earlier today, and they said you weren’t working, so I went to another bar with a friend. Least I thought he was a friend. He was my ride.”
Xavier hadn’t even known Lynx was in town. “And the reason you didn’t take an Uber is…?”
“I’m out of money, okay?” Lynx practically shouted. He slammed the door and folded his arms over his chest.
“You don’t have six bucks?”
“No, Rich Guy. I don’t.”
Xavier gritted his teeth and started driving again. After a beat of silence, he asked, “You didn’t have any money when you went out tonight?”
“I did, but I lost it playing cards.”
Xavier tightened his grip on the wheel and stayed silent. Yelling wouldn’t help.
“It was supposed to be one game. Poker. A couple beers. He kept raising the stakes, talking shit, and I had a four of a kind, Xav. Four of a kind! It was a safe bet. He had a fucking royal flush. I know he cheated. When I accused him of being a liar, he snapped.”
Xavier glanced at his younger brother, who looked miserable sitting there, arms in his lap, shoulders slumped. He had to be in pain. “We’ll get some ice on that cheek.”
Lynx didn’t respond. Xavier didn’t push, even though he could think of a hundred things to say, most of it advice he would have ignored at Lynx’s age.
Things like: You shouldn’t drink so much, and Don’t gamble with guys looking for an excuse to kick your ass, and Don’t make friends with assholes. But arguing with a drunk was as effective as driving up to the Bluffs to shout into the wind.
Xavier lost his grip on his self-control the second they stepped inside his house. Well, he stepped inside—Lynx stumbled. Hands in his hair, he watched as Lynx sagged onto the sofa and pulled his phone out of his pocket.
Xavier snatched his brother’s phone. “How come you didn’t use this to call me? Or call Mom or Dad?”
“Call Mom and Dad and let them know I got the shit kicked out of me? No thanks, I don’t need a lecture.”
“You’re going to get one, anyway. Next time you’re in trouble, call me.”
Lynx lifted and dropped his shoulder.
“What time did you stop in at Salty looking for me?”
“Around six.”
He took a deep breath and then reminded himself that he had been Lynx’s age once, and had made similar if not worse decisions. Although he’d never gotten his ass kicked after losing all his money.
“It’s irresponsible,” he said, unable to help himself.
“I can leave.” Lynx stood from the couch…and wobbled.
“Sit down.”
Lynx obeyed.
Xavier sighed. “Are you hungry?”
Lynx perked up. “Eggs and bacon?”
“I’ll make you eggs and toast.”
Sometimes his brother acted like an entitled jerk, but Xavier remembered what it was like to be twenty-one and feel invincible.
From the kitchen he called out, “Text Mom and Dad and tell them you’re staying at my house.
I don’t want them worrying. And I don’t want them calling me in the morning asking where you are. ”
“You have my phone, prick.”
Oh, right. Xavier walked into the other room, tossed Lynx his phone, and then went to the kitchen to make his brother a very late breakfast.
The next morning, Xavier left Lynx to nurse what was probably the hangover of his young life and headed to Salty Dog.
He’d been there fifteen minutes and had learned that a busboy had called in sick, and Dean, his brewer, was quitting. So much for a smooth day.
“Can you give me a little more time?” Xavier asked Dean while simultaneously checking the liquor inventory in the back room.
“I would like to, but I start working with my buddy on Wednesday. He needs me.”
Xavier bit his tongue instead of saying what he was thinking, which was I need you here more. Instead, he said, “Can you give me until Friday?”
Dean shook his head. “I can’t, man. I wasn’t going to give any notice, but I didn’t want to leave you hanging.”
Xavier gave him a look. At least the guy had the decency to look sheepish about his bullshit. “We’ll make it work.”
Not that Dean had given him much of a choice. Xavier had hoped to slide in and out of Salty and be home in two hours. Wishful thinking.
And he still needed to talk to May. Instead, he texted her:
Stuck at the bar today. I’ll make it up to you.
She replied: Okay.
Which didn’t exactly fill him with warm fuzzies.
He wanted to make promises, but he wasn’t sure he could keep them. Between the chaos unfolding at work and Lynx sacked out on his couch, privacy wasn’t guaranteed.
By the time he left for the night, he was dog tired and no closer to solving his staffing problem. Sure, he could brew the beer himself. He had before. But with everything on his plate, that wasn’t realistic.
To add to his compounding stress, his mother called as he was walking out the door. “Hey, Mom.”
“Lynx said he’s staying with you again tonight.”
“Yeah, he needed a break.”
“From what? From us?”
“You know how I was when I was that age. He’s just trying to find himself.” And he hoped that Lynx “found himself” soon. Hanging with guys who would rather bust your lip than give you a ride home wasn’t smart.
“He said you were working tonight. So, how are you visiting each other if you’re not at home? Weren’t you going to work less?”
“That was the plan.” He started his Range Rover, his body heavy. “I lost a few employees recently.” Really fucking recently. “As the owner, I’m responsible for keeping everything running.”
She hummed, but said no more about his choice of profession. Instead, she hit him with a surprise left hook. “Lynx said you have a girlfriend. Were you planning on telling me?”
Xavier paused, digesting that bit of information. He hadn’t sworn Lynx to secrecy, but maybe he should have.
“Yes, I’m seeing someone.”
“How exciting!”
He tried deflecting with, “What are you doing up so late?”
“I stay up after ten sometimes. And don’t change the subject. What is she like?”
He hesitated for a beat before saying, “She’s great. One of the best people I know.”
“Well, I hope you’re planning to introduce her to us. You know, the holidays are coming up. I have an extra seat at the Thanksgiving table for whoever you and Lynx are dating.”
His first instinct was to say no, that May would not be joining them for Thanksgiving. But he and May were having a baby. His parents were going to be grandparents. And just as important, she didn’t have parents to spend Thanksgiving with.
“I’ll talk to her. I’m sure May would love to meet you.”
“Your friend May? You didn’t tell me you were dating May.”
How did his mom know about May? He must have mentioned her in passing and hadn’t realized it.
“We’ve been friends for going on three years, and she needed a date for a wedding. So I went. We hit it off.”
And made a baby.
“Well, now you have to bring her. Tell her that your mother expects to see her there.”
“Will do,” he lied. He wasn’t going to make any demands on her. He was on thin ice as it was.
“Is there something going on with Lynx I should know about?” his mom asked.
“Yes. He’s twenty-one and sometimes he’s an asshole.”
“Language, Xavier.”
“Mom, he’s fine. He needs a break. I’ve got him tonight. He’ll be home soon, and you can grill him then.”
“You’re a better role model than a lot of the guys he hangs out with. Take care of my boys, and I do mean both of you. Love you.”
“Love you too.” He ended the call and headed home. Lynx could stay with him for the weekend, but come Monday, he had to go. Xavier had better things to do than babysit a grown man.