19. This Doesn’t Bode Well
THIS DOESN’T BODE WELL
R owan
I’d dropped Aspen off at her apartment twenty minutes ago and chuckled to myself as she tried to play it cool, as if I didn’t know what she had planned. This woman had no intention of coming back to my house to stay with me, and that was fine. I was easily adaptable. I already had a backup plan.
So, I’d dropped her off and headed to The Raven to see Damien.
Pulling up, I threw my truck into park and walked into the bar. It was midday on a Friday, so the place wasn’t busy. A couple of people were milling about, playing pool or having lunch. I pulled out a stool and sat down, tipping my chin when he saw me.
“Hey bro, what’s going on?” Damien asked.
“Two things. One, I need a beer, please. Two, I need a huge favor,” I told him.
He nodded, turning away to grab my beer first. When he came back and set it on the bar top in front of me, he smirked. “Put an order for a burger in for you too.”
“Appreciate it, but don’t spit in my burger when I ask for this favor,” I muttered and took a sip of my beer.
“Great. What unhinged shit am I about to get involved with for the new girl?” He groaned.
I stared at him, brows raised, trying to swallow down the sudden surge of anger I felt toward a man who was like a brother to me.
“Don’t look at me like that, bro. Oliver told me how bent out of shape you’ve been over this chick, so you can’t blame my mind for immediately going there. Now what’s up?” he asked.
I groaned and took another drink of my beer.
“Well, I’m apparently bent out of shape, and I need a favor.
A big one, as I’ve mentioned.” I cleared my throat.
“I need you to kick Aspen out of her apartment. Doesn’t have to be permanent or anything.
Just a couple of weeks. You can tell her there’s been a mouse infestation, and the exterminator said it’ll be about three weeks before it’s all cleared up. ” I shrugged.
Damien stared at me from across the bar. “Rowan…have you lost your damn mind?”
I laughed—full-belly and chest-deep. “Dude, you have no fucking idea. Have you ever wanted someone so much that it literally brings you to your knees? You’d burn the whole goddamn world down if need be, just to have them?”
He grew serious for a moment and then nodded. “I’ll give her a call, but listen to me—if I ever come to you looking for a favor, I don’t care what it is, be prepared to pay up.”
I smiled. “As if I wouldn’t have your back either way. Now, if you could wait an hour or so, then call, I’d appreciate it. Can’t have it be too obvious. She knows I’m here for lunch.”
Damien chuckled. “Speaking of, let me go get your burger. You’re going to need your energy if this is the way you’re planning on gettin’ the girl.”
He didn’t even know. This was only the beginning. I pulled out my phone and opened my messages with Wyatt.
Me: I’ve got a question.
Wyatt: Oh, another one? Is this more or less unhinged?
Me: ...
Wyatt: This doesn’t bode well for me, does it?
Me: Where does one get a tracker from?
Wyatt: …
Wyatt: What type of tracker, Rowan?
Me: One to… track someone?
Wyatt: I know a guy. I’ll have it to you by tonight.
Me: Perfect.
I slid my phone back into my pocket, just in time for Damien to come back with my burger.
“You look pleased,” Damien said.
“Very,” I replied with a smirk. I was beyond pleased. Everything was working out exactly the way I wanted. I glanced up at the clock on the wall. I had about thirty minutes before my appointment, so I dug into my burger and chatted with Damien while I ate.
Aspen had a shift to work tonight, so I dragged Theo with me into The Roadhouse so I could casually watch her and not seem like that much of a weirdo, even if she knew I was indeed that much of a weirdo.
“So, bro. What’s the new tat of?” Theo asked from beside me.
We were sitting at the bar, where it felt less obvious that I was there to stalk my future wife.
“Can’t show you yet,” I replied, while looking over the menu as if I didn’t already know everything on it.
“Why not?” he questioned. I understood his confusion.
Theo and I were the two in the family who had multiple large pieces done.
His mountains matched mine, but his were on his calf instead of his forearm.
We’d gotten them together to honor our dad.
So typically, he was the first one I showed a new tattoo to, or he’d go with me to sit and get them done.
“This one is different man. You’ll see it later, but not yet. Okay?” I said, giving him my serious big brother look.
He stared back and nodded. “Okay, okay. Can I ask one question, though? Is it gonna be super unhinged like what you planned with D earlier?”
I rolled my eyes, shaking my head. Of course Damien had sent my unhinged behavior in the group chat with my brothers. I hadn’t been on my phone much, but I was just thankful that Wyatt had kept our conversation to himself. Couldn’t break the vow of secrecy between twins after all.
“It may or may not coincide with that,” I said quietly.
He laughed and smacked me on the back playfully. “Oh man, watching you fall in love has got to be the absolute best thing ever.”
“You wait till it happens to you. We’ll see who’s psycho and unhinged then,” I grumbled.
“Eh, not worried about it. There’s only one chick out there for me, and trust me when I tell you, if I found her again? Nothing could stop me from bringing her home and keeping her forever,” he said seriously.
I looked over at him, but even with the serious tone, he still seemed like normal goofy ass Theo. I shook my head. Being an older brother was wild sometimes.
We ate dinner together, chatting with Lucas while he worked behind the bar. Things finally started to calm down, and she pulled the chair out next to me, sitting down and happily accepting a glass of water from Lucas.
“I had the strangest call from my landlord this afternoon. Have you heard anything about that?” she asked, looking at me pointedly.
I arched a brow, staring right back at her. “No? What did he say?”
“I feel like you already know. Apparently, I can’t stay in my apartment for a few weeks.”
“I thought you were already staying with me, little angel. Isn’t that what we agreed upon?” I asked in return.
She rolled her eyes and stormed off, slamming her glass on the bar top and walking back to check on her tables.
I internally groaned—partly because the sass on her was intense when she didn’t get her way, and partly because, fuck I wanted to punish her sweet little ass.
“Seems like you’ve got your hands full,” Theo said with a chuckle.
“I can honestly say I’ve never seen her act like that,” Lucas added.
This time, I let out a real groan. “Yeah, I seem to have that effect on my girl. Clearly, she just needs a subtle reminder of who’s in charge here.”