Chapter 28 #2
I set the whiskey down and offered Dean a wink. “Thanks for manning the bar, by the way. Was it just like old times?”
“Yeah, except you weren’t saying weird shit the whole time and pointing out all my messes.”
“How many messes?” I eyed the place from one side to the other.
Finally, he laughed. With my elbows on the counter, I smiled as I brought the glass up to clink it against his. Amir wandered over and took the last one before he moved to the other side of Dean and held his hand out to Oli.
“We finally get to meet in person. I’m Amir.”
Oli’s grin was bright, downright childlike, as he shook his hand. “You have no idea how much I’ve heard about you. No idea.”
Amir’s eyes met mine. “Is that so?”
I shrugged, not really caring what he aired about me.
My best friend had a better sense of discernment than most people, plus I wanted him to get to know Amir.
Out of everyone in the world, I’d trust his opinion on the man.
If he told me to break up with him, I’d know that it was the right decision.
That didn’t mean I’d listen, but that was a me issue.
“So, when’s the first game?” Dean asked.
“Thursday,” I replied. “Home field.”
“Are you traveling for the others?”
“Nah, the team has their shit all planned out and I’d have to travel on my own, plus they’re moving around so much that it’d be pretty pointless.”
“That kinda sucks.”
“Yeah, but it’s fine.” I drained the whiskey, then spun the cup on the counter. “He’ll be away for a few, then home for a few, back and forth.”
Dean’s stare felt heavy, so I looked at him. “Do you need one of us here?” he asked.
“No, of course not.”
“It’s not a big deal.”
Settling my palm over the glass, I stopped its movement. “I’ve told you before that I’m not Oli. I don’t want you to take care of me.”
“And that was two goddamn years ago, Remi. This time, your face isn’t fucked up, but it very well could be.”
I clenched my jaw and tried to ignore the stares from the other two. Releasing the tension, I drummed my fingers on the counter once. “I don’t need a bodyguard. There’s literally nothing to worry about.”
“Right. That’s why you fled to Florida, because you’re not worried.”
“What are we talking about?” Amir asked. He crossed his arms over his chest, assessing.
“Ah, Remi hasn’t been forthcoming,” Dean said. “That makes a lot of sense.”
“Oh, by Thor’s thundering ass,” I exclaimed. “Let’s not make this some giant truth bomb as if I’ve been hiding shit.” Angling myself to look at Amir, I leaned my chin on my knuckles. “There’s a possibility Cole will show up here.”
He frowned. “Who’s Cole?”
“My ex.”
Something changed in his expression. It was a little bit dangerous and a little bit sexy. “Why would he do that?”
“Does a god need a reason to laugh at mortals?”
“Rem,” Oli said softly.
“I thought it was succinct enough,” I muttered.
“It was,” Amir replied. His voice was monotone and his expression was thoughtful. “Is it because of me?”
I opened my mouth to respond, but I didn’t know how, so I shrugged one shoulder.
“This ex,” he went on. “Is he the one you’ve mentioned before?”
“Honestly, all of my exes are evil incarnate, so it doesn’t really matter.”
“In essence, he’s bad news and isn’t allowed within a mile of you. Got it.”
“Got . . . what?”
“I wasn’t going to let you sleep here regardless, but now there’s not a chance in hell.”
“Oh?” I leaned across the counter and took his hand. “Am I sleeping over?”
“Are you going to fight me on it?”
“No, I was planning for it anyway.”
“This is my favorite fucking part,” Oli said. He had the gooiest expression imaginable as he looked between us.
“What part?” I asked.
“Men being protectors. It’s just . . .” He kicked his feet with a flustered growl. “Next thing you know, he’ll give up his limbs to save your soul.”
I snorted. “If it’s equivalent exchange you’re after, it’ll take more than an arm and a leg to get that shit back.”
“I’ll chip in. Dean?”
“Sure, whatever,” he agreed.
“Come on, Dean,” I chided. “I thought you were smarter than that. You know my soul’s a lost cause.”
He looked at Amir. “Gate of Truth. You in or out?”
“I don’t know what the hell is going on,” Amir admitted.
“If they’re talking anime, you go with it.”
“Oh, is this that Attack on Titan thing you mentioned?”
Oli made a sound of disgust. “Remi, I’m going to rescind my approval if you don’t fix him.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I sighed. “I’ll bring him to team Eren.” I raised and lowered my brows at Amir. “I’m the Eren of the story, by the way.”
Dean laughed, then covered his mouth. “Bro, you’re Bertholdt.”
“Oh, fuck you, Dean. I am not Butthole.” When he burst into laughter, I huffed. “You don’t have my blessing anymore.”
“Blessing?” Oli looked back and forth between us.
Dean shot me a glare. With a grimace, I grabbed the bottle of whiskey and poured some into his glass. “Simmer down, big guy. I know what you sound like when you climax.”
“How ‘bout a poem?” Amir suggested, lifting his glass with a glimmer in his eye.
“Far be it from me to deny a man his request.
By Odin’s one eye, and Thor’s fine beard,
I saw things that were downright weird.
You call it love, I call it crime;
My therapy bill just hit its prime.
But hey, if love’s a war, you’ve won the fight;
Er, next time, keep your hammer out of sight.”
Everyone laughed, even Dean, and I was overcome by a sudden wave of warmth. These people right here in this room were all I had, and they were more than enough.
If the gods gave me nothing else, I’d die a fulfilled man.