I laughed so hard that I had to run to the bathroom.
Heather looked startled. “I—uh—” She laughed, a sheepish grin showing. “I’m sorry, but I’m so distracted.” She picked up the glass. “This is the best drink ever, and I know the recipe, but you added something extra to it. What did you add?”
Some of my tension eased a little. “I’m not telling my secret.”
She shook her head, a slight laugh coming from her. “I could drink seven of these in thirty minutes. This is that good. Ava, you’re like magic. Pure liquor magic.”
More of my tension eased again. “Thanks, Heather. Means a lot coming from you.”
“Can we keep to the issue at hand. Zeke’s in jail, and we were sent to help you.”
“Help me?” That ball just wound back up again. “What do you mean?”
“The fight was over you.”
“Bren!” Taz said.
“Over me? What? What do you mean?”
“It’s all fine.” Heather finished her drink and pushed it over to me. “Give me a refill, please.”
“Me too!” Taz grinned, holding her glass up.
“Guys.”
“It’s fine, Bren.” Heather shook her head. “Logan’s here. Logan’s on the case. Logan will get him out.”
Bren snorted. “You might think Logan Kade is a god, but I don’t. With what Race said, the case is clear cut. Open and shut. Zeke full out just took a bat to the guy.”
“What?” I almost shrieked now. Because, what the hell? “What happened?”
Bren gave me another grave look. “That’s the other reason we’re here. You and Zeke. Your relationship.”
Taz held a hand up. “Um, I like their relationship. Zeke is different with Ava.”
Bren looked her way. “Zeke’s slept with almost all of my friends, excluding you. And he would’ve slept with you if you hadn’t already been dating Race.”
“Those were Aspen’s friends from college, but yes. I see your point. You made other female friends later, and he did sleep with them.”
My stomach was now like a rock.
Taz kept talking. “But he loves her. He said it tonight.”
I’d been holding a glass, prepared to dip it in for some ice, but those words—I dropped it.
Heather gasped, lurching upright.
Bren frowned.
Taz’s eyes got wide, and she stopped talking. “Oh—oh no. I just let it slip.”
Zeke…
I reached out, grabbing the counter.
Zeke loved me?
I whispered, “What did you say?”
Heather held her hand out. “Guys, it’s fine. It’s all fine. Zeke, that’s for him to say.” She focused on me. “We don’t know what triggered Zeke, but the guy has turned his life around. He’s a good guy. I can’t believe I’m saying that, but he is. If Logan is his lawyer, one, that’s shocking enough since he lives on the east coast, but I know Logan. If he’s here and he’s handling Zeke’s case, there’s a reason. Zeke will be fine.” She swung around, giving Bren a meaningful look. “They’ll take care of it.”
Bren narrowed her eyes. “They’ll make it go away?”
“Probably, but Zeke will be fine.”
I had to take a step back, still dazed.
Bren bent down and scooped up the glass. It hadn’t shattered since it was made up from some special kind of material. It only bounced on the rubber floor we had under the bar, put in place for this very reason. As she put it in the sink to get rewashed, Heather let out a breath of relief. “Oh, good. In her state, I was worried she’d cut her hand or foot or something.”
“Huh?”
Zeke was in love with me…
Bren noted my state and grunted. “She’s in shock. Who am I kidding? I’m in shock too. Zeke Allen? In love? He’s been a pain in my ass—”
“Don’t.”
She quieted, going still at my command.
I blinked, feeling a weird sensation coming over me, like new skin. But I had to back it up even against Bren Monroe. “Don’t talk about him that way.” I took a step back, just in case, but my whole body was shaky. “He’s—he’s not that guy anymore.”
Taz added, quietly, “He hasn’t been for a long time.”
“I know, but he still needles me.”
“That’s you. Zeke’s been different for a long time, since high school.”
“I know that too.”
Zeke was in love with me.
The information just kept swimming in my head.
I couldn’t believe it.
But he’d stood up for me how many times?
He came to my place, worried.
He broke into my place.
He got into the tub with me.
He moved me into his place.
He told his ex to stuff it.
He—I loved him too.
I loved Zeke Allen.
But, God.
I think I fell in love with him a while ago.
“I love him,” I said it quietly, to myself, but I lifted my head up.
Heather, Bren, and Tasmin were all focused on me. A gun could’ve gone off, and I didn’t think they would’ve looked away.
I swallowed over that lump, making it go away. “I don’t care what he did. I’m sure he had reason. I love him.” I turned to Bren. “Oh, my God. Is this bad? This is bad, right? I shouldn’t be in love with him, but wait.” I remembered what Taz said.
He said he loved me, and Zeke didn’t lie.
He didn’t lie.
Bren moved in closer, her hand coming to my shoulder. “Should you, maybe, uh… Heather?”
“What’s up?”
“She’s going into shock.”
Heather snorted. “No doubt, but it’s about time Ava got some life into her.”
I looked her way. “What does that mean?” I had life in me.
Life. Me.
I was full of life.
Heather must’ve been watching my face because she only nodded. “Uh huh. Okay.” She wiped her hands before standing up. “Okay, this is what we’re going to do.” She came around to my side, motioning for Bren. “You.” She was talking to Bren. “Go back over there.”
“What are we doing?” Taz asked as Bren did what she was told.
Heather addressed the other two, “This is what we’re going to do.”
“I want like five more vodka spritzers.”
“Yes.” Heather pointed in Taz’s direction, but she was looking around. “We’ll get those, but this one is a little stunned right now. And since I haven’t worked behind the bar, in like years…” She moved me around, guiding me out of the bar area. “You. Go and sit. Bren, come and get her.”
Bren nodded, doing as she was told. Again.
Heather pulled out her phone when I got to the stool.
Taz beamed at me before slapping the bottom of my seat. “Pop a squat, our new family member.”
“Family member?” I was still in a daze.
“Who are you calling?” Bren was asking Heather.
“I’m calling someone to come and fill in here because this is what we know.” She held her hands out, addressing us. “Zeke got into a fight. He told Race that he’s in love with Ava—”