I distribute the drinks and then dart my gaze to Jesse Pike, Cage Ramsey, and Dragon Locke.
The band.
Has my sister been with any of them?
They’re all in their early thirties, and Gina’s only twenty-two, so probably not. But I’m sure she’d gladly add them to the notches on her bedpost.
They’re all incredibly good-looking, of course—especially Dragon, in a completely unique and dark way. I’ve never really been attracted to him—or any of them—in a sexual way, though. Not like I am to Brendan.
I can’t believe I’m in love.
Gina and the rest of the awesome foursome are like Brock, Dave, and me. All the same age, so they were treated more as siblings than cousins.
Funny—they got the moniker the awesome foursome, while the three of us got Huey, Dewey, and Louie.
Of course, they are awesome.
All of them are tall, beautiful, and built. And all smart as anything as well. Gina is the artist of the group, Brianna’s the rancher, and Angie and Sage are both interested in the culinary arts, like their mother, Aunt Marjorie.
They both look like Dave in female form except Sage’s eyes are brown, like her mother’s.
Angie is the quieter of the two, and Sage is just like Gina—a complete and total flirt. She and Gina are hanging all over Cage Ramsey and Dragon Locke.
So I’m not surprised when Angie walks up to me, her brown hair swept into a high ponytail, which somehow makes her eyes look bluer.
“Hey, Ava.”
“What’s up, Ang? Do you need a refill?”
Angie lifts her pink cosmo, which is still half full. “Not yet. When did you become a bartender?”
“This afternoon. Brendan came over and helped me at the bakery this morning, so I offered to help him tonight.” I dart my gaze around the bar. “And he sure needs it. This place is packed.”
“Friday nights are usually packed, but you’re never here.”
“The bar’s not really my scene. But Brendan and I…” My cheeks warm.
“So I’ve heard.” Angie smiles. “I have to admit, I didn’t see that one coming.”
“I didn’t either, to tell the truth. But it’s nice. It’s really nice.”
Angie looks toward the bar, where Brendan and his father are working. “He’s a lot older than you, Ava.”
“I know, and it kind of freaked me out at first, but honestly? When I’m with him? There don’t seem to be any years between us. It’s so easy. And believe it or not, we have a lot in common.”
Angie raises her finely lined brows. “Really? You and Brendan Murphy?”
“Yeah, actually.” I feel myself getting a little bit defensive.
She shrugs with a smile. “Well, if you’re happy, cuz, so am I.”
I glance again at the other three of the foursome, who are flirting up a storm with the band. “What’s going on with you guys?”
“Just enjoying our senior year. I’ve been dating a guy at school, but it’s nothing serious.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, it’s pretty casual. But it’s more than Gina and Sage are doing. You know them, hopping from one guy to the next.”
“Yeah, I know. What about Brianna?”
“She has eyes for one man and one man only.” Angie gestures to Jesse Pike.
Jesse Pike, rocker extraordinaire.
“Yeah, I noticed that earlier. Or rather Brendan did. That’s an age difference.”
“Right? He’s thirty-two and she’s twenty-two. But that’s still one year less than you and Brendan.”
I can’t help a laugh. “I guess you’ve got me there. I just don’t see the two of them together. Jesse’s a rocker. And Bree? A hundred percent cowgirl. She’ll never leave the ranch.”
“No, she won’t. Besides, none of us has the heart to tell her that Jesse Pike has never once glanced in her direction.”
“He seems to be glancing now.”
“He’s being nice to her, Ava. He always is. He’s a good guy. But I think he sees her as a little sister.”
“Yeah, probably because she’s the same age as Maddie.” I look over my shoulder, scanning the area. “Where is Maddie, anyway?”
“I don’t know. I assume one of the girls invited her to come. She’s kind of an honorary fifth member of the awesome foursome.”
“Maybe she’s doing something with her family.”
Although, once I say that, I realize it can’t be true, because Brock, Rory, Donny, and Callie have just walked into the bar, and trailing behind them is Maddie. Maddie, the youngest Pike sister, who looks a lot like Rory, with rich dark hair and dewy brown eyes. Maybe not quite as classically beautiful, but a close second.
She glances toward Gina and Sage at the pool table, and her lips turn down to a frown.
“Maddie just walked in,” I say to Angie.
Angie looks toward the door. “Oh. Hey, Mads!” She gestures.
“I think she feels left out a lot with you guys,” I say.
“I know.” Angie’s shoulders slump as a look of guilt mars her pretty face. “But the four of us are family. It’s different.”
“Yeah, I suppose so.”
“Maybe you don’t get it, Ava. You know, since you left the family fold and all.”
“I didn’t leave the family fold.”
“Yeah, you did. You live in town, and you don’t take money from your trust fund.”
I dig my feet into the hardwood floor, feeling defensive. “I’m still a member of the family, and I love them all just as much as you do, Ang.”
“I don’t think anyone’s questioning that. But you know… You’re…”
“Different?” I give her the word. “I’ve always been different, even when I was in the family fold, as you like to say.”
“Aves, I didn’t mean to start a fight or anything.”
I let out a sigh. “Sorry. I’m just a little defensive. Things are…”
“What? Things are what?”
I can’t say any more to my cousin. The awesome foursome are the youngest of our family, the ones who are always kept in the dark. Everyone is way overprotective of them. I hold back a scoff. I’m only two years older than they are, and I’m so damned sick of the elders keeping things from me. Now I’m keeping something from Angie. It’s all so ridiculous.
I sigh. “I’d better get back to the bar. I’ll make my rounds in about fifteen minutes to see if you guys need new drinks.”
Angie waves as I amble back toward the bar, where Brendan and his father are talking.
“Hey,” I say. “What do you need me to do?”
“Just what you’re doing, Ava,” Brendan says. “Take orders from the tables when you need to, and when you’re not busy, help me behind the bar.”
I smile. “I’m actually having a really good time, Brendan.”
“Are you?”
“Yeah. It kind of…forces me to get out and talk to people.”
Sean, Brendan’s dad, lets out a guffaw. “That’s tending bar for you. You have to talk to people because they talk to you. We’re honorary counselors. Therapists.”