“We’re not kids, West. I haven’t been called Bubble Bee for years.”
“You’ll always be Bubble Bee to me.” He winks at her.
I have to work hard not to laugh at how cheesy he sounds. I stay out of it. At least he’s trying to be nice. It’s a welcome change. I mustn’t be a dick about it.
Maddox chuckles. “I forgot about that stupid nickname.”
“It’s been too long. You shouldn’t call me that,” Raven says as she takes West’s plate.
“Why not? You used to love it. We can reminisce about the day I started calling you that.” He winks at her again.
I want to react. Laugh. Make a stupid joke at his expense. I realize I’m jealous. I have no right. No claim. I can’t be an asshole about this. “Um…you’re welcome to wash by hand, but I do have a dishwasher,” I point out, trying hard not to sound like a jerk. I think I do a good job. I hope I do.
“Awesome!” Raven says, picking up Zale’s plate.
West gives me the evil eye.
“Thanks, Bubbles,” Zale laughs.
“Don’t you start, too.” She points at him. “I hated that nickname.”
West clutches his chest. “You can’t be serious? I thought you loved it.”
She shakes her head. “Back then, I had a serious crush on you.”
“Back then?” He raises his brows, looking put out. “I thought you still—”
There is a knock at the door.
“Expecting company?” Maddox asks. “We can clear out.”
“Relax! It’s Jarrod and…a friend,” I say.
“Friend?” He narrows his eyes.
“One of us. Rage. You met him. He and West fought.”
“Good!” West looks truly happy for the first time since I met him. He grins broadly. “We can discuss a rematch.”
“We talked about this,” Raven says. “This might not be a good idea,” she says, looking at me. “I hope this isn’t an attempt to try to reschedule.”
“I can control myself, Raven.” West looks put out. “I’m not going to start something here…now.”
For once, I’m not worried about West. There’s another knock. “Coming!” I yell as I walk over.
I open up. Jarrod gives a tight smile. Rage is as white as a ghost. The scar across his cheek seems more prominent.
“Hi.” I smile, trying to defuse the tense emotions. It doesn’t work.
They enter the hallway. A large dog follows them. It looks like a Doberman, I think. I’m not all that clued up on dog breeds. It’s big and black with keen, intelligent eyes and pricked ears. “Um…yours?” I ask Rage.
“No,” he says. “I need to get him to the pound when I get a chance. Damned dog won’t leave me alone. I’ve tried to get rid of it for the last two days. I put fliers up around my ‘hood and I posted on our neighborhood Facebook page. No takers!” he sighs.
“Yeah, I thought you hated dogs.”
“Hate is a strong word, but there’s no love lost. I don’t want one…I can say that much.”
I try to pet the dog, but he growls, showing a mouth full of sharp teeth.
“Don’t do that,” Jarrod says. “Mutt almost took my hand off earlier.”
“Does it bite?” I ask, “Will he be okay if we bring him into the house?” I look up at Rage. “I’m hoping he won’t kill any of our guests?”
“He’s fine. Don’t try to touch him, that’s all,” Rage says.
“You ready?” I ask.
Rage pushes out a breath. He nods once.
We head inside.
“You remember West,” I say to Rage, who has his gaze firmly on Maddox. He quickly looks over at West and nods.
“Then there’s Barrett.” I gesture in the ginger’s direction.
Rage blinks a couple of times. I’m sure Jarrod filled Rage in on the rest of the dynamic. It’s just that Barrett and Forge look so much alike it’s scary. Even if you are forewarned. I introduce Zale and then Raven. I save Maddox for last.
“You sort of met Maddox,” I say. “He was at the fight.”
Rage takes a step towards Maddox. “I remember,” he says. “You’re the manager.”
“Cute dog.” Raven drops to her knees in front of the canine.
“No…wait…” I do a double-take when I see her pet the thing. The dog leans into her touch and gives a soft whine.
“Interesting,” Rage says. “Do you want him? He’s free to a good home.”
The dog immediately pads back over to Rage, sitting at his feet like a sentinel.
Raven laughs softly. “It seems she already picked an owner.”
“She?” Rage raises his brows.
“Yes. Don’t tell me you didn’t check.” She’s smiling broadly as she gets up off the floor.
Rage shakes his head. “No, and it doesn’t matter because I’m not keeping the dog.”
“That’s one hell of a nice specimen,” Maddox says. “You should keep her. Get her one of those studded collars.”
“No,” Raven says. “A diamond collar…fake, of course. A diamond collar would look amazing against her dark fur.”
“No collars.” Rage shakes his head. “The dog isn’t staying. Wish it had a microchip,” he mutters to himself. “So, you’re the son of Ares?” Rage asks Maddox, doing such a one-eighty he gives all of us whiplash.
I want to roll my eyes and groan. Rage isn’t one for subtlety.
Maddox frowns. “I am.” He folds his arms as if to say, ‘what of it?’
“I am too,” Rage says. I watch as Maddox’s mouth falls open.
“Sorry, what?” he finally asks.
“I’m also the son of Ares,” Rage says.
“Holy freaking shit!” Raven mutters. “Are you serious? You both have the same father? As in…?”
Rage nods once, eyes still on Maddox. “It seems the gods had their fun on more than one occasion.”
Raven has covered her mouth with her hand. She mutters ‘oh my gosh!’ several times. The others have wide eyes. Everyone looks shocked.
No one says anything for a while. Then Raven asks, “You’re related?”
“Not just related,” I say.
“Half-brothers?” Zale chimes in, pushing out a breath through his nose.
“Brothers?” Maddox’s bronzed skin has turned ashen. He is shaking his head like he can’t believe what he is hearing.
“Looks that way,” Rage says, not quite as pale as before.
I see Maddox narrow his eyes, scrutinizing Rage. “Yeah…I guess I see a resemblance.” He swallows thickly.
“Should we go and wash those dishes?” Raven says to West.
“No. Not right now,” he answers, eyes still on Rage.
“West!” He looks her way, and she gives him a dirty look. “Right now! Let’s give them some space.” She widens her eyes.
“Oh,” West says. “Dishes…right.”
“I’ll help,” Zale adds.
“Me too,” Barrett blurts right after.