"Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in."

I snorted at Nate's joke as I walked into Down the Rabbit Hole. "You know we don't allow any cats in here. Don't make me fire your ass." 

"Whoa. First, you can't fire me. And why just my ass? Phrasing, anyone?" 

I rolled my eyes before I clapped my friend on the back. "It's good to see you, brother." 

"You, too." Nate pulled away and slugged me in the shoulder. "So how was the trip? Did your girl like it?" 

"She loved it. Even though she missed her girls and you guys, I think she's a little sad to be back." My smile fell before I asked, "How is she? Still doing okay?" 

Nate knew exactly who I was talking about.

"Yeah she is. Much better. Don't mention anything, but she started seeing a therapist once a week. Even though she talks to me a little, I'm glad she made that decision. I know she still has inner demons regarding her mom's death. It's good that she isn't keeping that shit inside, ya know?" 

"I'm glad she's doing better, man. We were worried about her." I looked around the bar. "So where's the rest of the misfits?"

Nate walked back behind the bar and continued his inventory. Since we didn't open until four in the afternoon, we made sure to get that stuff done early. 

"Jackson is with Harper. I think she had an appointment or something. And Ayden is—"

"Right here."

Ayden strode from the back of the bar and came up to me. "Welcome back, Ry. We missed you around here." 

I chuckled and crossed my arms over my chest. "Yeah, I have to say I'm a little surprised this place is still standing. With you two in charge I was worried it would burn to the ground." 

Ayden laughed and Nate flipped me off. 

"Seriously guys," I said when I sobered. "You guys did a great job. I wasn't worried. So I figured you guys could use a night off tonight?"

Ayden shrugged a shoulder. "We should be fine tonight for the bar. But we can use your help with some of the office stuff." He motioned his head towards Nate. "Sir Mix-A-Lot over there has been slacking with that. Obsessed with playing those damn songs..."

"Hey!" Nate called from the bar. "Those songs are classics!"

Ayden made a disgusted face. "Maybe I can give credit to Posse On Broadway, but it's a hell no for Buttermilk Biscuits."

My head fell back as I laughed. "You played Buttermilk Biscuits? Please tell me you were drunk." 

"Stone. Cold. Sober," Ayden answered for me. "I don't know what was possessing him that night." 

"You guys do know that I can hear you."

Ayden and I shared a look before I walked over to the bar. 

"I'm sorry, Nate. Did we embarrass you?"

He didn't look up at me. Instead he marked something on the clipboard. "I don't get embarrassed." 

I nodded. "That's good. How's the inventory?" 

Nate tucked the pen behind his ear and eyed me suspiciously. "It's fine. I ordered more of the top shelf liquor and imports. Should be here in a few days." 

"Great." I started to walk away before I looked over my shoulder. "Oh by the way, there was something I wanted to add to the list. Can you put down grits and eggs? You know...for the buttermilk biscuits?" 

Ayden fell into one of the chairs when he burst out laughing. I tried to stifle my laugh by coughing into my hand. Unfortunately with Ayden laughing his ass off, that didn't really work out to well. 

I also wasn't surprised that Nate didn't think my joke was funny. He slammed the clipboard on the bar and came around it to stand in front of us. His face was red, whether it was from anger or embarrassment I wasn't sure. Knowing him, probably the former. I've known Nate long enough to know the boy has a temper you don't want to mess with.

When he got in Ayden's face, I was so sure that fists were going to be thrown. Thankfully, Nate resisted. 

"Just for that you get to finish the inventory. And you get to fix the bathroom problem." 

Ayden grimaced at the mention of the bathroom. I could only imagine what was wrong with it. When people were drunk, or under the influence of other things, they tended to forget how to be human beings, putting things in places they didn't belong. 

Nate whirled around towards me. "And you. You get to catch up on my paperwork and help tend bar tonight." 

I arched a brow and crossed my arms over my chest. "Oh really? And who died and named you the big boss?" 

"I did," Nate said pointedly. "Tonight I'm  the big boss. And you guys can just suck it." 

Ayden snickered. "Very mature, Big Boss." 

Thankfully this time I didn't laugh as Nate cursed under his breath and stormed off in the direction of the office. Once he was out of range, Ayden turned towards me. 

"You know he's going to get us back for that, right? Nate is a big believer in getting even. Remember when you switched his sugar and salt? He put cayenne in your damn AC vents." 

It was my turn to grimace. "My eyes still fucking hurt from that shit." I exhaled a heavy sigh. "Well, we better go kiss and make up."

***

After Ayden and I made things right with Nate—and promised to cover four of his shifts this month—the night went pretty smoothly. We had the usual bout of drunks that had to be escorted out by security, followed by the six or so underage teens that tried to sneak their way in here with fake I.Ds. 

Same old, same old. 

Jackson also made a surprise appearance tonight. There was something off about him ever since we returned from our trip. He was normally a pretty relaxed smooth talker when he tended bar. 

All smiles and witty humor. 

Tonight was different. There was only empty smiles, worry in his eyes, and barely a sliver of humor. Nate tried to find out what was wrong but had no luck. Ayden kept to himself—which probably meant that he knew what was wrong. When I pressed him about it he just told me to ask my brother. 

But I wasn't an idiot. This was neither the time nor the place to find out what was wrong with Jackson. Tomorrow I would go to his place or meet him for lunch or something to talk. I could always go to Harper and ask, but if she didn't know what was going on then there was a huge chance that I would only worry her. 

And break the Bro Code. 

That was one thing I didn't want to risk. After years of living apart and growing estranged, I finally had my brother back. And it felt so fucking good to have him back. With all the drama regarding our dad and my mom, he was pretty much the only family I had. Wife and friends not included. He was my blood, and as much as he hated our dad, I knew that he missed him too. 

I pulled my keys out of my pocket and climbed into my black F-350. As soon as I cranked it, my cell phone went off. 

"Hey, baby." I put the car in drive and started driving to our condo in Manhattan. "You okay? It's late." 

"Hey, Ry. I'm okay. I just wanted to let you know I was going to crash at my mom's tonight. Do you mind?" 

"No. Of course not." I frowned as I made a right turn. "Is she okay?" 

"Yeah, she's fine. She just really missed me while I was gone." Her voice quieted as to not be overheard. "You know...I can stop by your favorite breakfast spot and come home to have breakfast in bed with you." 

"Oh yeah?" I asked with a smile. "That sounds like a date, baby. Tell your mom I said hi, okay? I love you, Dani." 

"I love you, too." 

I sat my phone in the empty cupholder after the call ended. Luckily there wasn't much traffic at this time of night on a weekday and it only took me about twenty minutes to get home. I parked in my numbered spot in the parking garage before dragging my tired body to the elevator. 

I leaned back and let my head fall into the corner of the large marble designed interior. My eyes slid shut, the piano music that played through the speakers nearly lulling me to sleep. Since we were on the nineteenth floor it wasn't a quick ride. 

The ding of the elevator shocked me out of my half-slumber and I pushed myself out of the corner of the elevator. Fuck I was tired. I was still pretty jetlagged from our vacation. If I was being completely honest with myself, it was probably a mistake to work tonight. But Danielle went to see her mom and I didn't want to sit at the condo alone today. 

At least I was almost to my door now. Then I was going to shower before I fell into bed and passed out. 

I got my key ready as I rounded the corner that would lead to my door. Then I saw something that made my body come to an abrupt halt. 

I'm not getting any sleep tonight, I thought to myself. 

"Hello, Ryan." 

I met the man in the eye. "What are you doing here, dad?"