I approached the door carefully. Certain no one would act against me with this many people around, but wishing I could back up my own certainty. If Hypnos and Zeus got desperate, they might do something drastic. Like show up at my restaurant and shoot me in the head.
Okay, not them personally, one of their hired guns.
I made my way past a group of customers who were heading into the restaurant.
I spotted a man in a suit as he turned to look at me. My heart stopped before I sagged in relief.
"Jules."
I should have known it was him. He glared at the security guard. A glare he quickly turned on me.
"Can you tell this gorilla I was invited?" he snapped.
I regarded him for a moment, during which I considered turning around and heading back into the restaurant. Let him stew in his own irritation for a while. Since I was in a good mood and didn't want to, I walked over to him, hips sashaying.
"I think it's safe to let you in," I said lightly.
He scoffed in response. His eyes still on me, he addressed the security guard, "I told you I knew her."
The guard looked at him like he'd happily throw him out on his ass anyway. "Just doing my job, bro." He turned back to the next person in line.
"You know saying things like that is no defense, right?" Archer asked from behind me. "Even if you say it to Jules"
"Fuck off,” Jules snapped at him. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and made to step past me into the restaurant.
"It wouldn't hurt if you left your attitude at the door," I told him.
He glanced back and smirked. "My attitude comes with me wherever I go. Same as yours does."
Touché.
I hooked my arm in Archer's, and we walked back inside, taking our seats as Jules flopped down next to Cass.
"Ah, Titmus the elder," Boner said, giving him a grin. "It's about time you joined us. We were starting to think you stood us up."
"Thought about it," Jules admitted. "Cass wanted me here."
"We all want you here," Cass said, giving us all a look like we might contradict him, which, to be fair, we might. Jules was like that thorn in the side of your foot. The kind that itched at you, but for some reason you couldn't get it out.
"Yeah, we do," Boner agreed. "Jules is good for a laugh."
Jules placed his hand on the table in front of him, about to push himself to his feet.
I quickly reached out and grabbed his wrist. "We want you here," I insisted. "You know what Boner is like. If he's not stirring the pot, he's looking for a pot to stir."
Jules glanced at me. Then at Cass, who nodded. Finally he relaxed his pose and sat back.
"Fine, I'll stay. Maybe you should tellhimto leave his attitude outside." He slid a cool look toward Boner.
"If I left my attitude outside, what would be left?" Boner spread his hands to either side. "I'm all attitude and personality, in case you hadn't noticed."
Jules muttered, "You're all something."
Boner grinned. "I love you too, bro. Look at us, all getting along like one big happy family. Go us."
"We are doing well," Archer agreed. "Considering most people with our…chosen hobby tend to be loners. We've broken that mold." Although he too glanced at Jules meaningfully.
Jules was doing a good impression of a loner who happened to be stuck in our company for the night.
