“Smokey hit it big with that hot nurse last night,” Diesel said to Celt and me. I nearly froze. Instead, I forced myself to continue arranging the bottles behind the bar.
“Brother certainly looked happy to be leaving with her.” Big Al chuckled. I silently ground my teeth.
Smokey had left with April? That fucker! I wanted to lash out, but couldn’t. April wasn’t mine. She could sleep with whomever she wished. Although Smokey was no fool, he’d recognise April for the precious treasure she was. Smokey wouldn’t shit on her. Did that mean I’d have to watch April hanging over him? Damn, I couldn’t face that.
“Problem, prospect?” Chance asked, and I turned my head.
“Huh?”
“You stopped sorting those bottles out. You got a problem?” Astute eyes bored into me.
“None, Pres.”
“Good. We don’t need bullshit here,” Chance warned me. “Bros before hoes.”
“What did you say, Chance Michaelson?!” Clio screeched, and Chance blanched. His reaction nearly made me laugh—almost.
“Nothing, babes!”
“I’ll give you drama, asshole,” Clio threatened, and a grin crossed Chance’s lips.
“Come and give me drama, babe, I love your theatrics,” Chance teased.
Clio rolled her eyes, and Chance winked. He turned back to me.
“You stated the nurse was nothing to you, which means Smokey’s broken no laws here. And from what I’ve heard from Big Al, you did the dirty on her. Stay in your own lane, Harlequin,” Chance ordered.
“I haven’t said anything, Pres. Don’t warn me when I’ve done nothing,” I replied. “I wouldn’t stand here and be accused of crimes I’ve not committed.”
“Make sure it stays that way,” Chance retorted. “Finish getting the bar organised.”
I nodded and turned my back. I could feel Diesel and Celt’s eyes burning into me, but I refused to acknowledge them.
“Harlequin, we weren’t aware,” Diesel finally said.
“Doesn’t matter. April is nothing but an ex and a bad memory.”
“Then why are you so angry?” Celt demanded. Stools scraped on the floor, and I guessed they’d moved off. Fuck my life, why hadn’t April stayed the hell away from Spearfish?
???
“Harlequin, I heard you think I took April home,” Smokey murmured five minutes later. I sighed and banged a bottle of whiskey down harder than I planned.
“Ain’t my business.”
“Nope, it isn’t. But the truth of the matter is, it was Teagan, not April,” Smokey said.
“Teagan?” I asked, startled. “Who the fuck is that?”
“April’s friend. They were both at the bar. April left, and Teagan came back with me. I get April’s your ex, and I stand by the bro code. No way would I chase after April, even though she’s tempting.”
“April’s free to date who she wants,” I replied and turned to the bar.
“Then why the fuck are you riled, Harlequin? You’ve got issues and need to resolve them around her. You did April wrong; it’s obvious. But I don’t think you did that for the reasons April believes you did. Whatever is going on between you, there’s still a spark. Sort it out before one of you implodes.”
“Ain’t no spark, Smokey, you’re imagining things.”
“Oh, there are sparks, bro, just disguised under hate and indifference. Talk to April, she’s a nice lady,” Smokey urged.
