Alex had their phone on speakerphone as Charlie’s voice carried through. “This is incredible. I don’t have words, but fuck, she’s…I’m a dad.”
“Is she being receptive to you?” Alex asked, dipping chips into ranch. Midwesterners loved their ranch.
“Yes. I guess her mom told her about me after she got sick, so she knew about me a little. This is…how’s the bar?”
“Who cares about the bar?” I shouted, leaning onto the table with a huge grin. “Talk about your daughter more.”
“I asked because…I need to stay here until the end of the month.” He coughed. “Things are still being settled, and I don’t want to rush it.”
Alex and I locked eyes, and they nodded. “Then don’t rush it. We’ll figure it out, Chuck.”
“That’s asking a whole lot for three people.”
“We wouldn’t offer help if we didn’t mean it.” Alex tapped their finger on the table. “Elle’s getting some people to help bus, be bouncers, that we can pay in tips. Her and I can handle drinks, and even Cal is working his ass off.”
“Good, glad to hear that. Is he there now?”
“No. I created a schedule, and tonight’s his night off,” I said.
“How is he doing, really? I was worried he’d cause more trouble.”
“He surprised me, Charlie.” Alex laughed. “Very protective of our Elle too.”
My insides hummed. Hewasprotective of me, which wasn’t entirely new since Gabe and Dani would fight anyone for me, but with Cal, it was different.
“OurElle? You threatened to cut off my hair ten minutes ago,” I fired back. They laughed, and I even smiled.
“Well, let me know if he gets in one of his moods. The kid has had it tough, but the bar is familiar to him. Ah, she’s getting up from a nap. Gotta go. Thank you for… you know.”
“We do.” Alex hung up, the warmth in their eyes lingering for a beat. “He’s a good man.”
“Agreed, now, game three is on tonight. Want me to get some extra hands?”
“Cal would come in if we asked, you know. Are you avoiding him?”
“No, and don’t bother with your insinuations, punk. He had a rough night, and I want him to rest.”
“Rough?”
“Yeah, so about that help?” I didn’t want to air his business, and Alex dropped it. Thank goodness.
“Sure, text your people.”
And with that, I texted Gabe. Alex could certainly hold down the fort, but I felt better having more people who could take careof large angry men if needed. He responded that he was on it. Getting a few hockey players wasn’t a terrible idea.
Ty, Emmett, and Jenkins all arrived, wearing black shirts that said security. They even wore sunglasses. “Are those fake earpieces?” I asked, laughing as they lined the wall. “Oh my god.”
“Van said security and muscle. We brought both.” Emmett flexed and pushed down his glasses to wink at me. “Boss us around, baby Van.”
“Okay, none of that,” I said. Emmett charmed me with his antics, and gratitude filled me. “Thank you, seriously.”
“We get to help out our captain and baby Van? Not a bad night. You’ll pay us in food, right?” Emmett asked.
“Food or tips, whatever you prefer.” I pointed to the bar. “I gotta ready the bar, but Alex will go over what we need.”
“Got it, boss.”
I smiled at them, glad they were there, and prepared the ingredients for the rush. When the pre-game started, the place filled up, and there was already an energy in the air. A fun, rambunctious one that had me in a great mood.
