“That was really awful what happened in Berlin. I hope you’re doing okay.”
Her words touch me. Most people won’t even mention it. “I’m doing better, thanks.”
Our eyes meet and I know this is someone who understands pain and loss.
“I’ll tell Grandpa you’re here,” Ayla says. “He wants to see you guys and meet Nikki. Sorry,” she adds to me apologetically.
“No worries.” I smile at her.
“What can I get you guys?” Ayla asks. “Drinks?”
We order, the guys and Mabel all getting beers. I feel weird ordering a whiskey sour here, so I ask for a glass of red wine.
“What’s the bacon beer like?” Ford asks Ayla.
My eyes go wide.
Her lips twitch but she answers seriously. “It’s a brown ale infused with smoky bacon flavor.”
“I love bacon,” Ford muses. “It has to be good. Okay, I’ll have that.”
“Bacon beer,” Andi mutters, wrestling with a smile.
Ford gives her a nudge and a fond look, and they exchange a warm glance full of laughter.
“Archie has unique tastes,” Marek says to me. “In a lot of things.”
“Not women, though,” Ford says. “I have great taste in women.”
Andi grins.
“That is true,” Nash says with a smile at Andi that gets him a glower from Ford.
“Hey,” Ford says. “How come you can grow so much hair on your face, but not the top of your head?”
“It’s all the testosterone that affects the hair on my head.” Nash runs a hand over his skull. “But it doesn’t affect my face.”
“Bruh,” Dillon says. “That’s weird. And is that really true? That bald guys have more testosterone?”
“It’s not the testosterone itself,” Sebastian says. “It’s also genetics.”
Nash shrugs. “Could be, I guess. You know what I say… with a body like this, who needs hair.” He sweeps a hand down in front of him.
I grin.
“Apparently hormones can affect hair on different body parts differently,” Sebastian adds. “You can lose chest hair, too, but your facial hair growth can actually improve.”
“Which supports the argument that I have a lot of testosterone,” Nash says.
“How do you know so much about this?” Eddy asks his partner with a grin.
“I was researching for a friend,” Sebastian deadpans with a deliberate look at Eddy’s hairline.
“Hey! I’m not losing my hair!” Eddy lifts a hand to his head.
“Why is everyone here obsessed with their hair?” Marek says. “Archie thought he was going bald from taking creatine.”
“I have great hair.” Ford runs a hand through his shaggy locks. “It would be a shame to lose it.”
