Jake glanced around at his destruction. “Yeah. I’ll let Ryker pick up the tab.”
Grant nearly did smile, then. “Hell, yeah. Come on.” He dropped his hand and reached for the door. “Let’s go see about your girl.”
Jake started to pass, but stopped just before the hallway. Of all the people he thought might come into that bathroom to try to save him from himself, Grant would have been the very last one he would have expected.
He turned to his employee. His teammate. And yeah, his friend. “Thanks, man.”
Grant just nodded with a short grunt, and Jake wanted to smile. The Hill they all knew and loved was back.
The rest of the team was still waiting at the end of the hallway, and their eyes wary when they saw him.
“You okay, boss?” Mac asked almost hesitantly and lifted her chin toward the direction of the bathroom. “It sounded like a war zone in there.”
Jake opened his mouth to talk, but Grant beat him to it. “He’s fine. Now give the man some space. He doesn’t need everyone smothering him for Christ’s sake.” He turned to Jake and said, “I’m gonna go find some coffee. You want some?”
“Sure,” Jake said, surprised at the offer. “Thanks.”
In another unexpected move, Hill turned to the rest of the team. “Anyone else?”
“You’re offering to buy us coffee?” Coop asked.
Before Grant could take back the offer, Derek stood from where he’d been camped out on the tiled floor. “I’ll go. My ass is numb. I need to move around anyway.”
Grant and Derek made their way down the long hallway, disappearing around the corner.
“What the hell was that all about?” Coop asked.
“Yeah. He actually, you know, talked. Like a person.” Mac sounded genuinely surprised.
“Lay off Hill,” Jake said, even though he understood exactly why they were shocked. “He’s not a bad guy.”
“I’m not saying he’s bad. I mean, he’s one of us, so of course he’s badass, but I never thought he wasbad. The guy just never talks. Then, he’s with you in the bathroom, of all places, and comes out offering to buy everyone coffee. It’s just...weird.”
Mac was worried. Normally, she stayed pretty quiet herself, but she was rambling now, and Jake knew it was because she was concerned for Liv. They all were.
And though he still felt like it washislife on the line, Jake was suddenly glad they were all together.
