“Was he born that way?” Blue asked Brody.
“Yup. Came out scowling, and it went downhill from there, Mom says.”
“Ha ha,” Sawyer said, glaring at the line that was getting closer.
Blue placed her tray on the table and started stacking glasses on it. The line arrived, and she was grabbed and put in the middle between Jett Hyland and Fox Gleeson.
Jay kept his expression relaxed and even smiled. He wasn’t the jealous type and never had been. He wasn’t about to start now, even if he wanted to punch both men.
She was laughing as they moved, and it looked good on her. Then someone grabbed Dan, and he was dragged along.
“The rest of you get on the back!” Red roared.
Everyone did as they were told, except for Jay and Sawyer, who stood together, watching.
“They can’t pay me enough to make an ass of myself,” Sawyer said.
Jay touched his bottle to the oldest Duke’s.
“So what’s up, Jay?”
“Nothing. You?”
“No, my life’s exactly where I wanted it to be.” Sawyer then yawned loudly. “A few more hours’ sleep wouldn’t go amiss, but otherwise, all good.”
“Nice.” Jay hated him for that. He was anything but all good right in that moment. In fact, he felt like he was on the precipice of something, and when it happened, his life would never bethe same again. Which was just plain stupid, but ever since that night in New York with Blue, he’d been off-balance.
“You hear the Bandits have gotten a new leader?”
“Yeah,” Jay said, watching Blue’s hips sway. Fox Gleeson noticed, too, then, as if sensing he was being watched, he looked straight at Jay. “I met him at the cafe. I’m sure Ryder and Zoe gave you a breakdown on what happened.”
“I thought we were done with them but seems not. So we keep watch until we know what they’re up to.”
“Agreed,” Jay said.
“Oops,” Sawyer said with no emotion as Fox tripped on his own feet and went down, taking several people with him. “I didn’t realize the entertainment portion of the night had started.”
Blue landed on Jett, so he broke her fall. Some stumbled, others landed on tables. It was carnage in a matter of seconds. A rumble of laughter started low in Sawyer’s throat. Jay joined him, and they both had tears running down their faces when the others returned.
“Fucking hilarious,” Dan snapped. “I’ll have bruises tomorrow.”
Jay wiped his eyes and attempted to rein in his laughter but failed.
“What is Red doing?” Ryder asked.
The man was lining up shot glasses in two rows.
“Boat races is my guess,” Dan said. “Now this is more like it. Dukes and the two spares line up!”
“Spares?” JD said, outraged. “I’ve never been a spare in my life, you little shit.”
Jay could renege and no one would make him, but he found himself lining up with the others.
The Dukes lined up in order, with Jay and then JD last.
“I’m the sheriff, so I’ll supervise,” Asher Dans said, moving to the end of the table.
Both Keller brothers moved into the other line with the Hylands, Bart, and Larry Limpet, and Fox.
