The guys jostled jokingly as they raced for the bathroom. From the sudden laughter and playful curses, Jake had slid in there first. It wasn’t the first time today the four of them had found rapport again. The tension was there, sure. But their friendships seemed to be relatively intact, and as envious as I was for their ease in adjusting to my breakup with Ian, I wish I could do the same.
As much as I needed to pee myself, I waited and got the cats fed. You’d think they never got to eat the way they attacked the wet food when I put it down.
I should have made a cake or something for Coop’s birthday. It wasn’t that late, I still could.
“Dude, are you doing your nails or something?” Archie called, and I grinned. Jake was making them wait.
Ian’s huff of laughter had my smile fading, and I turned to the fridge. I had a cake mix in the pantry, but…no eggs, and milk that was perilously low if not expired, and what leftovers were in there weren’t edible. I’d pretty much eaten most of what could be devoured from the perishables.
Long-formed habit, I ate those first, or they just spoiled and wasted money. Not wasting money had been beaten into me young. Closing it, I checked the freezer.
Mom had never transferred that grocery shopping money. I guess the dinner had soured her appetite for that. I couldn’t really call and complain, could I? There was some chicken, a dead pair of frost-burned pork chops, and a bag of tilapia. Ugh.
Birthday dinner and cake, and I had nothing.
Okay, first things first, I needed to get the guys moving and then I’d head to the grocery store. I had money in savings and in my checking account. Maybe Marsha would give me an extra shift to make up the difference.
Unable to put it off any longer, I made it to the hall in time for Jake to come out and Archie to push in before Coop or Ian could. Laughter and grumbling filled the air, but the guys looked far from upset.
“Hey, baby girl,” Jake murmured as he gave me a hug. It was an easy gesture, and he pressed his forehead to mine lightly. Those pale blue eyes always saw too much, and he searched my gaze now. “You okay?”
“No,” I told him honestly. I could have lied, but Jake tended to push and prod. Coop would just power right past it with a simple bullshit. Jake dragged it out of me. So, I didn’t bother with the subterfuge, no matter how mild. “But I will be.”
I had no other choice.
The corners of his mouth curved, and then he pressed a kiss to forehead. It was gentle, earnest, and very affectionate. “Yes,” he promised against my skin. “You will. I have your back, you know that, right?”
Rising on my tiptoes, I hugged him tightly and closed my eyes. “I do,” I answered in the same hushed voice. I felt more than saw his smile against my ear.
“Have fun tonight, okay?”
I chuckled. “We will.”
He gave me another kiss, this one even lighter as his lips brushed mine before he said, “I’m out, guys. Don’t be stupid.”
Coop snorted, but Archie’s voice muffled as he called his goodbye. As Jake moved, my gaze snagged on Ian’s. He jerked his attention away, as if I’d busted him for staring.
“Yeah,” Ian said. “I’m going, too. Have a great birthday, man.” He clapped Coop on the shoulder, and I moved to press against the wall so he could pass me. When he paused in front of me, I wasn’t sure what I expected him to say, but “See you tomorrow?” wasn’t it.
“Yep. It’s a school day, I’ll be in the cafeteria getting my coffee infusion.” It came out flip and easy, neither of which I experienced. He stared a beat longer. For a moment, I thought he would say something else, but he compressed his lips and gave me a nod before turning to where Jake waited in the living room.
Jake had definitely waited, and while he wasn’t staring at us, I was under no illusions about whether he’d been waiting to see what happened. Despite the strained awkwardness lingering between them, Jake and Ian left together.
I sagged against the wall as the backdoor closed. Then Archie was out of the bathroom, and he and Coop shared a look. Then Coop gave me a quick smile. “You need it?”
“Go ahead,” I told him, and waved him on.
Archie strolled toward me, his expression concerned but gentle. “You really okay?” Had he heard Jake asking me? Maybe. Though he’d been murmuring. Or maybe I just looked as bad as I felt. Archie had been there last night when I burst into tears. He’d held me while I cried, and then he’d made me smile again.
“Nope.” I told him the same thing I’d told Jake. “But I will be.”
“Damn straight.” He cupped my face and pressed a kiss to my lips before he pressed one to my forehead. “You need me, you know where I am.”
I wanted to tell him I would always need him. I needed all of them. But that was a big declaration, and if my life had taught me nothing, it had taught me I had to stand on my own two feet. “I do.” Covering his hands with mine, I raised my brows. “You know that goes for you, too, right?”
He grinned. “Thank you. I will definitely call. If it weren’t Coop’s birthday, your phone would ring the minute I was out the door.”
I laughed. Not just because it was funny, but because there was so much emotion there. He wasn’t kidding. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” I promised.