Page 42 of Catching Feels

“Being self-employed has its perks,” Abe states as he dries off a glass, “and even more downfalls. Your business becomes your spouse and your children. This place could become your only social life. You also have to deal with nights like tonight when two people call out. Wouldn’t matter what plans you may have had, you’re working. You have busy seasons, like now, and months you may be lucky to get ten people through the door. Lot of people can’t handle that. You have to be smart with your money. Servers and bartenders do, too.”

“Invest in yourself, and you’ll never go wrong.” Nikki smiles. “Fawna’s opening a restaurant this fall. Upscale, fine dining, catering to the local professionals. Her off-seasons here at the pub won’t be as heavy a hit. Her new place will bring in a different cliental.”

“That’s amazing.” I nod, head swimming with all the opportunities people like me never considered.

“All right, I think we’re good here. The boys need their beauty sleep.” Abe nods to the table where the boys, Cora, and Amira are sitting around, laughing. Well, all but Nour, who’s looking at his phone. Probably trying to find another pussy to bruise.

“Same time tomorrow?” I ask.

“You can ride over from the stadium with me if you want,” Fawna offers.

“Sounds great, and thank you so much for the job.”

“Boys truly do think of sex every five seconds.” Cora laughs as I approach the table.

“One, two, three, four, doggy-style.” AJ laughs his ass off.

“One, two, three, four, busisleaving, kids,” I say as I continue toward the door.

I glance back as I open the door to make sure they’re following. They are, and they don’t leave behind the conversation; it continues right on out of the bar.

“Gotta be careful who you’re hooking up with now.” AJ chuckles. “Biggest move from minors to majors is realizing it’s quality over quantity. You mess that up, you could find yourself in a Turner situation.”

“AJ,” Bennett slurs, “you can’t throw a teammate under the bus like that.”

“I didn’t throw him anywhere; them’s the facts,” AJ states. “He’s not hiding it. Loves those kids of his, even if he doesn’t love the women he made them with anymore.”

“I believe the problem was he did love them,” Nour defends Turner. “And he believed they loved him.”

“Jersey chasers,” Amira sighs. “You boys better wrap them tight.”

“You wrap yours tight the other night?” AJ laughs, and my body tenses.

“Mind your business,” Nour mumbles.

Amira laughs. “He always has.”

“Amira,” Nour grumbles.

“Until I can bring out the naked baby pictures, I have nothing else but stories.”

“Spill them all.” AJ laughs as I hit the key fob and unlock the door.

“This one lost his virginity in our mother’s car.” She laughs.

“How was your mom?”

I can’t hold back a laugh, and not just because of what was said, but because two people said it at the same time. Those two people? Cora and Blaze Bennett.

“You’re all assholes,” Nour grumbles.

“Funny,” Amira admits. “But the true story, even better.”

“Are you seriously doing this?” Nour snarls at his sister.

“You bet I am,” she says as she opens the door. “Mom found a pair of girl’s panties in her car, and he told her that they were mine.”

“Did you at least cover for him?” AJ asks as he climbs in behind her.

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