“I’d like to take you out soon, Avery,” I said. “Would you like to go on a date?”
“I’d love that,” she said. Her brother cleared his throat. We’d all but forgotten him in the moment.
“I’ll make sure to pick you up at your house and face any sort of inquisition your family has in mind,” I said to him as much as her.
She let out a laugh and swatted at her brother. “They’ll be on their best behavior.”
“No, we won’t. Especially not Maverick,” Nash laughed. “I’m the nice one.”
“He really is,” she winced, glancing down the bar top where the other two were glaring daggers into my soul. Ouch. It might take a little work to win them over.
A hand on my shoulder was my only warning before Ford leaned in next to me.
“We’ve got a table back there. Join us when you’re done flirting, Doc,” he said, voice light though his eyes were tight, like he didn’t love that I was hogging her attention.
“I’ll be there soon,” I said evenly. “Can I get you two a round?”
“Nah, we just got them,” he said. “We’re not huge drinkers.”
“Cohen!” Avery’s excitement had us both turning. I recognized the beta from his shop in town, though it had been in passing. We’d never spoken or met officially.
It was my turn for a spark of jealousy as she moved around the bar and straight into his arms. He grinned down at her like the rest of the room faded with her in his arms.
That was something I understood all too well.
Ford moved around me to interrupt their moment, leaning in and whispering something to Cohen before giving her a grin. Her eyes widened in shock but I clocked the way her thighs pressed together.
Interesting.
It seemed their dynamic was a bit more unconventional. I should have expected nothing less from her. Everything about this new pack was sudden, but I had a feeling it would be strong.
“I’ll take the weakest cocktail you have,” I told Nash as he walked back toward me. He raised an eyebrow but nodded, moving around behind the bar before sliding it over.
“Here, first is on the house,” he offered. I tucked a tip into the jar anyway.
“Thank you,” I said before turning and rising from my stool. It was taken over before I took a few steps, the crowd seemed to be an ever growing thing.
“You better claim this seat before someone snatches it. I’ve had to fight off more than one table for these,” Mason said when I walked up to join him.
“Thanks for saving me a seat,” I said as I claimed one of the chairs and glanced back at the rest of our pack.
“Seems Ford found him another mate,” Mason said, amusement in his stoic voice. There was a fondness for his friend that spoke of years of knowing each other.
“You two been friends for long?” I asked, giving him my attention again.
He was still focused on his friend and our mate but he nodded. “Yeah, we lived close and stayed close through the years,” he admitted. “My family all but claimed him. He was the outgoing son my mother always wanted.”
Again, he was amused more than hurt like most would be with a sentiment like that.
“Are you guys close to your families?”
“His, no. Mine, yes. You close to yours?”
“I was raised by a single beta mom. She was a hard worker and had some family money that put me through medical school. When I graduated, she retired and moved to the beach. She calls every few weeks but is living her best single life,” I admitted with a small chuckle. Mom was a character, the life of any party she attended, and I was her opposite. She never quite knew what to do with me so I could understand Mason’s position.
I didn’t love Mom any less. In fact, I respected her immensely. She always worked hard for me, made sure I was provided for and learned respect.
“Avery is definitely close to hers. Those brothers might want to murder us all,” Mason noted. We both glanced at the triplets, who were making it their job to send us warning glares between serving their customers. It was like watching a ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ moment in person. One second they were all flirtatious smiles and greeting customers, the next they were shooting daggers at us.