Page 172 of Unforgettable

It had been a long two months of learning all we could about the bar business and readying Murphy’s Law for its grand reopening under new management.

We’d made minor, mostly cosmetic changes and had to close the bar for the previous two months until the work was complete. There were also a few of the staff that weren’t keen on the change, so we began a hiring spree a few weeks ago.

Of the three of us, I was the most hands-off. Thankfully it was July and I was still on summer break, but the end of the school year was not the time for me to take on a new venture. With everything going on, I didn’t have the capacity to be too active. Besides, Reed and Josh had it more than under control. The two of them worked so well together, they really didn’t need my input, and I was happy to mostly observe. I didn’t plan to stop teaching, and neither of them expected me to.

I’d finished out the school year, but being in my classroom the first few weeks after the incident was panic inducing. Which meant I immediately put in for a transfer to a new classroom for the beginning of the new school year.

Maybe at that point, my brother and I would be speaking. But I wasn’t holding my breath.

Whether intentional or not, he’d mentioned Reed’s name to CJ. He’d told him in no uncertain terms that Reed was wealthy and where he could find us. His stupidity had nearly killed us both in the process.

But after CJ was arrested and Adam realized we weren’t immediately going to forgive and forget everything that happened, he flew directly to California with his probation officer’s approval. He’d returned a week later and took that job at the auto body shop, cleaning and doing a few administrative tasks. Keeping a steady job and completing regular, yet unannounced, drug tests were both requirements of his probation.

Five years of probation and no jail time for his part in capturing CJ, who turned out to be only one midlevel criminal in a well-organized drug trafficking organization. With the investigation still ongoing, details were limited. But we knew they were selling some new and highly-addictive drug. And everything CJ’d told me and Reed seemed to be true—he’d decided the moment Adam moved in with me that I would be easy collateral. If ever he needed it, he’d use me to keep Adam in line or, eventually, use me to force Reed to pay Adam’s debts when he realized I had no money of my own.

Attorney Will, as I liked to refer to him, was the only reason I knew anything. He’d kept us apprised of the investigation until Adam’s part was complete. That was until the trial started—if there even was one.

But luckily, we all had plenty to keep our minds off of my brother. The guys had worked so hard, and we’d all decided that once the bar was back open, it would be Josh’s business. We would only be as active as he wanted us to be. Otherwise, Reed would focus on the gym, and I would focus on teaching.

Outside the bar above the door hung a sign that read, “Grand Reopening!” Other than that one detail, the place looked mostly the same. We’d repainted and refinished the exterior and updated a few fixtures, but we’d kept the original character of the building and what made Murphy’s, Murphy’s.

Before heading inside, I reached for Reed, who, even when he was feeling left out, couldn’t deny me. I pressed onto my toes, gripped his broad shoulders, and kissed him. The kiss was not work appropriate, but neither of us cared. Especially when I opened my mouth for him and allowed his tongue to taste the remnants of Josh’s release still fresh on my tongue.

As he tasted me and Josh mixed together, I could feel him relax beneath my hands.

“You play dirty,” he whispered against my lips.

“That’s because I’m your dirty girl.”

All of us took a combined breath and headed toward the door. The first thing that greeted us when we walked in was the glorious air conditioning we’d replaced and the upgraded sound system we’d installed throughout the rooms.

Behind the bar, the bartenders were busy setting up for the party while others ran around wiping down tables and finishing the few decorations I’d insisted on.

“It’s my turn on the way home,” Reed whispered as he kissed my forehead and walked off to make sure everything was running without a hitch. Josh kissed me, too and told me to relax before he jogged after our boyfriend. The two of them were immediately in deep conversation about what was happening behind the bar.

“Your face may get stuck if you keep smiling like that.” I hadn’t even realized I was staring at Josh and Reed and smiling like a lunatic.

“Thanks for the unsolicited advice,” I said, turning to Hazel, who already had a margarita in her hand. Her chestnut-brown hair fell around her face in loose waves and her black dress flowed around her knees. “How do you always look so effortlessly perfect?”

She rolled her eyes, tried to suppress her smile, and handed me her drink. “Here. I think you need it more than I do.”

She was right. For myself, I wasn’t so worried about this venture. I was more worried for the two men who were diligently reorganizing coolers behind the bar. For them, the success of the bar meant so much more. I needed it to be a success for them.

“I’m sorry I can’t provide more stress relief—all I’ve got is alcohol. I’m a great listener, though.”

I laughed and then sighed. She was the best kind of friend—supportive in all the right ways. “It’s okay. I kind of gave Josh a blow job in the back of the car on the way here. That did a little for both of our nerves.”

Hazel closed her eyes and shook her head while she laughed quietly to herself. We made our way to the bar, grabbing two stools right in the center while she told me about the book she was currently writing.

“Oh, and I think I’ve convinced Luke that Sadie needs a sister. My mother keeps bothering me about grandchildren, so I’m sure she’s going to be less than enthusiastic about us getting another dog instead.”

One of the new bartenders we hired—whose name completely escaped me—acknowledged us and mouthed “one minute” while she finished talking to Grady, who waved and hollered, “How’s it goin’, boss?”

“I told you not to call me that,” I yelled back, but all he did was laugh. Turning back to Hazel, I asked, “Y’all have been married less than a year. She’s really expecting themnow?”

Hazel shrugged. “Yes, and it doesn’t help that if it were up to Luke, I’d be pregnant already.”

“Yes, she would be,” Luke added, coming up behind her. “She’s going to be fucking beautiful pregnant and such a good mom. I can’t wait.”

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