Page 87 of Laws of Love
“You and my sister are pretty serious,” EJ stated on day two of their cruise as the men sat at a high-top table in a sports bar on the ship. The women were currently at the spa, and it seemed EJ was choosing then to have the big brother conversation, though he was Aiva’s younger brother.
“We are,” Knox responded. He didn’t see a reason to beat around the bush, and he didn’t have to think about it. He knew going into his pursuit of Aiva that he wasn’t doing it to pass the time or to have a bit of rebound fun. It was to build something, even if he knew it was something he needed to take slowly.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but didn’t you just get out of a marriage? Are you sure you’re ready for another commitment?” Riquie asked.
Knox chuckled. “Officially, I’ve been divorced for five months, but my marriage ended almost two years ago. I’m not jumping straight from one commitment to another. At least, I don’t see it that way. Besides, I made it very clear to your sister what I wanted, even before my divorce was finalized. She made me wait until it was.”
Ali laughed. “That sounds like Aiva. She won’t do anything that could cause her client’s issues. I’m not surprised she made you wait.”
“He didn’t wait long,” Ezra stated. “As soon as he got the news the judge signed off on his divorce; he asked her out.”
Knox took a drink of his bourbon. “Asked her out and took her out within forty-eight hours of it being official.”
“Poor man. He’s already whipped,” Riquie stated.
“Just because you’re too young to want to be in a committed relationship doesn’t mean he’s whipped,” EJ responded.
“No, I can confirm. He’s whipped,” Ezra teased.
“Mind your business,” Knox instructed, before the five of them laughed.
The conversation shifted, and Ezra asked EJ questions about his business and if he had room for new clients since there were some athletes he represented he’d like to send his way. Knox went to the bar to order another drink, and as he waited, a group of women walked in.
They weren’t dressed for the atmosphere, and they’d obviously ventured there to look for potential men. He’d seen it before. Women migrating to predominantly male-visited establishments to pick one up. There were rare occasions when they’d visited to watch the game or enjoy a drink, but he could tell this wasn’t one of those times.
He supposed they had the right idea. Single men on a cruise ship would frequent the sports bars, cigar bars, or casino.
Knox thanked the bartender for the drink, tipped him, and returned to the table. The conversation had turned to who the table thought had the most potential of becoming MVP for the season. Their discussion was soon interrupted by one of the women approaching their table.
“Hi,” she greeted with a smile. “My friends and I were wondering if you’d like to join tables and get a round of drinks?”
“Why would we want to do either of those things?” Ali asked.
The smile on the woman’s face dropped, and she looked at him, confused. “I’m sorry?”
“For which part? Assuming that we’d want to join tables because you’re half-dressed and you thought your body was nice enough to be a weapon, or assuming you were attractive enough for us to waste money and buy you drinks?” Ali inquired.
Riquie snorted out a laugh as Ezra damn near choked on his drink. Knox turned his attention to Ali to find him with a raised brow at the woman, and from his peripheral, he could see EJ shaking his head.
“I—”
“Let’s say it was for both,” Ali cut her off. “Apology accepted.” He returned his attention to the table. “Anyway, I think Jalen is definitely in the running.”
The dismissal was greeted with the woman’s quick retreat from the table, and Riquie’s laugh cut in over the conversation.
“It’s a wonder you ever manage to date,” he stated.
Ali shrugged. “If she won’t respect me by approaching differently, or herself, why should I? Besides, why waste our time when it’s not worth it?”
“You and our friend Wolfe would get along great,” Knox stated.
“Yes, he doesn’t have a filter either,” Ezra added.
“Honesty is best received with no filter. Besides, if my sisters walked in here and saw a half-naked woman at the table, the two of you would be in trouble.” Ali pointed at Knox and Ezra.
“Your sister knows she’s the only woman I want. Did Riquie not just tell you I was whipped?” Knox joked. While the first part was true. The second may have had some validity.
“And your sister and I aren’t dating,” Ezra spoke like the table didn’t know.
