Page 11 of Knottily Ever After (Crescent Lake Cozy Omegaverse #1)

Chapter Eleven

Quinn

I sip my porter—damned good stuff—and watch as Vi, a nickname I’m trying that she doesn’t seem to mind, licks her lips after sipping her sweet, peachy lambic.

“I feel like vegging out tonight,” she says, sounding a little down.

“You sure? There’s a local band playing tonight on the other side of town. I could take you.”

Please, please let me take you.

She gives a little frown that dashes all of my hopes. “Not this time,” she says with the kind of final tone I know better than to argue with.

“Sure. No problem.”

Damn.

“I’m sorry.” She looks at me, her eyes dim. “Something happened today that put me in a bad mood, and I usually like to wallow for a while to work things out on my own.”

I open my mouth to ask her what happened, but Vaughn returns, giving me a look that may as well be accompanied by flashing red lights and fiery flags, so I shut it.

I don’t know what went down, but I can tell Vaughn does.

He’s probably stopping me from upsetting her, and I’m grateful.

My mouth gets me into trouble more often than anything else, and Vi is one person I don’t want to put in a negative mood.

“That’s okay,” I tell her with a little extra enthusiasm. “But next weekend, we should do something.”

She smiles kindly. “I’d like that.”

I don’t need to feel my dick growing hard to know that I like the idea, too.

But, here we are.

Me, a grown man in a public place in the late afternoon, pitching a tent in my jeans. I shift on the bar stool to try and find comfort, the seam pressing impossibly tight at the base of my balls.

“I have to work tonight,” Vaughn chimes, sounding a little frustrated. “Will had to call in.”

Ouch. “Can Lloyd come in to help bartend?” I ask of the burly biker and owner of the tattoo parlor who sometimes helps Vaughn out in a pinch.

Vaughn’s head shakes. “No, he’s helping his pack out tonight.”

I sigh inwardly. I hate to see Vaughn overworked, and although I’d just had to work this morning myself, there’s no way I can let my brother suffer. “I’ll come in. I’m not the best at serving, but you know I clean like a madman.”

Vaughn pauses, his steel eyes widening a fraction. “Are you sure?”

I give a lopsided smile. “Yeah, bro. I got you.”

His body visibly relaxes, his shoulders lowering, tension draining. “I owe you big time, Quinn.”

I wave my hand about my face. “Nah. You’re always doing me a solid. No repayment necessary.”

I feel Vi’s gaze on us, flitting back and forth, and I turn to her, watch those emerald eyes shine.

“You guys are really close.” She smiles. “Can I help out, too?”

Vaughn is already speaking as I shake my head.

“No, Violet. I appreciate the offer, but you should relax tonight.” He puts his hand on the bar, his arm straight as he leans. “Any other day, you’re welcome to. Besides, I still owe you a tour of the kitchen and basement.”

Vi sends him a warm smile that makes my heart stutter. “I can’t wait to take you up on that.” Then she turns to me. “I want to come into your gym on Monday morning,” she says, her eyes narrowing just a bit in a way I can’t quite decipher.

“Absolutely,” I say. “We open officially at six, but I’m there by four on most weekdays.”

The horrified look on her face makes me laugh, loud.

“I’d be pushing it to get there by seven,” she tells me with a wince.

I wink at her. “No worries, Vi. I’ll be waiting for you.”