He cleared his throat, sitting up a bit taller. “Nothin’. You’re just an odd trio. Is he with her? She’s stayin’ with you?” He scratched his five o’clock shadow, waiting for me to answer.

“She’s my sister. Do you guys ever work?” I asked. “All I see is you partying, fucking, and driving around the company car.”

Tyler ordered another round for the table. “It’s a company truck. And yes, we work our asses off. It’s just been slow. We work for the city in off-season.”

Sugar raised his glass to Tyler. “Indeed we do. Saved this town more than once.”

I held my glass high. “To fighting fires or whatever!”

“Fight fires or whatever?” Tyler said, sounding offended.

I laughed once. “Oh, please. You chose the job. It’s not like everyone is obligated to worship you for it.”

“Wow, okay,” Tyler said, standing. He gripped the back of his chair, the muscles in his forearm tensing below the hem of his Henley sleeve. He adjusted the worn, braided leather bracelets on his right wrist, his nails uneven and his knuckles thick from him cracking them like he’d done twice since Paige had led us to their table. I wanted those fingers inside me, his forearm tensing while he gripped my hips. I wanted something that hadn’t occurred to me before—a repeat.

“Easy, Maddox,” Zeke said. “She’s not wrong.”

“Oh, she’s wrong. She’s all kinds of wrong.”

I winked at Zeke. “What are you doing after this?”

Zeke looked around and then pointed to his chest. “Me?”

“Yes. The flannel shirt is doing it for me. I’m loving the lumbersexual thing you’ve got going on.”

Zeke chuckled, and then held his fist up to his mouth, choking on his own spit when he realized I was serious.

Tyler’s chair fell forward, propped against the table when he shoved it away from him before walking to the bar. He leaned on the bar with his elbow, chatting with the bartender, Annie. She cackled and shook her head, batting her eyes like Tyler needed.

“I don’t know what’s going on between you two,” Zeke said. “But don’t put me in the middle of it.”

“Wise man,” Sugar said, slapping Zeke on the shoulder.

“Fine,” I said, turning to Paige. “What are you doing later?”

“You?” she said with a wicked smile. She didn’t mind being plan B, or even plan C.

I smiled. “Good answer.”

Zeke’s chin lifted, staring at someone tall behind me.

“Hey, Todd. I thought you weren’t allowed in here anymore?” Zeke asked.

Todd shifted his weight from one foot to the other, sporting a yellowing splotch on his cheekbone. “Maddox has been kicked out of here more times than I have. Yet you’re here with him.”

Zeke nodded. “You’re right. I don’t know why I keep doing this to myself.”