Cade stood up. “Nope. No way. I’ve been waiting to talk about Storm of Swords. I am not about to discuss the merits of hate-fucking one’s way to a successful relationship with my mother and my sisters. Hell no. Fuck this, I’m out of here.” He strode angrily to the door. “Lily, I’m heading to Holloway’s. Text me when you’re finished here, and I’ll pick you up.”

I was not surprised that Cade had read Beautiful Bastard. He was not a sexist reader. He’d read anything, including romance novels. I nodded and waved goodbye. More dip for me.

Mom perked up at this. “Cade, if you’re going over there, then get behind the bar and help Oliver out, so you can send Delphine over here.”

Oh, I hadn’t seen Auntie Delphine yet. Yay!

Luke

I was glad to see Cade behind the bar when I walked into Holloway’s. I’d had a terrible day. I was worried about Liam, and I hadn’t seen Lily in over a week. I had wanted to give her space, but not this much of it. “Hey, Cade.” I took a seat at the bar, and he slid me a beer. Holloway’s looked like an old Irish pub, small black-and-white tiles on the floor, and dark wood paneling lined the walls, along with framed family pictures and neon beer signs here and there. A long, shiny maple wood bar dominated the space, but there were several sets of tables and chairs and a few booths along the perimeter. They served great food, and I was about to partake.

“How’s it going, Luke?”

I took a huge swallow of beer and shook my head. “Shit day, man. Liam’s grandmother had a heart attack this morning. I went with him to the hospital. He was beside himself. She raised him since he was twelve. She’s all the family he has left. She’s supposed to be fine though. How is Lily? I didn’t get to see her today. I haven’t seen her all week. Work has been brutal.”

“She’s at Violet’s. I got suckered into helping here, so Delphine could go to book club. I think they all planned it.”

I chuckled. I’d spent about ten minutes at one of those things, and I would never do it again.

“You eat yet? Oliver is in back making burgers. Want one?” Oliver was Lily’s cousin. He was our age and a good friend. I nodded. Hell yeah, I wanted one. That’s why I’d come here. “Savannah is headed over, so I can leave. You can join me.”

I nodded. Savannah was another one of Lily’s cousins.

Cade turned to the kitchen entrance behind him at the bar. “Yo, Oliver! Throw another burger on. Luke’s here,” he shouted as he popped the cap off a beer for another customer and handed it over.