I grinned, a million memories sliding through me. “Just as long as we aren’t desperate enough to throw you up on stage.”

Bell laughed, and it was the sweetest sound I’d heard in a long damn time. “My musical genius is above your pay grade.”

The front door swung open, and I glanced at my watch. It wasn’t quite time to open our doors. “Sorry, we’re not open—”

My words were cut off as Hunter strode in with Ethan in tow. “Come on, big brother, I think I’ve earned early access.” His gaze flicked to Bell, concern filling his expression, but he kept that false smile on his face.

She hopped off the stool. “I gotta go check the tables out back. If you ask nicely, I bet Hank will fix you boys something before he’s officially on the clock.”

Hunter’s shoulders sagged as he watched Bell head out the door to the back patio. “Fuck.”

“She still not talking to you?”

Hunter shook his head and scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “Nope. I screwed things up good this time.”

Ethan slapped him on the back. “It’s Bell. She’ll forgive you. You just gotta give her a few days to stew.”

My gut burned at the guys’ familiarity with Bell. The feeling crawling around inside me felt a whole lot like jealousy, thick and insidious. It had always been the three of us growing up: me, Violet, and Trouble. I’d had a crush on Vi since the moment I met her in preschool, with her shiny blond hair and pale blue eyes. I’d been sunk. Her baby sister had just been a part of the package, and before long, we were an inseparable trio. Hunter had never been crazy about Vi and Bell, had always opted to hang out with Ethan instead, but it looked like that was one of the many things that had changed over the years.

I wanted Bell to have good people in her life, and my brother was the best. But I guess, when it came down to it, I wanted a space there, too. I’d missed her. More than I wanted to admit. Hearing her laugh earlier had been the best kind of pain, full of the sweetest memories and the deepest longing for a time that was gone forever. Because I would never be that person again, the boy who thought he was a man. One who had never experienced true devastation. The man I would’ve been if the accident had never happened was a stranger to me. All I knew was who I was now, but I wasn’t sure how much I even knew him anymore.

“Earth to Ford. What the hell, man?”

I was jolted back to the present by Hunter’s voice. “Sorry. What?”

A muscle in Hunt’s cheek ticked. “How’s she been?”