I threw up my hands. “News flash, Ford, this is a bar. Guys are going to check me out. Some girls, too. I’m used to it. And I know how to handle myself. If someone gets out of line, I’ll remove them or have Hank help me do it. I don’t need you swooping in and ruining tips for the waitstaff or me.”

The muscle in Ford’s cheek flickered. “There were five of them, and one of you. It’s not safe.”

I let out a growl of my own. “I have been taking care of myself for a long freaking time. I don’t need any help doing it now.” I forced myself to ignore Ford’s flinch. “And you’re not actually my big brother, you know.”

I stormed past him, but not before I heard him mutter, “Trust me, I know.”

19

BELL

I moaned as I took a sip of the coffee. “I needed this way more than yoga this morning.”

“Yoga would probably help that black cloud following you around a lot more than loading yourself up with caffeine.”

I scowled at Caelyn. “I didn’t sleep well last night. This coffee is keeping me from murdering people.” The truth was that I’d tossed and turned all night long, replaying the argument with Ford over and over in my head. Now that I had him back in my life, I hated the idea of us being at odds. But there was so much baggage with our friendship, and part of me wondered if it was even possible for us to not blow up at each other.

Kenna tipped her face towards the early morning sun. “I’ll take caffeine over yoga any day.”

Caelyn twisted on the bench to face Kenna. “You’re even worse because you drink all that fake sugar and fat-free creamer in your coffee.”

Kenna kept her eyes closed. “Don’t start with me on that crap, C.”

“All right, you two. We each have our own ways of functioning, and let’s just leave it at that.”

Caelyn settled back in her seat, watching the boats load up for the day. “Fine.”

Kenna let out a husky laugh. “You sound like a pouting toddler. Not everyone is down for your level of healthy living.”

“I’m not that bad.”

Kenna snorted. “You won’t even let the kids have soda.”

“I occasionally let them have cane soda.”

“That’s not the same thing, and you know it.”

I grinned at my two best friends, trying to hold in my laugh. “You know, Will has a secret stash in the garage.” The poor kid had hidden candy, soda, and chips out there. When Kenna and I found out, we started adding to his supply.

Caelyn straightened in her seat. “He does not.”

Kenna choked on her laugh. “In the old army chest in the corner.”

“That little bugger.”