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The look in his eyes said only one thing: thank you. I knew he appreciated what I’d said, even if it came out a tad bit clumsy, as usual. He understood me, even when I could be like a bull in a china shop with emotions and words.
Seeing him so defeated tonight—seeing him doubt himself for the first time in years—had brought my protective instincts right back up again. After growing up in such a strict family, he never felt like he was enough. But I’d be here to remind him just how worthy he was, even if I had to do it forever.
And he’d be here to remind me that I was more than just a grumpy lone wolf lumberjack, living in the mountains alone.
“Hey, man, there you go. Listen to your bestie,” Charlie told Sawyer. “Harlan’s never wrong.”
Sawyer took a deep breath, letting go of my arm. “He isn’t usually wrong,” he agreed. He slapped a hand on the bar top after a moment. “Fuck. Well, I’m going to need at least another shot or two in me before I can swallow my pride long enough to even consider accepting the offer. Let’s get more whiskey rolling, huh?”
“Fuck yes,” Charlie said, beaming at Sawyer. “You’re going to love it, whiskey or not. I’m excited to work with you.”
I reached for our best whiskey bottle to pour another shot for Sawyer, trying to rein in my excitement. But right now my affection was like a volcano threatening to blow.
I wasn’t going to let myself get carried away like I did when we were younger—no massive crush. I was a grown man now, well into my thirties. Sawyer wasn’t mine, no matter how close we were.
I was just here to support him from the sidelines.
Plain and simple.
“Wait ‘til you appear on your first Fixer Brothers TV show episode, by the way,” Nathan told him with a wink. “Your inbox is going to be full of women begging to go out with you.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” Charlie added. “I got my slut era out of the way before the TV show started, and I’m beyond happy with Jax now. But the fact that you’re single, Sawyer? You’re about to have some serious fun.”
“And the women who watch our show are very cool people, if I do say so myself,” Shawn added. “You’ll have your pick.”
“Let the man live,” I said, holding up my hands. “He just got laid off today, he doesn’t need to worry about dating right now.”
Charlie shrugged. “Best way to feel better though, isn’t it? Get laid off, then get laid?”
Something flared inside me. It wasn’t that I was jealous, really, but the guys were right about Sawyer. He’d definitely have his pick of any woman he wanted, especially when he inevitably ended up on the TV show.
Fuck it. Maybe I was a little jealous. But it wasn’t because I didn’t want Sawyer to find the woman of his dreams. Of course I wanted him to be as happy as possible. I kept busy behind the bar and tried to tamp down whatever weird feelings were stirring up in me.
Because he’s just your friend, I told myself.
Just your favorite person in the whole world.
“You’re coming home with me tonight, by the way,” I told Sawyer. “That’s the rule.”
“What rule?” Nathan asked.
“If one of us gets too drunk here at the brewery, we always go back to Harlan’s place,” Sawyer said. “It’s close by, and we make sure the other one stays hydrated enough and gets a good night’s sleep.
“And breakfast in the morning,” I added.
“Always breakfast,” Sawyer agreed.
“Damn, maybe you don’t need to find a woman,” Charlie said with a grin. “Your best friend is already wifey material.”
“I’ll punch you if you call me that again,” I told him, lifting an eyebrow. But I couldn’t hide my smile.
“Take good care of him tonight, Harlan,” Shawn said. “He’s about to begin the next era of his life.”
“And pour him another shot,” Charlie said. “Maybe give him a kiss before bed?”
My cheeks heated up again as Sawyer held up his fresh shot of whiskey. “What am I getting myself into?”
2
SAWYER
“This is all I need in life,” I said as the purr of Harlan’s truck rumbled to a stop in his front driveway. “Harlan, if I can’t find work and go broke, you’ll take me in as a stray, right?”
I looked over at Harlan in the driver’s side of the truck. I wasn’t usually big on doing shots, but tonight I’d tossed them back like water. I was drunk enough that my body felt like it was melting into the passenger seat, and Harlan was taking care of me, like he always did. Right now, his face was illuminated by the truck’s headlights reflecting off the front of his house, and the ambient glow made his amber-brown eyes look even kinder than usual.
