It was nicely air conditioned, and there were plenty of pool tables to accommodate the crowd. Fortunately there weren’t a ton of people there, so Jason and the other guys were easy to spot.
Erin went right over and put her arms around Jason, who seemed surprised and happy to see her.
“Hey, babe. I’m glad you came.”
“We were close and I thought I’d kick your ass in a game of pool.”
“Oh, you did, huh? Well, you can try.”
Brenna watched Finn prepare to take a shot. Actually, she was watching the way his shoulders bunched up as he leaned over the table, the deftness of his fingers as they curled around the cue, the muscles on his forearm as he steadied for the shot, and wow, why was she even interested in every part of his body anyway?
She looked around the place, trying to zero in on a guy—any guy—who might capture her interest. There were several good-looking men in the place. One or two actually looked her way. One gave her an inviting smile.
She felt nothing. No spark, zero interest. Not like when Finn came up and stood close to her giving her a smile of his own, the kind of smile that made a woman’s insides quiver.
“Hey,” he said.
Just one word. Insides. Quivering.
Damn that man.
She turned away and smiled at Clay. “How’s it going?”
“Good.”
“Is Alice in L.A.?”
He nodded. “She has a few meetings, but she’ll be back this weekend.”
“Sorry I’m late. I hear I missed burgers.”
They all turned to see Owen, Erin’s ex-fiancé, walk in.
“You also missed two games already,” Clay said. “Which you’d have lost anyway.”
Owen laughed. “You’d like to think that.”
“Hey, Owen,” Erin said. “How are you feeling?”
“Good, thanks. Finished up another round of treatment this week so we’ll see how the testing goes. Every time I do a round I’m hoping I’m finished.”
“We all hope that,” Honor said, grasping his arm and holding on to it. “You look good.”
He smiled at her. “Thanks. I feel pretty good, too.”
The whole situation with Owen had been a disaster. First him walking out on Erin practically at the altar and disappearing on her, only to find out he fled because of his cancer diagnosis and not handling it well at all. But after they talked it out they both realized they weren’t right for each other anyway. And Erin forgave him, which Brenna gave her a lot of credit for because she didn’t know if she could have done that. The rest of the family had come around as well. The important thing right now was for Owen to get well. Being mad at him for dumping Erin was one thing. Losing him was not acceptable.
They’d all been friends since they were kids. You just didn’t abandon a friendship, especially once Erin had explained that Owen breaking up with her had led her to Jason, whom she loved more than anyone she’d ever loved before.
Sometimes things worked out right in the end, even if they started out all wrong.
“You gonna try to play?” Finn asked.
Brenna arched a brow. “Oh, I’ll play. And I’ll beat you.”
Finn shaded a crafty smile at her. “We’ll see, lass.”
Once the guys finished their game, they grabbed another table and formed two teams. Honor, Owen and Clay played at one table, and Jason, Erin, Brenna and Finn played at another.
Brenna had been taught to play pool by her dad, and she loved the game. She’d played in college, too, and for some reason guys seemed to think women weren’t good at pool.
They were wrong.
She won the first game. Erin won the second.
“Shit,” Jason said after Erin sank the last ball. She batted her lashes at him.
“Maybe you’ll get lucky on the next game,” Erin said. “Or maybe not.”
Finn gave them a run for their money on their third game, because he wasn’t a slouch, either. Neither was Jason. They were all pretty evenly matched.
In the end, Finn won that game. He turned and gave Brenna a smile.
“Good game,” she said.
“I’m out.” Erin put up her cue. “I’m tired and I need to go get the dogs.”
“We’ll go,” Honor said.
“No need,” Jason said. “I’ll drive her back to the house to get the dogs.”
“You sure?” Brenna asked.
“Hey, I have to follow my lady home and make sure she gets there safely.”
Erin rolled her eyes, but leaned against Jason. “Unnecessary, but thanks.”
Clay left, too, leaving just Honor, Owen, Brenna and Finn. They ended up grabbing drinks and sitting at a table.
“How’s your energy level, Owen?” Honor asked.
“Better now than it was at the beginning of treatment. I’m back at the brewery and, other than appreciating naps more now than I ever have before, I’ve been getting my stamina back.”
“Hey, never discount a nap,” Honor said. “They’re good for you.”
“Trust me, I listen to my body now. And I’ll feel even better when the chemo is done with. My numbers have looked really good, so I’m hoping I’m reaching the last of the treatments.”
“We all hope that,” Brenna said.
Honor looked over at Brenna and Finn. “We should hit up the Screaming Hawk now that Owen is back to work.”
“I’m always down for beer,” Finn said.
Brenna nodded. “I like beer.”
“Great. We’ll make a plan and do it.”
“I’d love to see you there. I’ve . . . missed my friends.”
“Hey, you’re still our friend and that’s not going to change,” Honor said.
“Thanks. I know that, but I’m trying to stay out of the way. Jason and Erin need their time together.”
Brenna couldn’t imagine how awkward it must be for Owen. His breakup with Erin meant also breaking up with a family he’d been a part of since they were children. And with his cancer treatments, they hadn’t seen much of him lately.
She didn’t envy his position.
“We’re Erin’s sisters,” Brenna said. “We’ll always be there for her. But we’re your friends and that isn’t going to change, Owen.”