Calla and Trey bring out five different appetizers from the new menu she is working on, while Adam and I prepare a round table for the poker game. Adam’s lead bartender, Tom, and Forest pull up chairs from other tables nearby. A knock on the front door has Adam jogging over to unlock the door to let Rex in.

“Hey Rex. What’s in the case?” Adam asks as he holds the door open then closes it behind Rex.

“Two new beers I want you guys to try. They’re from our friends over at the Brewtorium Brewery.”

“They have cans now?”

“No, I have a few growlers with their new batches of Dunkelweizen and Electric Lederhosen.” Rex shifts the box slightly as he heads toward the tables of food.

“Nice. We need to visit them soon to see what’s new and have a good meal we don’t have to cook,” Trey adds as he places the two appetizers he is carrying down.

“Calla, do you remember how to play Texas Hold 'Em?” I chuckle as I steal a few zucchini fries off the plate she is holding.

Strangled half-coughs, half-laughs fill the room from our friends before everyone takes their seats, and I begin dealing cards.

“Smart ass.” Calla flips me off.

Rex leans toward Trey. “So, our Calla’s back? I wasn’t sure the other night. It’s good to see her spunk again. Has she started dating yet, or just fucking?”

I eye them both as I tap the table with the cards.

Trey’s eyebrows rise. “Don't even think about it. You know how Wes feels about her.”

“He needs to shit, or get his ass of the pot. Besides, even if I wanted to do anything, it would only be to make Wes get off his ass. I have my eye on someone, but she’s….” Rex trails off, picking up his cards.

“Fucker,” I murmur, turning over the first two cards.

Rex smirks at me.

Trey glances at the cards in his hand. “Let me guess, the pretty spitfire that was behind the bar?”

Rex nods.

“Who needs new cards?” I call out. “And will someone pour me a beer, for fuck’s sake? With these two clowns next to me, I’m going to need more than one.”

Adam laughs but gets out of his chair. “I don’t need any cards, so I’ll pour.”

“Thank you.” I send him a chin-nod.

“So what’s been going on over here? I don’t get to hear the gossip anymore.” Rex takes his cup from Adam and passes two cards back to me.

“Ugh,” Calla groans and passes three cards back to me. I hand her new ones, and she continues, “You’ll love this. Torrance came by last night and wants to use Belladonna for his wedding rehearsal dinner.”

Rex’s mouth drops open. “You’re fucking kidding me, right?” Calla and Adam both shake their heads. “He really is fucking nuts. Why didn’t you cut off his balls the night you found him cheating?” She fidgets under Rex’s penetrating gaze.

Why does she get twitchy when he makes comments like that?

“I was in shock. In hindsight, I probably should’ve,” she replies. “Fold.” She tosses her cards in my direction.

The game continues around the table with, “raise,” or, “call,” following. Calla scoots back from the table and stands. She stretches her arms above her head, forcing her shirt to rise at her waist. I focus on the pale blue stone that is just visible above her jeans. If memory serves, it’s the same stone I bought for her the night she had the piercing done. Just the thought of it being the same jewelry has my chest warming.

“Wes, weren’t you saying something about a guy answering Calla’s phone this morning?” Trey asks, folding at his turn.

I glare at him as Calla moves to the table with food on it.

“Sorry about that,” she remarks, her back still to the table. “Max decided it was okay to answer it. Needless to say, we had it out, and Max will no longer be at my place. It was fun while it lasted, but I’m not up for someone I just started seeing answering my phone. I don’t know what the hell he was thinking.”

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding and say a silent, ‘thank you,’ to whoever is in my corner when it comes to Calla. We finish the hand, and Rex wins the pot, pulling the money to him. I deal the next hand as she sets her plate down.

“Anyone need a plate while I’m up?” she offers.

“Can you get me one, please?” I respond.

“Sure. Anyone else?”

No one says anything, but the guys get up and grab their own plates. Trey places a plate with barely anything on it in front of me.

“What the hell? Two chips? Really?”

Everyone but Calla takes their seats and starts laughing. Her back is shaking as she laughs, still moving around the food table. When she turns, the plate in her hand is filled with a few of each appetizer. She passes the plate in my direction, but when it reaches Trey’s hands, he holds onto it for a few moments, acting like he is not going to pass it over.

“Give it to me, asshole,” I grumble.

“Touchy.”

“I think I want one of these.” Rex plucks one of the shrimp from my plate.

I glare at Trey and Rex as I grab for the plate. They decide to play keep away, teasing me with it. I growl and shuffle the deck. As I pass two cards to everyone, Rex places the still-full plate next to me. Laughter fills the room, and the second game gets under way. Trey adds his bet , Adam counters, and Calla calls, but the game continues a few more rounds.

Forest checks his watch. “Y’all, I can do one more round then I need to head out. I’m not sure what time Hallie’s parents want to drop Ella off, but I’d like to be home before it’s time for her to go to bed.”

The next round takes a little longer, but in the end, Rex wins that pot, as well.

“I’m out,” Forest calls as he scoots his chair back and stands. “Thanks, y’all. Are we playing next Sunday?”

“Yep. If you bring Ella to work with you, we can play earlier while she’s here,” I suggest, and everyone nods in agreement.

“Works for me.” Forest walks over to the snack table and pops one of the drunken shrimp in his mouth.

“Take some food with you,” Calla yawns and tosses her cards at me.

She rises out of her chair and heads into the kitchen.

“Let’s just call it a night. Wes, do you need a couch for tonight?” Adam asks, handing me his cards.

“You can have mine if you’d like,” Trey offers.

“Actually, I do need to talk to y’all about that. I took my name off the lease, and I’m letting Zoe deal with the payment. She has more shit than I do, and honestly, I really didn’t want to be in that place. It was where Zoe wanted to live, not me. I wanted in Calla’s building.”

“Just let me know if you head our way,” Adam says as his phone buzzes, and his focus shifts.

Calla comes back to the table with food wrapped up and hands it to Forest. He says his goodbyes and heads home, Adam following to let him out.

“Did I hear you right? You’re going to move out and let Zoe have your apartment?” she questions, pivoting to face me and leaning into the table behind her.

“Yes. It will also make it so she can’t just stop by unannounced.” I gather all the cards off the table and place them in the case.

“I would say check my building, but we saw how she was able to sneak up to my place the other day.” Calla crosses her arms over her chest.

“How the fuck is that even possible?” Rex asks.

“Not sure,” she replies, pushing off the table and moving to begin cleaning up.

Trey and Rex point over to the growlers and gesture for me to move in that direction.

“This is your in, man. See if Calla will let you stay with her, so you can check out her building,” Trey urges.

“Trey has a point. It’s time to get off your ass, and this is the perfect time to do it,” Rex adds as he pours the last of the beer in the glasses. “Not to change the subject, but this is some damn fine beer.”

“Agreed,” Trey and I say at the same time.

“Hey! You fuckers want to help? I’m not your mother, so get your asses over here. Take leftovers, and leave me a little of the beer,” Calla calls over to us.

Adam joins our group and grabs Trey’s glass, taking a sip.

“What the hell?” Trey’s brows pinch together.

“You didn’t give me any, and I wanted a drink.”

“Where’s mine?” Calla asks, turning around with her hands full of plates and leftover food.

“You can share mine. Come on. I’ll help you in the kitchen,” I tell her and follow behind.

“We’ll be right here,” Trey raises his voice after us.

Together, Calla and I wrap up the leftovers from the dining room, and the little that remains in the kitchen. I take one more drink and pass her the beer. She takes a long pull of the beer and hands over the glass and plates.

“Why don’t you stick these in the dishwasher and run it? Then ask me whatever it is you need to ask,” Calla says, pushing the food over and popping up onto the counter.

“You know, sometimes I hate that you know me so well.” I walk over to the dishwasher, load the dishes, and push the rack in. “Since I’m interested in getting a place in your building, can I crash in your spare room for a few days to check the place out?”

“Sure. Why didn’t you ask a few days ago? I honestly thought you would after Zoe came to my place.”

“Because I’m a fucking idiot.” I shake my head as she laughs.

“You can say that again. Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

We exit the kitchen and gather our things. The whole group finishes cleaning the dining room, so we don't piss off Nessa come Tuesday afternoon, before leaving for the night.