Chapter 4

Anthony

“Seriously?” I ask looking up at the half-lit neon sign. “The Tiki Tavern? This is the best bar in Sugar Land?”

“It’s more about the company than the ambiance,” Dave assures me.

The dive bar on the outskirts of my new city isn’t exactly what I had in mind when Dave, a guy from work, invited me out for the night. Since he’s the only friend I’ve made so far, I wasn’t in a position to be picky at the offer.

“Hot chicks then?” Smiling when his brows draw in, I follow him through the front door. I shrug at his scowl because it seemed like a dude thing to say, and after last night at the office, I need something to take the edge off.

“Some of the hottest,” he yells over his shoulder as he cuts a path through the surprisingly thick crowd. “You’ll love the guys and Andi, too.”

Confused, I look down at my white button-down and khakis. I stripped the tie as soon as the clock hit five, but nothing about my appearance even suggests that I’m into guys. In an attempt to seem more masculine, I roll my long sleeves up higher on my forearms. In my experience, women go bat-shit for arms these days.

“There they are,” Dave hollers over the loud music and laughing people surrounding us. With his arm high over his head, he points to a table in the corner.

The bar is so packed, I can’t even tell where ‘his group’ starts and the general crowd ends.

Stepping to his side when he stops, I feel comfortable immediately. Two guys and a gorgeous chick surround a high-top table. Drinks are flowing, and everyone is either smiling or looking at me with genuine hospitality. I know immediately what Dave meant by the company making it the best bar in town.

I only let my eyes drift over the auburn-haired woman when a gasp to the right draws my eyes, and fuck my life right now. This can’t be happening.

Joey, the very reason my dick is raw right now, is sitting there beside the pretty girl. He catches his gasp without drawing too much attention and schools his face to one of nonchalance before turning his attention and continuing his conversation with the only girl at the table.

A slap to my back draws my eyes away only seconds before my shock turns from general observation to full-on creeper mode.

“Anthony, this is Jon.”

I take the tall guy’s hand and introduce myself. “Anthony White.”

“Jonathan Snow,” he says with a manly yet congenial handshake.

“Jonathan Snow, as in—”

He grins with a sigh. “Leave the Game of Thrones jokes to George R. R. Martin, and we can be friends.”

“You got it.”

After releasing my hand, he turns in the direction of the group and begins to point to the others.

“You know Dave’s stupid ass. That skinny-fucker, sitting beside my brother Joey and staring at Andi’s tits, is Cooper.” Cooper raises his hand as he’s introduced. I wave at him since he’s too far away for a proper handshake.

“I’m not looking at her tits,” Cooper assures Jon. It’s clear from the get-go that Jon is the leader of the pack.

Brother? Well, hell. That’s even worse.

“Save it,” Jon teases, but the hint of warning is clear to anyone paying attention.

“Joey and Andi,” Jon introduces as he points first to his brother and then to the woman in the group. “Fresh meat, Joey.”

Now Dave’s comment earlier makes perfect sense. A girl with a guy name? I love it, but fresh meat? I have no damn clue what Jon means.

I wave again, slightly uncomfortable when they gawk at me with obvious perusal.

Both of them.

I don’t worry about Andi. Clearly, she’s spoken for, but the blatant way Joey is looking me up and down is rather uncomfortable considering not one of these guys know a damn thing about me.

“This is Anthony White. He works with Dave,” Jon says before turning to grab a waitress’ attention before she disappears into the crowd. “Beer, Anthony?”

“Sure,” I answer. “Whatever you guys are drinking is fine.”

“Cool. Joey? Andi? Refill?” They both nod excitedly as he lists the order to the waitress.

Before long, the beers are flowing at an astounding rate, and I’ve caught up with the other guys.

“Anthony played ball in college,” Dave informs the group, recalling information I gave him during a quick lunch break earlier in the week.

All of the guys’ attention turns in my direction. Andi huffs while Joey rolls his eyes. It seems baseball talk isn’t high on their priority list.

“Here we go,” Joey groans.

“That’s our cue,” Andi agrees.

Without another word, they both shift around Cooper, intentions of finding somewhere else to be very clear.

Andi stops beside Jon, a coy smile playing on her lips as she runs a finger down his arm. “Wanna dance, baby?”

“Stop, Crazy.” Jon swipes at her hand until she pulls it away, but the playful look on his face means he’s not completely serious.

“Your loss,” she says energetically as if they play this game all of the time.

Andi catches up with Joey, and they both turn to head into the crowd on the dance floor. I’m mesmerized by the way Joey’s jeans cling to his muscular ass.

“Don’t,” Dave warns. “She’s off-limits.”

Sighing in relief, I’m grateful that I wasn’t caught staring at Joey’s ass.

“Not baseball fans?” I ask shifting my eyes back to the guys and Joey is swallowed up by a throng of people.

“They never miss a game. Favorite team?” Jon asks directing my attention from his brother and back to the greatest game in the world. It’s perfectly fine with me. I can talk baseball all day.

“Astros,” I answer immediately. “Is there any other team?”

“Because they won the Series?” Jon challenges.

“There’s no place like home,” I assure him before tilting my own beer to my lips.

Nods of approval from everyone at the table, and just like that I’m welcomed seamlessly into the group.

Of course, the conversation would shift to baseball. It’s the middle of July, and the All-Star game is next weekend.

Before long, the conversation turns from stats and projections for the postseason to the more heated debate on specific players. Everyone has their favorites, and just because a group of guys can all agree that the Astros are the greatest team around, they’re player loyal to a fault.

“I’m telling you,” Cooper says leaning back and crossing his arms over his chest. “Keuchel is where it’s at this year.”

“Fuck that,” Jon growls. “You have to have hair on your fucking chest before you even get a vote.”

I grin when Cooper only rolls his eyes at the outburst and insult.

“You need your head checked,” Dave adds. “Verlander can’t be beaten.”

Jon nods in agreement.

“What do you think, Anthony?” Cooper pleads with his eyes.

I think I should be out on the dance floor posing as the pole for the almost stripper routine I caught Joey doing a couple of minutes ago from the corner of my eye.

“Yeah, Anthony?” Dave nudges my shoulder. “Settle the debate.”

I freeze. “Umm, well. I think they’re both incredibly talented.”

Jon’s eyes are challenging, and I can’t decide which way I need to go to appease the group alpha. Worst yet, I can’t understand why I even care what he thinks, but then the pull of denim across his brother’s ass reminds me that being around them is exactly where I want to be.

“Very diplomatic answer, Anthony, but you have to choose.”

Yep, a clear challenge from Jon.

“Okay,” I say with a smile. “I have to agree with Cooper.”

Cooper hoots, waving his arms in the air, making him look even younger.

“But only because Verlander loses a few points in my book because he was recently traded from Detroit.”

“Yes!” Cooper screams again. “He doesn’t even have a full year with the Astros under his belt.”

“Sound reasoning,” Dave agrees.

The guys’ attention is quickly pulled from ball-talk to a group of women that walk by with enough sway in their hips to hypnotize every one of them.

I use the reprieve to turn to Dave. “What did Jon mean by fresh meat?”

He smiles widely, angling his head toward the crowd. Andi and Joey are dancing together, not in an overtly provocative way, but that still doesn’t keep my mouth from watering.

Are they together? Was that the reason behind Dave’s warning?

“Joey breaks in all the guys when they’re new to the group.”

I snap my head back in his direction. “You mean—?”

“Fuck no, dude. You’re not homophobic are you?” He looks disgusted until I shake my head no. His smile returns and I feel like I’ve just sat down for a test. “Joey’s something else. You’ll see soon enough.”