Her scowl grew deeper. “None of your business. You related to him?” She jerked a thumb at Cal.
“Yep. He’s my brother. But you’ll like me better.”
Cal smothered a snort at Dalton’s smooth lines. His charm was epic, but this woman only looked annoyed. “I don’t like either of you. Keys.”
Surprise shot over his face. Dalton wasn’t used to women ignoring him. Cal raised his glass in another salute to Hot Girl’s prickly attitude. “She don’t like you, Dalton. Deal with it.”
Dalton handed over his keys and smirked. “Give me some time, dude.”
The bartender slid over a bottle and a shot glass, then poured them both a glass of water. “No attitude or puking in my bar,” she warned. Then floated over to her other customers while Dalton watched her like a wolf on a starvation diet.
Cal rolled his eyes. “Really? Do you have to bang every girl you ever meet?”
Dalton poured a shot and tipped it back. “Nah, just ninety-five percent.”
“How’d you find me?”
Dalton shook his head. Some of the sarcasm drifted away. “Wasn’t trying. Just needed a place to drink and get through the rest of the night.”
“Yeah, me too.” They sat in silence for a while, listening to the soothing sounds of a bar crowd. “It never gets easier. Does it?”
“Nope.”
“Is it worse being here? Where it happened?”
Dalton peered into his shot glass like it held the answers. “Nope. I was halfway across the country, and I still kept seeing her face in that fucking coffin, while Dad pretended he didn’t give a shit she was gone.”
“Yeah.”
They drank. Cal admitted the presence of his brother next to him eased the tightness a little. Usually it was only him and the demons. Having somebody who understood gave some comfort.
“Where do you think Tristan went tonight?” Dalton asked.
A voice rang out. “Right here with you boneheads.”
Cal swiveled his head around. Tristan stood by the door, glaring at them as if they’d taken his own personal bar space. He shook his head in pure disgust and sat down on the third stool. “Out of all the bars in all the world, you have to be in mine.”
“This is kinda weird,” Dalton announced. “Did you know we’d be here?”
Tristan snorted. “No, I thought I was being smart by coming here. Thought I wouldn’t see anyone. I’m in a shit mood.”
“Join the Jack club,” Cal said.
Hot Girl came over and wrinkled her nose in disdain. “Don’t even tell me you know these two.”
Tristan gave a polite smile. “They’re my brothers. I’ll have what they’re having.”
The bartender scowled. “I don’t have another bottle of Jack. You’ll have to share.” She slid a shot glass over and put out her hand. “I need your keys.”
“I don’t drive intoxicated,” Tristan said.
“And I don’t care. Give me your keys.”
Dalton grinned. “You are really hot.”
“And you’re not.”
Cal and Tristan gave a hoot of laughter. The keys dropped in her outstretched hand and she added them to her famous glass jar. “Your brothers will tell you the rules.” She turned and dismissed them with a shake of her long hair.
Tristan leaned over. “What rules?”
“No fighting or puking,” Cal said. “Or she’ll kick our asses.”
Dalton stared at her. “That would be one delicious ass kicking.”
Tristan poured himself a shot glass and sipped.
“Thought you were more of a vino guy,” Cal commented.
Tristan turned. His amber eyes brimmed with emotion and demons. “Not today.”
They all nodded in agreement. And drank.
Cal wasn’t sure how much time passed before the silence was broken. It was as if by sharing the evening together, and the memories, the brick barrier between them began to soften and liquify. It also helped that they began to pass tipsy and hit the outside barrier of intoxication.
“Do you really think I’m like Dad?” Cal asked.
His brothers shared a meaningful look. Tristan finally spoke up. “Dad understood you the best, Cal. It was harder for Dalton and me to break into the secret club, and it seemed to get worse. Are you like Dad in a lot of ways? Yes. But you’re not cold. You’re a pain in the ass but not an asshole. Make sense?”
Actually, it did. Cal rolled the words over in his head. “I think you two were Mom’s favorites,” he said. “Dalton was the baby she doted on. And you, Tristan? She was always talking about how you reminded her of Great-Grandpa. Said you have vision and think outside the box.”