both look to where Low and Raven have her surrounded. I know what he meant. It’s only been six months since my sister passed away, and it feels like six minutes. Emilia and Lex were friends once, and I took down that relationship when I took down my own.
Levi comes up and slaps a hand over my shoulder. “What’s going on? Low practically gave me the finger when I tried to intervene. She said you were responsible for this.” He smacks his lips with disappointment. “You do realize that hitting on your ex is only going to enrage her and make things worse.” He gives a subtle wink. Levi thinks there’s a modicum of hope for Lex and me to get back together. I’d hate to break it to his optimistic new and improved self, but Lex and I are irreparable—a broken mirror with too many shards lying around to ever be safe. Who the hell could ever fashion that back together? Hell, I bled out from the simple act of handing her this olive branch—if you consider spotty employment at a restaurant a peace offering.
Brody leans in, that stern as heck look on his face. “Axel here just offered his ex a job. It looks like that waitress position we were in need of was just filled. She starts scaring off customers as early as tomorrow night. So much for getting out of the red.”
“She’ll behave.” I hear myself say the words, but I shake my head as if to refute the idea at the very same time.
“You gave her a job?” Levi winces over at the girls still huddled in an estrogen mass. “Thanks for the heads-up. I’m coming in with a helmet tomorrow night.” He offers a solid sock to my arm. “Let me guess. You’re about to start haunting this place on the regular yourself?”
I think on this for a minute. I’ve been at the office almost twelve hours a day for the last six months straight. Emilia’s death threw my father headfirst into his work, expanding his law firm, expanding his business reach as far as his leveraging powers would allow, and it’s all I can do to keep up with him.
I blow out a breath in lieu of words. Damn. There’s no way I can maintain my workload and have enough waking hours left over to haunt any establishment, let alone this one.
“Relax. I’m kidding.” Levi butts his shoulder to mine. “I know she’ll go nuclear if you’re in the vicinity. If she really needs the gig, then do everyone a favor and steer clear.” He offers up a quick slap over my back just as his twin, Chip, calls everyone’s attention for a quick toast to the happy couple. Ironic that Chip of all people is even allowed to speak at tonight’s event, considering the fact he bedded and fathered a child with Levi’s ex-wife while they were still legally married. Yes, Levi has been through the proverbial wringer.
I glance to Lex and our eyes lock once again, mine with longing and hers with the threat of an evisceration. Yes, it’s safe to say I’m about to go through the wringer myself as if the first time wasn’t bad enough.
“Hey, man.” Brody shakes his head at me with pity. “Don’t you worry. I’ll take her under my wing and make sure she’s all right. You do your thing at the office. I’ll keep an eye on her here.”
It takes everything in me not to clock him because, for one, I know Brody Wolf all too well to decode that frat speak he just emitted. And two, he’s delusional enough to believe he could actually accomplish his mission.
“She’s not like that. I’d threaten your balls for even hinting at the idea of sleeping with her, but Lex can take care of herself. If you’re a soprano the next time I see you, I’ll know why and I’ll laugh about it, too.”
“Very funny.” His features grow dark at the thought of his low hanging fruit getting plucked unceremoniously by my ex.
We glance back to the bar and catch Lex taking off like a bat readying to dive back into her cave before the sun scorches her delicate skin. And dear God, how I miss that delicate skin.
“And there she goes. Damn, she’s got a nice ass on her.” Brody shakes his head as she sashays out the door.
“That she does.” I can’t take my eyes off the void she left in her wake. I’ve missed