“What happened?” Rory asked, climbing to his feet as well.
“One of my bartenders didn’t show up. The others were trying to muscle through, but it looks like several large groups have come in from some convention downtown so I need to go.”
“Do you want me to drive you? You were just—”
“No, thank you.” Magnus shook his head, shrugging into his coat. “I’m fine.”
“Magnus.” Dagen looked over at his brother, standing up before settling a sleeping Ollie back in the chair. “Are you sure?”
Pasting on a smile Rory knew was fake, Magnus nodded. “I’m sure. Just one of the joys of being a business owner. You guys enjoy the rest of your night.” His eyes moved over all of them, pausing for just a moment when they landed on Rory’s. “See you.” Then he slipped out the door.
Chapter Four
Rory hunched up his shoulders, using the collar of his coat to shield his ears from the frigid wind and pulled open the door of Viridian, hoping Magnus wouldn’t get angry at him for this. He figured as long as he was a paying customer there wasn’t really room for Magnus to complain, but Rory assumed he’d see right through that rouse. He did want a beer, that much was true, but he wanted to check on Magnus more.
The heavy wooden door slid open, letting him into the darkened foyer of the bar with its neon green tube lights snaking around the ceiling and bulky doorman checking IDs. He was wearing the usual attire for club employees—a dark green button-down shirt with black slacks. The high and tight haircut made Rory think he was former military. The man gave him a nod after glancing at Rory’s driver’s license, ushering him through and into the club proper.
A pulsing bass rhythm slammed into him the moment he stepped inside. It seemed the DJ had queued up a club favorite, and everyone was on their feet, jumping or grinding on their dance partner. Letting his eyes adjust to the dim light, he walked in the direction of the bar. He spotted Magnus quickly, moving fast from customer to drink station and back again. Whoever had called Magnus hadn’t been kidding about being busy. The bar was stacked three deep at least, and Rory could only see two others besides Magnus making drinks.
Biting his lip and wondering if he’d be welcome, then promptly deciding he didn’t care, he’d come to help and that’s what he was going to do. He strode down to where he’d seen Magnus lift up a small section of the bar to be able to pass through and out into the club. Feeling beneath the bar top to find the latch, he lifted it up just as Magnus turned from greeting his next customer, and their eyes met and held.
“What are you doing?” Magnus asked, looking confused and mostly put together for the rapid pace he was working, and not at all like the sleepy Magnus who’d been pressed against Rory’s side not two hours ago.
Rory wove his way past the other two bartenders to stop just in front of Magnus. “Put me to work.” It wasn’t what he wanted to say. He wanted to say that he’d needed to see with his own eyes that Magnus had made it here safely. That he’d enjoyed the few hours they’d spent unpacking Dagen and Ollie’s belongings side by side. Enjoyed the bits of conversation and just being with Magnus when they weren’t bogged down in awkwardness or anger. He didn’t want it to end.
Magnus seemed stupefied for a moment and on the verge of arguing the next when several more shouts for a bartender went up and he shook himself. Grabbing a clear blue bucket from the counter, Magnus thrust it at him. “Go to the back and fill this with ice. You can leave your coat back there. Dump that in the bin here, then get two cases of Bud Light bottles out of the cooler in the stockroom. Here.” Magnus dug a set of keys out of his pocket, separated out the one he needed, then handed them to Rory. “That’ll open the cooler door.”
Rory grabbed the bucket and the keys with a nod and headed for the back to get the things Magnus had asked for.
Holy shit. Rory was there. Not that Rory being there was a wholly new experience, but he was normally camped on the other side of the bar. Now, he was keeping the ice bin full, restocking the beer cooler, and had just tapped yet another keg. Rory kept close to him, but he ran and grabbed things from the stockroom for the other bartenders, too, picking up the rhythm of being behind the bar and moving in tandem with Magnus liked they’d done this a million times.
Magnus loved it. Loved the way his and Rory’s eyes would catch and hold for just a moment, the smallest smile pulling at his lips. He was aware of Rory in a way that he wasn’t with any other person, and he knew Rory must feel the same. It showed in the way they moved together and how Rory anticipated what he needed before he even had to ask. Time flew by in a rush of beer foam and lime wedges until Magnus turned back to take the next order only to find no one waiting with money in hand. There were a few people still lingering at the bar, but most had moved on to fill the booths and other tables leading to the dance floor where the DJ and dancers were entertaining the late late crowd.
“I don’t know how you do this every night,” Rory said from beside him, setting the case of beer he’d just gone to get on the counter by the beer cooler. “I was only playing barback and I’m exhausted.”
Magnus chuckled, but stopped when a loud crash sounded from the other side of the bar. Two men were locked in a struggle, one had his hands fisted in the front of the other’s shirt, while that one attempted to punch the other. They’d knocked over a chair, and people were jumping up from their seats trying not to get caught in the scuffle.
“Shit,” Rory said, moving like he was heading to the bar pass, before the one man still holding the other’s shirt pushed his opponent forcibly back causing him to back pedal until his back hit the bar just across from where Magnus was standing.
In a flash, Rory stepped in front of him, a hand reached behind him and touching Magnus’s hip as if telling him to stay. He should probably be annoyed, but little slivers of warmth were squirming through his heart at the gesture. The bouncers on duty that night were already moving in to get the situation under control, and the head bouncer, Evan, nodded at Magnus as he and another bouncer escorted the men who’d been fighting outside. A couple servers quickly swooped in as soon as the coast was clear and righted the overturned chairs. Thankfully, it looked like there wasn’t any broken drink glasses or bottles to clean up this time.
“First fight of the night,” Magnus mused, noting the time on his watch. “Getting started late for once.”
“That happen a lot?” Rory asked only half turning his face toward Magnus so he could still keep the bouncers with their quarry in sight as they made their way to door. It reminded Magnus of Vidar, who was always vigilant, but also of about a thousand other times that Rory had put himself between Magnus and danger of some kind—spiders, bullies, and on occasion, Magnus’s own brothers when Rory thought they were getting too rough.
“More often than not lately. They say people fight more in the summer, the heat jacking up emotions and all, but honestly, we’ve had more fights in the last month then we had all last year.”
“What’s your theory, then? Holiday depression?”
“Boredom.”
Rory chuckled, but nodded. “All right boss. What’s next?”
Magnus’s breath caught at the look Rory gave as those words came out of his mouth. There was mirth still lingering, but a heat as well. One Magnus hadn’t seen in years. “I think you’ve earned yourself a beer at least.”
Rory frowned. “Don’t we need to clean up? I mean, it would be a right mess back here if I’d had to make the drinks, but we still-”
“Rory,” Magnus cut him off and tried to think of a way to say what he needed to without sounding ungrateful. “It was...amazing of you to do this, but really, the hard part is over. Have a beer or whatever you’d like.”
“Whatever I’d like?” Rory raised a brow.
Magnus narrowed his eyes, but his stomach was full of flutters. He knew that look. “Yes...within reason.”
“You always have to tack that on there…” Rory mused. “I’ll take a beer if you’ll
have one with me.”
Magnus opened his mouth to protest, mostly out of habit, because honestly, having a beer with Rory sounded fantastic, but Rory beat him to the punch.
“Don’t tell me you can’t stop for a few minutes.” He glanced around. “Things are winding down. Let’s have a beer.”
Magnus pursed his lips. “Okay.”
“Okay?” Rory asked like he’d been expecting more of a fight.
“Okay. What are you drinking?”
“Whatever’s cold,” Rory said, still eyeing him with suspicion.
“That works.” Magnus reached into the cooler behind him and grabbed two bottles. “Come on.”
Leading them through the door to the back, Magnus walked down the hall past the store and break rooms until he reached his office door. He had a moment of panic when he didn’t feel his keys in his pocket until Rory held them out with a little jingle. Magnus smirked, taking the keys and unlocking the door before flipping on the light and leading Rory inside.
“Welcome to the luxury that is a club owner’s office,” Magnus said, fake awe in his voice and arms held wide. It wasn’t a terrible office, he supposed, for a space no bigger than the average walk-in closest. His desk was off to one side and stacked with papers and mail that he hadn’t had the time to sort through the day before. Settling onto one end of the leather couch that took up the wall opposite his desk, he motioned for Rory to join him.
“I really do appreciate you coming to help tonight.”
Rory shrugged, taking a pull from his beer. “It’s not a big deal.”
Magnus looked down at his own bottle and took a deep breath. “It kind of is, though....considering how weird things have been since September. I mean I know we had a good day today....”
“I’d like to have more of them.” Rory was looking at him now. Blue green eyes boring into his. “Good days, I mean. I don’t want things to be weird anymore, Magnus.”
Magnus nodded. “I’d like that.” He held out his bottle toward Rory. “To good days.”
Rory smiled and Magnus swore he looked relieved as he clinked their bottles together. “To good days.”
Chapter Five
Magnus hefted the case of beer onto the counter next to the cooler behind the bar. It had been a week since his most dependable bartender, formerly most dependable he thought bitterly, had been a no call, no show for his Saturday night shift. His assistant manager, Chelsea, had done exactly what she should do by calling him, and he’d spent every night since, except for Sunday when Viridian was closed, behind the bar.
He tried not to think about last Saturday night. He’d worked so much the week before, and then after moving and unpacking all day, he hadn’t been able to muster the energy to keep from touching Rory. From leaning on him. He was just so big and warm and he smelled like...home. And then Rory had shown up at the bar and basically saved the day. Magnus sighed. He hadn’t seen or spoken to Rory all week. Which was perfectly normal, but he’d still harbored a foolish hope that he’d look up from behind the bar one night to find those eyes watching him. That mouth pulled into a warm grin. It didn’t make sense to want things like that. No matter how friendly they’d been the last couple of times they’d seen each other, nothing had really changed. They’d simply found some even footing.
Shaking his head, he started pulling bottles out of the case and lining the bottom of the open top cooler. He’d fill it with beer, then dump buckets of ice on top of the bottles from the machine in the back. It was a never-ending cycle. Stock the bar. Serve drinks. Rinse and repeat. He took some solace in the mindless repetition of it. He didn’t want to think about what would happen if he kept losing employees faster than he could train new ones. Hell, if he could even find new ones.
Luca walked out of the back, a case of beer in his hands, and started to unload the bottles into the cooler alongside Magnus.
“You and Niko enjoying having the apartment to yourselves?” Magnus asked, glancing at Luca before grabbing more bottles. He was cute as a button, just like Niko with his dark hair and eyes, but quieter. More reserved. It was obvious, at least to Magnus, that something had happened to Luca. He didn’t know exactly what situation Rory and Vidar had saved him from, but Luca seemed grateful in his quiet way.
Luca nodded. “It’s been good. I didn’t mind living with Dagen and Ollie, though.” He chewed his bottom lip for a moment. “They’ve been nice to me.”
Magnus’s heart broke a little at the way he said it. Like it was a gift. It made Magnus want to wrap him up and keep him safe forever. He knew each of his brothers felt the same way. Even Vidar. Although his version involved less active familial affection and more standing sentinel against all danger. Vidar kept a certain distance from people, even family, that was as of yet an impossible bridge to cross. No one in all the years since they’d been teenagers had managed it. Magnus understood the reasons. He really did. He’d been there for the catalyst the day Stella left their father after all, but he wished those wounds would find a way to heal.
“Magnus?”
Luca’s voice pulled him out of his trance and he met his dark eyes. “Sorry, what did you say?”
“It’s okay.” Luca had finished emptying the case he was working on and stood, breaking the box down for recycling. “I just asked if you’d heard from Tom at all since last week.”
“Sadly, no. I tried to call him in case some sort of emergency had come up, but he hasn’t returned my call. I’m hoping he’s okay, but I have to assume that he decided to quit.”
“That sucks. I liked working with him.” When Magnus’s case was empty, too, Luca grabbed it and broke it down like he’d done to his own. He’d turned out to be a truly hard worker, and he learned fast. He didn’t want to be a bartender, though. People tended to overwhelm him, but he was an excellent barback. He and Niko both were welcome additions to the club. Niko even had regulars who came just to see him dance.
“I liked working with him, too.” Magnus took a deep breath and stretched his shoulders. He didn’t need to get bogged down with all these heavy thoughts so early in the afternoon. They opened for business in a couple of hours, and he needed to get his energy up and put a smile on his face. The employees he had, he intended to keep, and he wouldn’t let them see the staffing situation bringing him down. “Now, come on. Let’s finish getting these coolers stocked so we can have some dinner before the doors open.”
Rory lifted the tail of his shirt and wiped the sweat off his forehead. The gym’s closing time was creeping up and honestly, he should already be home, but the thought of heading to his empty house sent a dull ache through his gut. Instead of doing what he really wanted, he’d thrown on a pair four-ounce fight gloves and wailed on the heavy bag until his arms were jello and his head was clear. For a few minutes anyway.
He hadn’t seen Magnus in a week, and it was killing him. There was something still there between them, he could feel it, but hell if he knew what to do about it. Things were so different now, and they’d only just gotten back on speaking terms. He couldn’t believe Magnus had accepted his apology. The things he’d said when Magnus moved back from California and Rory had seen him for the first time since finding out he’d gotten into porn...he couldn’t even think about them without bile rising up the back of his throat. He was ashamed of the way he’d acted, and such a hypocrite, because if anyone else spoke to Magnus like that Rory would flat lay them out. No questions asked.
He punched the bag again, relishing the impact and vibration it sent into his already worn out muscles. He was going to hate himself tomorrow.
“You almost done?” Vidar asked, walking into the heavy bag area. He’d changed out of his Rourke MMA t-shirt and track pants and into a pair of dark jeans and a black Henley shirt that stretched over the broad expanse of his shoulders and molded to the muscles in his chest and arms. His blond hair was styled back off his forehead, and Rory would swear his beard was freshly trimmed.
He lifted a brow at his oldest friend. �
��You got somewhere to be? I can lock up.”
Vidar uncrossed his arms and looked vaguely uncomfortable for a moment before clearing his throat. “Actually, I was planning to head to Viridian for a beer. Wanna join me?”
Now, Rory’s eyes narrowed. Vidar had been avoiding Magnus’s club like the plague since December, which was coincidentally when Niko started dancing there. Not full-on stripping, but go-go dancing, even though Rory had gotten a good look at Niko’s ass in a jock strap the last time he’d been to the club. Niko was a hell of a dancer, and Rory was only human.
“Feel like dancing, do you?” Rory asked, pulling at the Velcro straps on his gloves and slipping them off his hands.
“Fuck off. You know I don’t dance. I need a drink, and I want to check on Magnus.”
That had Rory’s attention. “What’s wrong with Magnus?”
Now it was Vidar’s turn to raise an eyebrow. “He’s fine, I think. But Mom is worried about him and afraid he won’t tell us if he needs help.”
“Ah, put you to task has she.” When Vidar didn’t respond, Rory took a slow drink from his water bottle and watched him closely. “Accepting said task wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain budding tattoo artist, would it? I mean, it’s not like Dagen couldn’t go to the club. He and Ollie are regulars, I think.”
Vidar’s stare was like ice, but Rory was mostly immune at this point. They could both be stubborn as mules, and admittedly, Rory usually broke first, but there was a shift in his friend since Niko showed up. It was so subtle that Rory didn’t even know if the others had caught it, but he’d been Vidar’s best friend for a long time. Then the whole thing with Luca happened, and it seemed like Vidar was purposely putting some distance between himself and Niko. There could be a lot of reasons for that, but Rory hadn’t pushed. With Vidar, it was usually best to let things play out as they would without trying to sway him. Not that any of them could.
Open Wounds: The Boxed Set Page 29
