Chapter 11

Chapter

Eleven

SEER

I excuse myself from the temptation that is my own bedroom and head through the kitchen to pour myself a drink. Today has been a trying day, to say the least.

I set the coffee pot to brew for Phoebe and turn on the tea kettle for Kai. Then, I sit with my tumbler of whiskey as I wait for someone's bedroom door to open.

Kai is the first to emerge looking well-sated, and the jealousy I feel over that could eat me alive, but I smile because our household has been lacking the intimacy we once again found. It's funny how one tragedy can rip you apart, but another can help you heal.

"Phoebe, alright?" I ask as I lift my glass to my lips.

"Is Leah?" He arches his brow at me.

"Not yet," it comes out a tad bit bitter, but he's known me long enough to tell the difference.

"We should discuss this further once we get the cops out of our bar. It's bad for business." I laughed outright at that.

"Cher, it's New Orleans. They'll probably be drinking when we get there." He sucks his teeth as he nods.

"You're right." He chuckles as he makes his matcha tea.

"Is Leah gone?" Phoebe comes out in a towel, long hair dripping all over our floor.

"No, she should be out in a moment. I gave her some of Sam's old things to wear. Your's wouldn't have fit." For a moment, she stops, and I prepare for the outburst I know is coming.

But she surprises me and nods.

"I've been meaning to take it down to the shelter. I guess a fire victim is as good as me donating them. At least we know who they're going to. It's like they're still here and helping." I smile at her.

This is the most progress she's shown in months.

"Sam would have loved Leah," Kai starts to say as the woman in question finally emerges from my bedroom.

She's in a maxi dress with no sleeves and holding the cardigan that goes with it. She's wearing a simple pair of flip-flops, which are two sizes too big for her feet, but it was the best we could do for now.

She's barely tall enough for the outfit, so she knotted it at one hip so the fabric wouldn't drag on the ground while she walked.

"Crap, Sam's bras won't fit her huh?" Phoebe draws attention to Leah's chest, and she crosses her arms tightly.

"Shit, I'm sorry, honey! Here, I think you may fit in one of mine. Be right back." Phoebe runs off, leaving Leah bright red in the face and me wondering if she's sans panties, too.

"Fuck," Kai groans softly as he busies himself, making Phoebe her coffee.

"Are you hungry? Can I get you a drink?" I ask, pointing to Phoebe's absurd setup on top of our coffee bar.

"Wow, it's like an at-home Starbucks." Leah glosses over the options and points gingerly at the coffee maker.

"Still outnumbered." I muse at Kai, who flips me off.

"I feel like I'm missing something," Leah says, venturing closer to us.

"Phoebe is a barista. She owns Chic Brews," Leah lets out a squeal and hops up and down it with her hands clasped.

It's assuming for two reasons.

One, it's every man's wet dream. She's forgotten she isn't wearing a bra, and the smile on her face tells me she's forgotten all about her troubles.

And two, Kai drops his tea when he sees the way her breast jiggles out of control under the dress. My partner of ten years and best friend doesn't lose his composure very often, so it's fucking hysterical when he does.

He looks like a cartoon character as he stares.

"Got a little drool there," I say to him, but it's Leah who wipes her chin.

I stop fighting my laughter at the scene as Phoebe comes back waving a bra over her head like a flag.

"Here, try this one. It's a little big on me, so it should…What did I miss?" She points from my laughing face to Kai's blush and finally lands on Leah, who is charging her.

"OMG, I LOVE YOUR COFFEE! You are the one single reason I made it through the last few semesters on campus!" Leah lifts Phoebe off the ground and spins her in joy.

"Thanks?" Phoebe yelps in surprise.

"No, seriously, those kiosks are life." Leah sheepishly lets Phoebe go, but not before she takes the woman's bra.

I'm going to put this on, and then I'll be ready to go." She skips off, leaving us all in the kitchen watching her.

"Wow," Kai says with a whistle.

"Is she always so super high energy? Cause if that's the side effect of my coffee, I need to test it for jet fuel." Phoebe muses as she adjusts the towel that damn near fell off during the little show we just had.

"Guys, I seriously want to keep her." It's out of my mouth faster than I can stop it.

"Well, she fits our crazy, that's for sure." Kai taps the counter twice and grabs Cowboy's truck keys.

"Is she ok with our lifestyle?" God, I hope so.

"I can't imagine someone would pick it as their thesis if they weren't at least curious." She nods in thought.

"Let's work on that pesky virginity issue before we make any solid life plans, shall we?" Kai says to me as if I put the cart before the horse all the time.

Asshole knows me too well.