Jack Brewer Kickin It Novels & Stories

“Let’s get you some water.” --- By the time I got home, I was mostly sober, but my head still buzzed from the night. I slipped inside quietly, not wanting to wake anyone, but I froze when I saw Jake sitting in the kitchen. He was nursing a bottle of whiskey, his shirt unbuttoned and his hair disheveled. His dark eyes locked onto mine as I entered, and a smirk curved his lips. “So,” he drawled, his voice dangerously low. “You’ve been with him again.”

Nico “More beer?” Jake, my campaign manager and closest friend, asks. “Whisky,” I tell him, “I need it.” He smirks as he pours me a shot and slides the tumbler across the brass table in my home office. “You look like you need a shot or five,” he mutters, trying and failing to sound sympathetic. I sigh and grab the tumbler between two fingers and gulp it down. “Send it coming.” The last one week has been a rollercoaster of some sorts.

From today on, he's not getting any more snacks! Jack suddenly seemed to realize something. "We never gave Owen any allowance money. You're the one who bought him all these snacks, aren't you?" I ignored him and took a cold water bottle from the fridge to press against Owen's cheek. Only after the swelling started to go down did I let out a sigh of relief. Jack became even more furious at my silence and rolled up his sleeves like he was ready to take matters into his own hands. "Fine! If Simon won't, I'll teach you a lesson myself!"

Being part of their family had turned me into a people-pleaser, always putting my own needs last. But I used to be easygoing. I used to know how to live for myself. So I blocked all of them and never saw another message. Over the next month, I traveled around the country. When I got back, I found a new job. After work, Felix and I would get together and practice making street food, hoping to turn it into a side hustle.

Midge said in greeting. Jake nodded his head, and walked into the dimly lit strip club. He was never searched and he was always packing heat. A lot of the men inside that club were carrying and not all of them were good men, neither was he. “Wrath! Whatcha drinking?” Buzzer asked, as he stood up from the table and shook Jake’s hand. “I’ll have a Coke,” Jake said. He never drank during these types of meetings. He didn’t like not being in control of the situation, and drinking took some of your control away.

Trying to lighten the heavy mood I created with my question. “I would have, but I think it needs dry cleaning first, you smelled like a brewery last night.” His devilish smile melts the pain in my heart slightly, and I slide off the chair. Jake’s trying for the light easy humor we used to have, it’s a little warming and helps with easing my nerves.

I trade my shot glass for my water and take a big drink. “Want more?” Mason asks, giving the bottle a little shake. “No, thanks, but I am intrigued by this,” I admit with a laugh. “Who thought it was a good idea to make something this strong?” “It’s better than the peanut butter whiskey,” Jacob tells me, popping the top off a beer. “Which is shit too.” “That sounds even worse.” “It’s not as bad as you’d think,” Sam tries to convince me. “Says the guy who ate peanut butter sandwiches every day for lunch for four years in a row.” I raise my eyebrows.

Lynn jumps off the ground and disappears for a few minutes before coming back with two large boxes. Ryker and Corbin quickly run over to her and save her from toppling over. The smile on her face shines brighter than the fire as she sits back in her spot next to Joe. “Oh shit,” Karter laughs, “she’s trying to get us drunk.” The guys set the boxes down and begin to pass around the bottles inside. “You don’t have to drink if you don’t want to,” Corbin explains lowly as he hands a bottle out to me. I look around, watching as Karter taps the top of Jericho’s bottle with his bottle and foam begins to fizzle over the beer Jericho is holding. Karter laughs as Jericho tries to catch all the foam in

The bar’s filling up fast, growing louder with the dull roar of the crowd and the thump of the music. Reid finishes his beer, grabbing a fresh one off of the table. “He said he was gonna try to make it out.” I nod. “Cool.” Brock and I may not see eye to eye on many things, but I still like the guy well enough. Our group doesn’t really feel complete without him. “You guys want a whiskey shot?” I ask. “Oh, so it’s that kinda night?” Jax chuckles. I shrug. “Why not?” I rise to my feet, looking around to Jax, Reid, and Gray. “Any takers?”

“You’ve got a keeper, my friend.” I chuckled, but there was no real warmth behind it. “I know.” The conversation shifted as Jarek turned back to his wife. “How about we all grab a drink? I’ve got a glass of something strong right here,” he said, pulling out a flask and offering it to me. “Don’t be shy. It’ll loosen you up.” I shook my head, feeling a tightness in my chest at the idea of drinking with so many people around. I wasn’t sure I wanted to become too friendly with these strangers. “I’ll pass, Jarek. Thanks, though.”