Off Limits, Brother's Best Friend Chapter 177

Chapter 177: Lovey Dovey 

Brianna 

“Everything looks good, how come you have some empty plates though?” Jane tipped her head at the side of where some of the food was already set up.

“Oh, these are food items that I wanted to come out fresh, so it wouldn't get cold and gross. It will just come before Bryce does.” I explained.

“And the cake? I missed your baking.” She sighed at the memory of living with me in London where I would bake for us sometime. Not often since we literally lived over a bakery.

“Don't touch the frosting,” I dropped my eyes and pointed at her.

“I won't.” She scoffed like she doesn't do that every time.

“I mean it,” I called after her when she started walking towards the kitchen. There was another knock.

“Yay, they are here.” I hurried to the door. I haven't hung out with this crew in a while and I was so excited.

As I predicted, Zevier, Sandra and Kate all showed up together. I opened the door wide to let everyone in and hugged each one of them as they passed the threshold.

“Oh, my..fancy place you have here.” Kate was the first to look around and said anything. 

“Bryce is so loaded.” Zevrie teased us.

He did pick this place, it was boujee enough that I had to inform the front desk that I would be receiving guests tonight and had to list names. It is that kind of place. I ushered everyone to the living room and started making drinks. I used to be a bartender, so I am good at it and efficient on timing. Jane went right to Zevrie, she thinks he is hot, so I knew she would. Even if she kind of likes this Charles guy, it is just in her nature to be a flirt.  I was on hostess mode right now, so I was buzzing around everyone, making sure everyone had what they needed. Conversation flowed easily between these people seeing as most of us worked together. That was actually the current topic, It was them making fun of my clueless style outfits like the one I was wearing tonight. Laughing about how I stuck out like a sore thumb amongst all the heavily tattooed and pierced people. Both employee and client alike.

“Whatever, you called it cute at that time.” I scoffed at them.

Zevrie's eyes went up and down my body without him realizing he had done that so openly.

“They were cute, we were just kidding.” He winked at me.

Interesting, every time I think of him trying to tell me he kind of liked me, I think about Callan. How he came out of nowhere and punched the poor guy in the face for it. Oh, how time has changed in the blink of an eye. Callan wouldn't give a shit now, he doesn't like me even in the slightest. Quite the opposite actually. When I walked to the kitchen to grab something, Kate followed after me. She and I started getting a lot closer when I was working at the tattoo shop but then I moved away and life just got in the way of things. I find her to be so pretty, I love the freckles that dust her low bridge nose. She wears a bare face and certainly doesn't need makeup, though I have seen it on her before when we went to the bars last year. Time has flown by, and I can barely hold onto anything as it is suddenly so far behind me. Then again, maybe I should be looking forward, so I can see what is coming at me. Dontalla said I will be doing something for Prada, so I know that much.

Besides, I have all these great people in my life and I am thankful to have a room full of friends right now who are genuine people. I can't remember the last time I could claim that to be true.  In Asaba, we weren't close the way I have let people become close to me here. Like that guy Chase who I had a fling with. I don't ache for him or his presence the way I do Callan's or did. Past tense, no more.

“Hey, did you invite Bryce's buddy? Zevier was too chicken shit to ask you but we were wondering because, you know…the awkward drama.” Kate said in a low enough voice that the others wouldn't hear.

“No, actually, I didn't. He won't be here, you can assure Zevrie no drama will be happening tonight.” I replied to her.

I wonder what her expression turned serious, she didn't immediately say anything but I saw her thinking something. Finally, her eyes came up to mine.

“Is  that not a thing anymore?” She asked me, I didn't understand the reference so she clarified.

“You and Callan, you definitely had something, right?” I blushed for whatever dumb reason.

“No,” I lied, she laughed which made me frown.

“Who are you trying to kid here? When I did his rib tattoo, I saw you too looking at each other all lovey dovey.” She muttered and now I laughed hard.

“Lovey dovey? Callan Harold?” I didn't agree with her.

“Okay, not like this but I felt the chemistry.” She back tracked.

“Besides, he beat the hell out of Zevrie for flirting with you, so clearly he did that for a reason.” She looked at me pointedly. Again I blushed.

“We kind of, I don't know what to call it but it isn't a thing anymore, no.” I returned to her first words.

“Oh,” she nodded and then glanced back at the others. I encouraged her to head back there, I don't want that man to be a topic tonight at all.

When I heard the jingle of the lock at the front door, I waved at everyone to shut up. When Bryce stepped inside, we all shouted ‘happy birthday'. He paused at the door and looked around at everyone then he broke into a grin.

“What the hell is going on over here?” He played dumb and I went up to him first and gave him a hug.

“I didn't want you to be bored at some bland dinner, so I invited some people here.” I told him, he gave me his little side hug and chuckle.

“I wouldn't have been bored but this was a good idea. I haven't seen these guys in a while.” He said, releasing me and going to the other.

Zevrie was already on his way over to clap backs like guys do in greetings. The food came literally second after he did.

“Perfect,” I started showing the people that delivered the food where to put things.

Bryce went to the room to put his things away and came back in a relaxed version of his suit. I escorted everyone to the dining room once the in-house chef staff cleared out.

“Shít, you got all my favorites.” My brother rubbed his hands together, ready to dive in. It wasn't formally set up so people got up and grabbed what they wanted. 

We all sat at random and talked as a group, I never really got to see my brother with the crowd. He is different from how he is with his mafia friends, more of the goofy brother that I know. Zevrie and Sandra started telling me stories about when they first met my brother, they can make anything sound funny when they get all twins on us. Finishing each other's sentences.

“Brianna, I don't see a cake anywhere.” The birthday boy squinted at me in suspicion when he saw the set up excluding dessert.

“I didn't make one.” I lied and when he frowned, I laughed.

“Just kidding, it is in the kitchen, you pig.” I stood to grab it. 

We were kind of stuffed from dinner but I guess everybody has a little bit of room for cake. I made his favorite, which is vanilla cake with whipped chocolate frosting, I haven't had that in forever, yummy.

“I am not going to lie, I was expecting a pink cake.” He chuckled, knowing I always want a big pink cake on my birthday.

“It is your birthday, I obviously made it your favorite.” I placed it in front of him.

“Do candles!” Sandra exclaimed. 

“I am an adult, I am not…” I didn't let him finish. I shoved one into the middle of the cake and Jane was behind me with the lighter.

“You are getting candles, buddy.” Jane slapped my brother on the back, she made me laugh.

After the torture of singing him happy birthday, he blew out the candle but not before I grabbed his shoulder and made him promise to make a wish and then the savage cut into it and started grabbed piece. I sat back for a second and just watched. Seeing my brother with birthday candles lighting his face in a glow, waiting for the singing to finish so he could blow them out, it made me have this flashback to young Bryce. He still had his mop of chestnut hair though and fuller childlike cheeks. He always wanted to get to the good part when the song was over and the cake was being cut.