Consolation Prize (Forbidden Men 9)

“Yo, the nursing building’s that way,” Colton said, making Brandt pop his face up and break out into a grin.

“Hey, punk.” He slapped his brother companionably in the arm. “I wondered if I’d ever bump into you on campus. I was headed to get some coffee. Come with me.”

Colton glanced at me before he could answer, which caused Brandt to finally notice me as well.

“Juli!” he greeted in surprise. “What a coincidence.” Then he glanced between the two of us and winced toward me as

if in apology. “He’s not annoying you again, is he?”

I opened my mouth, wondering how I should answer. He’d think it was weird if I suddenly got along with his little brother who typically irritated me on every level ever invented. Except I couldn’t even pretend to act as if every breath Colton took still pissed me off.

So I sent big brother a tight smile and murmured, “Surprisingly, no. He hasn’t annoyed me at all today.”

Colton flashed me a million-watt grin while Brandt gave a low, impressed whistle. “Really?” Messing with Colton’s hair to purposefully jumble it out of place, he said, “That’s surprising.” But then his eyes flashed eagerly as he returned his attention to me. “Guess what? I did it.”

I stared stupidly a moment before it struck me what he was talking about. Then I blurted, “Oh my God, really?” I pressed my hand to my heart. “That’s uh…” I wasn’t sure what it was, so following his expectant smile, I lamely finished with, “Congratulations.”

“Thanks, I—”

“You did what?” Colton asked, darting a confused scowl between us.

When Brandt frowned at him as if reprimanding him for butting into our conversation, I cleared my throat. “So how did Sarah take it?”

“You totally called it,” he gushed, turning back to me. “She was ecstatic and wouldn’t stop smiling all night.”

“Hey?” Colton burst out, obviously tired of being left out of the conversation as he waved his hand between us. “What the fuck did you do?”

I froze at his pissy demand while Brandt stared at him as if he’d lost his mind.

“He quit his job,” I finally explained, feeling the need to soothe him.

It took Colton a second for the words to sink in. He was too busy switching his gaze between me and his brother, his expression revealing every suspicious thought zinging through him. Then he kind of paused before veering his attention to Brandt. “Wait. What? You quit your job at Forbidden? Why?”

“I’ll tell you all about it over coffee.” Brandt hitched his chin toward the nearest coffee shop located inside the student union.

But Colton took a step back. “No. I gotta get to class. I’ll see you later.”

When he abruptly swung away and strode off, my stomach hitched. I knew he was experiencing some of the same bitter jealousy I’d just suffered through minutes earlier. But I couldn’t give him the same reassurances he’d just given me, not with Brandt standing right there.

What was worse, Brandt noticed something off. He harshly yelled, “Hey,” at Colton’s back, trying to call him back, but Colton kept going. “Huh.” He scratched his head. “I wonder what’s gotten into him.” Then he seemed to notice I was still there. “Do you want some coffee?” he asked as if it would be rude not to invite me.

“Oh!” Not expecting the offer, I blurted, “No—I mean, no, thanks. I have class too, sorry. I should…I should get going too.”

“No problem.” He waved as I began to back away from him. “I’ll see you at work some night, then.”

“Or not,” I reminded, sending him a sad smile.

“Holy shit,” he burst out. “That’s right. We don’t work together anymore, do we? Whoa.” The realization seemed to hit him hard before he shook his head. “No, wait. I promised Pick I’d stay on until he found a replacement, so we may have one or two more shifts together before…”

Before we never had a reason to see each other again.

He didn’t say that, though I knew it was what he meant. I was going to hate losing him as a coworker, but losing him as a friend…that might not be so bad. Being his friend Sunday night might have given him helpful advice, but it had ended up hurting Colton. I didn’t like that.

Not sure what else to say to Brandt because this conversation had just gotten awkward real fast, I smiled and nodded. “Cool.”

“I’ll see you at work then.” When I turned away, I tugged my phone from my bag, needing to explain everything to Colton.

Then I waited…and I waited. Ten of the longest, most excruciating seconds followed before he responded with: