Heartthrob (The Bennett Brothers 3)

ght. Judging by the abundance of Miami hats, jerseys, and t-shirts, I’m assuming the word has hit the streets. Nick Bennett has been spotted.

Both my brothers are seated at a table located in a back room usually reserved for private parties. The owner of the restaurant is talking to them, and when he spots me, he extends his hand.

“Good to see you, Mathis.”

“You too, Sean. Quite a crowd you have gathering out there.”

“News traveled fast. Don’t think Nick was even in his seat before the phones started ringing and the bar hit capacity.”

“Good for business.”

“Yes, but you guys have complete privacy back here. My wife’s here tonight. She’ll be taking care of you,” he tells me. “What can I get you to drink?”

I notice Shaw and Nick both drinking beer so I order the same.

“Is tonight a publicity gig or coincidence?” I sit in the empty seat between my brothers.

“Coincidence. The bartender’s girlfriend dropped him off tonight and saw me walking in with Shaw. She tweeted or Instagrammed or some shit. The crowd ensued.”

“Lifestyles of the rich and famous,” I joke.

“Yeah, yeah. Better warn Claire now. Your picture is probably going to be plastered on social media soon. No doubt someone recognized you.”

“Are you kidding? She loves that shit. Comments, likes, reacts, retweets… whatever you call it. She goads the masses and then gives me details.”

“Shit, I forget sometimes how crazy that woman is.” He takes a long slug of his beer.

“What’s the occasion? Why did you ask me to meet here tonight?” Sean returns with his wife, carrying a large silver cooler stand with ice. His wife loads beer in the cooler, explaining the bar is now a full out zoo and they wanted to make sure we have what we need.

They leave, and Shaw answers my question. “We’re celebrating.”

“Celebrating what?”

“I bought Grace a house today.”

I freeze, my beer halfway to my mouth, and my eyes jump between them. “You did what?”

“He. Bought. Grace. A house,” Shaw draws out slowly.

“I heard that, you dipshit.”

“Then why’d you ask?” I ignore him and put my focus on Nick.

“Let me rephrase, I didn’t know you were in the market for a house.”

“You knew I was thinking about it.”

“Yes, earlier this year, before you found out about the baby. Grace said you weren’t going to make any changes. Last week, when we were at your place, the women planned an entire nursery.”

“Last week sealed the deal. When Grace’s family left, we had a talk. We need more space. She was resistant but finally agreed. I called Shaw and got the ball rolling. We looked at a place yesterday, and I bought it today.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that,” he answers.

“You said, ‘I bought it today.’ Does Grace know this?”

“She does now. She balked at the price, told me there was no way we were spending that kind of money, threw a tantrum, and stalked out.”