“No!” Erin shoved at them and sat up. She shook so hard her teeth chattered, but Todd recognized the determined look in her eyes. “Help me up,” she ordered Brody, who obliged, standing back after she stood.

Ben nodded at Todd with approval and though it felt odd, Todd was proud.

“I just n-need to drink something and I’ll be fine. I’m not closing an hour early just because of f-fireworks.”

She let Todd take her hand and walked to the coffee bar where she hopped up on a stool. He barely resisted the urge to gather her to him and comfort her, but he knew they’d both fall apart if he did. She needed normalcy, so he tried to give it to her.

“Sorry ’bout the mess,”Adrian said and began to clean up. Cope joined him, and Brody saw to the last few people still inside. All friends, it appeared, because they delivered small touches and a kiss to Erin’s cheek as they cleared out.

“Leave it. I’ll get it in a minute,” she said.

Adrian glared at her as he swept up the broken glass and wiped the coffee and soup off the floor and walls.

“I’m . . .”

“Don’t you even f**king apologize for that,” Brody said fiercely. “It’s fine and it’s over, but you are allowed to be upset. Do you hear me?”

Todd had liked Brody before, but he really liked the man now.

Erin nodded and gave a wan smile. “Ever the big brother.”

“It’s my job. Now, I was having a delish bowl of soup and my customer is probably wondering where I ran off to.” Brody kissed her forehead. “You all right?”

“Yes. I will be.”

“Okay. Why don’t you come out with me and Raven tonight. Both of you.” Brody looked to Todd. “Pool, beer, pizza. Who can say no to that?”

“Sounds good. We’ll see you later then.” Todd looked from Brody back to Erin, catching her smile. They needed to integrate their families into each other’s life. Her brothers were everything to her; he knew that and he wanted them to understand he was there for good.

“I’m coming too,” Adrian added.

“We invited?” Cope asked.

“Yeah, of course,” Brody said.

“Okay then, that’s settled. Now everyone go.” Erin heaved herself off the stool and slowly began to clean up and put things back into place. Her color had returned and the shaking had stopped.

“Don’t you have a job?” she asked Todd when he inquired after dessert.

“You’re my job, honey.”

She rolled her eyes but some minutes later brought them out plates with some cookies. Ben just shook his head at Todd.

“She spoils you.”

Todd heard the envy there, not covetous, but he realized his friend must want that too. Who wouldn’t?

“I know. It’s pretty awesome.”

She sang in the back as she worked.

“And she can quote Pearl Jam too. I need to tell you that if she wasn’t your woman I’d steal her away.” Cope shoved an entire cookie in his mouth.

“With manners like that, how could any woman resist?” Ben said. Todd laughed as he stood and went to the counter.

“We need to get going. I have a job site to visit this afternoon. I’ll meet you at your place later on. You gonna be okay?” He dropped a twenty down to pay for lunch and she just looked at it before shoving it back at him.

“This is such a tiresome thing you do.”

“What? Paying for service?”

She sighed. “It’s some soup and bread. I love you. I like taking care of you. I have a bit of money in the bank, I think I can afford to buy you lunch.”

“I find I really like hearing you tell me you love me.” He kissed her fingers and dropped the twenty in the tip jar. “I love you too, and I’ll see you tonight.”

Erin watched him leave, nearly as much a pleasure to do as watching him come in. The man had a very fine ass.

She moved to lock up and saw Ella sitting in her car at the curb and waved her in.

Ella wiped her face and Erin realized she’d been crying.

“Hi. You closing up?” Ella said as she came inside.

“Yeah, lock the front, please. Have a seat while I clean up and tell me what’s making you cry.”

She wasn’t close to Ella like she was to Raven, but she liked the other woman and enjoyed her company. Erin really didn’t like seeing her upset.

“It’s just stuff at home.”

Erin wiped the counter and cleaned up the pieces to the espresso machines as she listened.

“Are you okay? Safe? Can I help at all?” Erin tried to keep her voice light. The last thing Ella needed was any more anger or upset. Erin knew Ella and her boyfriend had broken up recently. At least Erin could focus on this instead of the way she’d nearly lost her shit when someone set off a stupid firecracker outside.

“I got a protection order today.”

She looked up at her friend. “Okay. That’s a good first step. Do you have multiple copies of the order? Not photocopies but all originals? I want you to keep one here at work and also one at home and on you too. That way if he violates it you can show the police the order with the original signature on it. It helps.” Sadly, she had a bit of experience in this area.

“Oh, good idea. And you listening helped. I’m staying with my parents right now. They just live a few doors down.”

“All good things. Family support is important. We’re going out for pizza and pool tonight. You interested?”