Simple logic

The bartender stared at Steven and his friend in excitement. Jackson could taste the salt in his blood as it ran out of his mouth. He figures that his teeth might have cut his tongue when Steven struck him. Jackson reached out for some napkins, and Liam assisted him with the box. He pulled three tissues out and spat his blood into them. Jackson then wiped his mouth with his hand.

"I deserved this blow. Is everything all right with you? I was kidding with my last statement, and I am revoking my words. I also understand that my remarks were wrong. For that, I am sorry. But you knocked me hard, bro." He said to his friend as he sat on the stool and drank his next glass.

Steven felt so relieved after Jackson's clarification that he took three shots in a roll and took his seat. Steven didn't reply, though he did not look mad anymore. Jackson wanted to make sure that his friend understood that what he said was a joke.

"Come on, brother. You know I won't cheat on Jennie, correct? However, if you don't trust me, you can trust Julie. She is a decent girl that won't sleep with a married man. Jennie made it up in her head. Mom knows it too. Plus, my wife admits that I am not cheating on her." He stated.

Steven reached out for his next glass and sighed. "She may not do it with a married man, but she is free to sleep with another single dude. Plus, there's nothing I can do about it. It's not like we are dating or in a relationship of any kind." He replied, then sipped his drink.

"Wait! Did I take a punch for another dude? Also, who is this guy? I have a blow that I need to return to him." Jackson said, shaking his jaw from side to side.

He knew Steven would not have gotten this mad at him over such a petite statement if there wasn't an actual complication tormenting him. They had been friends for years, and these guys had made worse jokes than this one. So, Jackson knew something was up when Steven hit him.

"Yeah! You did, and I am sorry for my behavior. I trust that you will never cheat on Jennie in this life. But for Julie, I don't believe that she won't date other people since she and Daniel had gotten close. I was so mad when I saw Julie hangout with Daniel that I took it out on you because I can't beat him up. Doing that may make Julie mad since they are so-called friends now." Steven responded in frustration, banging the glass on the counter.

The sound echoed. Everyone stopped staring at them and turned their faces in the opposite direction while they pretended to be focusing on something else. Jackson giggled loudly. However, he still felt confused about what Steven was talking about.

"What! Do you mean Daniel at the office?" Jackson asked in shock.

His friend gave him a sharp gaze. "Do you know any other Daniels who works at our company?" Steven said with attitude.

"No!" Jackson replied to his friend's silly question.

"Okay, there you have your answer," Steven replied and took another sipped from his glass.

"But how, when, and why? I have been away from work for two days, and Julie is buddy with Daniel. Isn't today her first day at work? How come she's that close to him for you to be this mad at Daniel." Jackson asked with excitement in his eyes. He could not believe Steven's life had gotten this dramatic since his breakup with Chloe. Plus, he was happy that his friend was falling in love again.

"It's my fault. Julie had walked in on Chloe and me, making out in my office. She got mad and stormed out. I don't know what happened to her afterward. But when I finally caught up to her, she was in Daniel's arms. Plus, they left the company together when I carried Chloe to get a cab. After I came back, I saw them getting in a taxi and followed Julie and him. Only to watch them enter the sweet tooth shop with a sunny face like lovers. She even held his hands when they came out of the company." Steven reported it to his friend.

Jackson got mad. He could not believe that Steven hit him because of a problem he created. Jackson stood up and folded his hand into a fist. "Turn your left cheek!" He ordered his friend, and Steven knew what would happen next.

"Wait, let me finish my drink." He pleaded with Jackson.

Steven then swallowed his alcohol and positioned himself.

"Okay, you can hit..." He did not end his statement when Jackson knocked him in the face, leaving a bruise on Steven's skin.

"Wow, that hurt like crazy!" He yelled. They both burst into laughter. "So, are you going to tell me what the punch was about?" Steven asked.

Jackson gazed at him and smiled. "It is not Daniel's fault that you messed up your chances with Julie. So, the punch belonged to you and not him, its simple logic." Jackson replied, laughing until his side hurt.

"You've got jokes now," Steven replied.

After their carefree moment, they sat peacefully for a while saying nothing. Liam thought the drama was over, and he felt sad. However, Jackson shifted toward Steven and asked.

"Bro, did you fire Jack just to create a job slot for Julie?" Jackson asked his friend. Jake had called Jackson earlier to report that he had been laid off by Steven.

"Yes, I did. Julie is unique. Her feeling is not something you can buy with money, nor is she influenced by an attractive appearance. It is hard to please her. So, when the chance presented itself to me, I used the opportunity. Plus, you know the mass damage Jack caused to the business when he stole our tech blueprint." Steven said to his friend and tasted his liquor.

Jackson got annoyed with his friend for misleading Julie again. However, he could tell that his buddy was in love. "Please stop tricking her and be honest with your genuine feelings for her. Plus, when the opportunity is appropriate, explain to her everything you been fibbing about to her." He advised.

"I will. That's a promise." Steven assured Jackson. However, he did not know when the time would ever be right for him to tell Julie the truth.