“It’s fine, Hayley, really,” he cuts me off.
My stomach twists. He looks disappointed.
“Why are you being like this?”
“Like what?” he challenges.
“Like this. Whenever Kyle’s name is mentioned you become distant and angry.”
“Because I don’t like him. Hell, I’ve never even met the guy, and I know I don’t like him. I don’t like the way he’s treated you, I don’t like how he forced his way into your life, and I sure as hell don’t like the way you fawn over him like you’re in love him or something.”
“So what if I am? It’s my life Aaron and you have no right to act like this!”
“Jesus fucking Christ, Hayley!” His face recoils in something that resembles disgust. “I’m just trying to look after you, that’s what friends are supposed to do, right?”
“Thank you for looking out for me, but you really don’t need to.” I exhale deeply, leaning over and taking his hand in mine. “I’m going to go get another drink, you guys want anything?” I ask.
“I’m good, thanks,” Gwen replies.
I turn to Aaron. He shakes his head, trying his hardest to avoid meeting my eyes.
I shimmy out of the booth and make my way to the bar which is almost to capacity. I’m leaning against the bar when I feel an arm snake around my waist.
I smile at first, thinking it is Kyle, but when I turn, I find a man, around his mid-thirties leaning up against me, a wide grin on his face, his eyes scan over my body slowly and my skin crawls. “Hey there, sweetheart.”
Nausea builds in the pit of my stomach. I push against his chest. My heart hammering against my rib cage.
“Can you let me go, please.” I ask as calmly as I can, my voice coming off shaky.
“Come on, sugar, let’s have a little fun.”
“No. Let me go.” I continue to push against his chest, but he doesn’t let up, so I do the only thing I can think of. I drive my knee up between his legs as hard as I can.
He roars in pain, but he doesn’t let go, if anything he grips me tighter. “You little cunt.” He brings his hand up, ready to hit me, but before he can, an arm appears in front of me, gripping the man’s wrist.
“You fucking dare hit her asshole, it'll be the last thing you ever do.”
Kyle. He’s here. I’m safe.
“Now take your fucking hands off her, she said no, don’t you understand what that word means?”
The man removes his arm from around my waist. “Fine, she’s all yours, man, little bitch probably wasn’t worth it anyway,” he sneers.
Kyle punches him square in the face and he goes down, hitting the floor, hard. The crowd parts, falling silent, watching the spectacle. Kyle pulls him back up to his feet, his lips pulled back tight against his teeth in anger. “That’s my girl you’re talking about. I’d watch you’re fucking mouth if I were you.”
My girl. I’m his girl. My heart leaps in my chest.
He pushes him away, sending the man stumbling backwards. The man shoves his way through the crowd and hurries out the door.
Kyle leans on the bar, taking long deep breaths to calm himself as he grips the edge of the mahogany bar so tight his arms are shaking.
I place my hand on his arm and lean in close to his ear. “Hey, calm down, it’s okay, I'm fine.”
He turns to me and engulfs me in his arms, his face buried in my neck. I melt into him, revelling in his touch. When he eventually let’s go, he cups my face in his hands, his eyes boring into mine. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah. I am now.”
Kyle looks up over my shoulder and I follow his gaze to where a man about my age stands watching us. “Hayley, this is my brother Luke. Luke, this is Hayley.”
His brother is just as handsome as he is, considering they are actually cousins, they look a lot more like brothers. He’s a little shorter than Kyle by an inch or two. He's slim, a similar build to Kyle, though a little less muscular from what I can tell.
I smile. “It’s really nice to meet you.” I hold my hand out and he takes it, holding it in both of his.
“You too,” he says, releasing my hand, returning my smile.
Kyle orders our drinks and the three of us head over to our table. As we approach, both Gwen and Aaron turn their attention our way. Gwen’s eyes land on Luke, almost popping out of their sockets.
“Um… this is Kyle and his brother, Luke.”
Gwen smiles. “Nice to see you again, Kyle.”
“Yeah, you too.”
Gwen turns her attention to Luke. “Hey,” she says, making no attempt to hide the fact that she’s checking him out.
“Hi,” he smirks.
I glance over at Aaron who hasn’t said a word, he sits with his arms folded across his chest. “Aaron?” He glances up at me.
He sighs deeply, glances at Kyle and Luke. “Hi,” he forces out.
“Hey, man,” Kyle says politely.
I slide back into the booth next to Gwen, Kyle following me, Luke sitting opposite him next to Aaron.
“What the hell happened over there?” Gwen asks.
“Oh, some guy got a little handsy and I kicked him in the balls, then Kyle punched him.”
“Nice.” She leans in closer to me, “Christ I was right, Kyle’s brother is so gorgeous.” She winks.
I laugh, shaking my head.
Kyle places his hand on my leg and squeezes. I look up at him and smile, placing my hand over his, squeezing back.
“Thank you for coming,” I say.
“Try keeping me away.” He smiles down at me and kisses my temple.
For some reason I glance at Aaron who is shooting daggers at Kyle. “Playing the knight in shining armour again I see?” he comments.
“Something like that,” he replies, laughing it off.
I shoot Aaron a warning look.
“I’m sure as hell trouble finds my brother wherever he goes, he’s
