My voice is gentle, “Really, Zo?” because we’ve got three brothers, too. Samantha and I love them madly despite their refusal to mind their own business.
If anything happened to them…
Can’t even think about it!
God, when Cadan went to Chicago it tore me up so bad I couldn’t even face it. I ditched the family dinner as soon as it was over, feelings too intense for me.
I keep that shit in check.
Sammy touches our cousin’s arm. “I didn’t know you were scared of Nate being out there.”
“Well, remember Nicholas was in that house-fire and when he ran back in to save Lucky, his hair was singed! That’s how close the flames were! Nate does that for a living!”
Okay, We Are The Champions by Queen is a really weird soundtrack for this moment, and I shake my head to forget I’m hearing it, focus on her instead. “Yeah, but Nathan is trained. He’s a hero.”
Zoe frowns, gaze cast down, “Yeah.”
“And Nicholas was a scammy player out to wet his knob.”
Their heads snap to me, and they both start laughing. “Lexi! “Lex!”
“What?” I grin, holding up my palms in an offering of, “It got way too fucking serious in here. We’re out for some fun, right?! Getting drunk! Saturday night! The stuff dreams are made of! And if we’re gonna be party crashed, at least it’s by a hero, right? I mean, am I right?” I drop my hands, adding, “Not bad!”
Zoe’s smile gets punctuated by a single, grateful nod that says the subject is over and she’s ready for fun.
Samantha, grinning, sifts through our darts by color, “You’re green…” almost ready to hand over mine.
“I’m going to kick your asses again!” I stand on my tiptoes to search the bar. “Where is Nathan with our pitcher? Has he found some girl to pick up on? Oh there he…is.” My eyes widen at the sight of Brad, and narrow at the blonde he’s talking with. He leans in, whispers in her ear, and my skin goes cold as he lingers.
Samantha asks, “What is it, Lexi?” and rises on her toes, much better than I can. “Oh my God!”
“What?” asks Zoe, “What?!” She looks over.
I’m already passing her and pushing through the crowd. “Excuse me.” My throat is on fire. “Excuse me!”
Nathan and I lock eyes as he picks up the pitcher, ready to return. Instantly, by the look in my eyes, he knows I’m out for blood and, since he has no clue why, searches for my probable target.
He’ll never guess Brad.
My lover is handsome, but he’s also a bit of a geek in a too-intelligent-for-his-own-good sort of way.
Also my ex-professor, he’s much older than my brothers would approve of. That’s why he’s always been a fucking secret. Pun perfect.
My cousin Nathan is younger than both me and Zoe and will therefore see Brad as ancient.
This is the very first time anyone other than Zoe and Sam have seen Brad.
If I weren’t so furious I’d care.
But I don’t.
“Who the hell is this?!” I snap, before he even knows I’m here.
Brad locks eyes with me, his in shock. He jumps off the barstool. “Lexi!”
“Who is this?” I look at her and she’s scared. “Who are you?”
Samantha says, “Uh, Lex?”
“What?” I look to where Sammy’s finger is pointing at a yellow hair tie.
Zoe gasps, “Oh no!”
Nathan asks, “What’s going on? Who is this guy, Lexi? He bothering you?”
Three months of kisses.
Three months of lies.
I’m thinking about you tonight.
I croak, throat closing in on me, “This is Brad.”
“The Brad that Caden and Max are always angry about?”
“Yes! And that’s not me he’s with!”
Nathan growls, “Say no more,” handing the pitcher to his sister. He chambers his punch and BAM, knocks Brad backward, teetering.
Firefighter training has him ripped, and that punch landed!
Brad sways, so I push him just a wee bit.
And…
He’s down.
The girl had no clue I existed.
I can tell.
She’s sheepish, even mortified, “I’m so sorry!”
“It’s not your fault.” My chest is ablaze as I turn to look at Brad one final fucking time. “It’s mine! You were thinking about me, huh? Every time with her were you thinking about me? Were you adding our sexcapades together in a flow chart, cackling to yourself, you mathematical prick!”
He’s on the ground, too smart to get up.
Four Cockers are standing over him.
Best to stay down.
Zoe hands me the pitcher. “Here Lexi.”
I lock eyes with her, and turn to smile, “I told you their beer was worth the drive!” as I pour its entire icy contents onto Brad’s crotch.
Passing the pitcher to his new date I tilt my head, “Could you please put that on the bar for me?” and lock eyes with the hot guy on her other side who’s been watching the drama play out. “Have plans tonight?”
He frowns, “Nope.”
“You do now.” I grab his arm and he jumps off the barstool.
Nathan warns, “Lexiiiiiii!” drawing out the last syllable, but surprise freezes him where he stands.
“I’m not your sister, Nate! If I were you’d have grey hair! Sam, Zoe, I’ll call you!”
“Bye Lexi!”
Our hands are tightly clasped as I lead the way out of here. As soon as we’re breathing Brad-free air, I ask my new date, “What’s your name, cutie?” with fire in my eyes. My chest. My skin.
“Ira.”
I stop walking. “Really?”
He smirks, “No,” thick black hair hanging over eyes greener than mine. “My name’s Gage.”
Chapter Four
GAGE
“G age?” she asks, cherry eyebrows hiked.
We’re still holding hands, now dead stopped out front of the metal waist-level fence that cordons customers away from pedestrians and cars heading for the lopsided back parking lot. “Your name is Gage?”
“That’s right.”
“You’re not lying again?”
“I wasn’t lying when I said Ira. I was kidding. There’s an important difference called a sense of humor.”
Sharp green eyes peer at me and, after what I saw in there, I’m not surprised she’s suspicious of me…and all my kind.
But logic wins out — or an inability to give a shit under
