Hetch (Men OF S.W.A.T #1)(19)

“Seriously, let me have at least half of this coffee before I can begin to get my head around last night.” I drop my face into my hands and let out an undignified groan.

“What! That bad? Say it isn’t so.” She kicks at my foot under the table, needing more information.

I drop my hands and sit back up. “You know the manwhore next door?”

“Don’t tell me you got into a f*cking contest to see who could scream the loudest?” She lowers her voice on the word f*cking, for Arabella’s sake.

“Jesus, Payton. No. Where do you come up with this stuff?” She shrugs, not giving me a true answer. “Hetch is apartment nine.”

“SHUT THE FRONT DOOR. Loud-as-f*ck is none other than sexy Officer Fucks-a-lot?” She forgets to sensor herself this time and manages to garner the attention of the old couple next to us, the two guys behind us and one little four-year-old.

“Lower your voice. And don’t call him that.” If I wasn’t so embarrassed, I would snicker at her nickname for him.

“Uh-oh. You said bad word, Mommy,” Arabella blurts with her mouth full of toast.

“Bad Mommy.” Payton smacks her own hand then passes her another piece of toast.

“Sorry, I’m having a moment. So was he as good as he sounds then?” She turns her attention back to me, not done with her interrogation.

“I didn’t screw him, Pay.” Jesus, what does she think of me?

“And why the hell not?”

“Why do you think? He’s clearly a manwhore,” I answer with the most logical reason.

“Aww, come on, he’s not that bad. A few different women over the course of two weeks barely constitutes being a manwhore. Besides, who cares? You weren’t looking for anything serious, right?” She has a point, who am I to judge him when I was clearly ready to do the same thing? Still, it doesn’t sit right.

“I’m not comfortable knowing what I know about him. The whole idea of a one-night stand is you don’t have to see them again. Besides, he wasn’t impressed when he found out who I was either.”

“Please, I saw the way the man was looking at you. I don’t think he would give a flying nun who you are.”

“It’s easier to keep things separate, you know. I mean, the last thing I need is to have things awkward between us.”

“Oh, you mean like they are already after Wallgate?”

Seriously, I don’t know why I tell her anything.

“Ha ha, you’re so funny. Anyway, it’s done. Over with. It didn’t happen the way I was expecting it to happen so enough talking about him, please. It is what it is. I want to know what happened to you.” I change the subject. I spent all night thinking about Hetch; I don’t want to continue into today. “Hart, was it? Did you get his number?”

“Oh, God, no. It wasn’t like that.” She gives an innocent shrug, completely unaware how clueless she is.

“Why not? He seemed nice, Pay. A little older, yeah, but has a good head on his shoulders. Single dad. You guys have a bit in common.”

“He was nice, but I didn’t see him like that. Besides, Jett and I are still trying to work it out.” She drops a little tidbit of information in there.

“Ahh, since when?”

“A couple of weeks.”

I shouldn’t be so surprised by her need to keep it quiet. I have been particularly forthcoming with my opinion on the matter of her and Jett. But it still stings a little she kept it from me.

“You didn’t think you could tell me.” I’m not asking. It’s more for my own understanding.

“Well, you really haven’t been pro-Jett.” She’s not kidding. My stupid brother had the perfect life with a wife and daughter who worshipped him. Instead of appreciating what he had, he gave it up for some little hussy he had working as his assistant.

“Do you blame me?”

“No, but this isn’t about you.” She has a point and the moment I realize my selfishness, I try to curb my attitude.

“Are you sure it’s what you want, Pay?”

“I don’t know yet. But don’t I owe it to him to at least try? I mean, I took a vow.”

“A vow he crapped on.” My vocabulary is limited with Arabella at the table, but crapped on is a fairly accurate account.

“Lib,” she warns, but I’ve never been good at curbing my attitude.

“No, Payton. That’s bull and you know it. You don’t get to be in my face about my business, and I can’t tell you how I feel.” I want to be the good friend here and tell her I’m so happy for her, but at the same time, it’s getting to the point where tough love is needed.

“He’s your brother, Liberty, you of all people should be on his side.”

“Side? This isn’t about sides. Yes, he’s my brother, and I love him, but what he did is wrong.”

“He’s trying, Lib. For real. He’s been going to counseling.”

I want to say counseling doesn’t make a new man, but what sort of sister would it make me? “And it’s not just me I have to think about, you know. What about Arabella? If there is a chance I can give her the family I never had, don’t you think I should try?”

I get what she’s saying. I do. Payton never had a good relationship with her parents, but I know my brother. I remember how devastated Payton was, and how cold he was. The last thing Payton or Arabella needs is to be hurt by him again.