Maybe This Time (Maybe #1)(13)

“What?” I ask him warily, rubbing the alcohol off my bottom lip.

“I’m not coming home tonight. Ryan or Reid will take you home,” he announces. I look behind him to see the girl he was watching earlier. I decide not to make this easy on him. What are big sisters for, right?

“So, where are you going then?”

“To her house,” he answers, his eyes narrowing.

“Do you even know her?”

“Summer…”

I cut him off. “What if she takes advantage of you?” I say it louder than necessary. The guys burst out in laughter, and Xander just shakes his head at me, amused.

“That’s the plan, sis,” he smirks.

“Hey!” I call out to the girl. She looks at me, looking a little frightened.

“No glove, no love,” I remind her. Xander instantly grabs her hand and pulls her away, saving her from me.

“They grow up so fast,” I muse, earning more laughter from the peanut gallery. Reid walks up to me, leaning on the bar facing me.

“We needa talk,” he says, crossing his arms over his chest.

“We don’t needa do anything,” I return, looking at the dance floor which is suddenly very interesting.

“Summer, we can’t just…”

“Can you call me a cab?” I ask him, interrupting his speech.

“I’m taking you home,” he says, sounding irritated.

“Where’s Ryan?” I ask, looking around. I swear he was here a second ago. When I see him heading to the office with a different chick, I gape. Again? Really? Reid chuckles at the look on my face and I hate that the sound sends shivers up my spine. I wobble a little, feeling tipsy.

“Give me thirty minutes and I’ll take you home,” he says, his tone final.

“I hope someone disinfects the surfaces in that office,” I say, more to myself than him.

“Well, when you start working maybe that can be your duty,” he says dryly, a scowl etched on his face.

“If I’m cleaning it, I get to use it, too,” I say, looking up at him.

He’s so handsome it hurts.

“I’m sorry, what?” he growls.

I shrug, as if I don’t care either way.

“You think you can take some guy, f*ck him in there and then I’ll let him live?” he says with a humourless chuckle.

“Don’t think it’s any of your business,” I say.

He smiles evilly. “Xander, Dash, Ryan, your father… Do I need to keep going? There's no way any man you decide to get with will survive the night.”

“Why do you care so much?” I snap at him.

“That’s the question of the hour, isn’t it?” he says dryly.

“I don’t get you!” I say, frustrated. I head for the dance floor and stay there for a few more songs. When I return to the bar, I walk up to Reid and say, “I need another drink. Want one?”

Reid is about to reply when he looks towards the entrance. I lean to the right to see what he’s looking at, gaping when I see it’s my father. I flop down on the bar stool. My father is kissing a woman. Or maybe I should say a girl, because she looks no more than twenty five. I grimace, turning away from him, and ask Ryan for another shot.

Ryan grins and pours me two. What a legend. I down one shot, frowning when Reid takes the other away from me.

“I’m cutting her off, Ryan,” he tells his brother. Ryan gives me a sympathetic glance, leaning over and patting me on the head.

“Ry, stay with her here for a sec,” he says, walking off towards Jack. He says something to him, and then my dad glances towards me, looking surprised to see me here. He says something to his girl and she nods slightly, sending a glare my way before walking to a table filled with girls. I look away, and concentrate on Ryan instead.

“How was your second go?” I blurt out.

He chuckles. “Better than the first.”

“Really?” I ask, a vision of his sexy ass coming to mind. I wonder if Reid’s looks the same. No, probably sexier.

Ryan bursts out laughing. “What were you just thinking about?”

“Nothing,” I say quickly. “When do I start work?”

“You can come in tomorrow, alright. We actually do need someone. As you can see it’s just Reid and me here tonight. We have another guy who works here, but today’s his off day,” he explains.

“Interesting,” I muse. Ryan laughs, putting his arm around me and pulling me close.

“Jack’s coming over,” he says. I notice a lock of his hair out of place, so I lift my hand up and fix it.

“Good for him,” I say dryly.

“Hey, don’t be judgemental,” he says softly. Is that what I was being?

“Summer, I didn’t expect to see you here,” my dad says, coming and standing next to me.

“Well, here I am,” I say in a fake cheerful tone.

“Nice to see you again, sweetheart.” He sounds like he really means it.

“Where did Reid go?” I ask him, looking around.

“Why?” His eyes suddenly turn hard.

“Cos he’s taking me home,” I say, tilting my head. Why the questions?

“I can take you home,” he offers.