This Time Around (Maybe #2)(11)

“You mean besides work?” Tag says dryly, earning him an elbow to the stomach from Summer.

I chuckle. Summer rolls her eyes, and then leans down to grab an apple juice box from the fridge.

A customer stands at the bar and Tag quickly walks over to serve him.

“So Taiya and I are hanging out next Saturday,” she says, poking the straw in and taking a sip. Yes, Reid stocks the bar with her favourite drink.

“Really?” I say, extremely interested. I lean down and wait for her to tell me more.

“I thought we’d start here for pre-drinks then head out clubbing.”

“Who’s going?” I ask.

“Me, Taiya, her friend Isis and…” She mumbles the last name so I can’t understand what she said.

“You, Taiya, Isis and who?” I ask, frowning.

She purses her lips, and then huffs out a frustrated breath. “Reid.”

Xander and I laugh. “Reid is tagging along on girls’ night?”

“He’s… insisting,” she says, looking put out. Truth be told, I’m thrilled Reid is going. He can keep an eye on Taiya for me, so I know she will get home in one piece, and no guys will try anything with her if Reid is standing right there. If they value their lives, anyway.

“I thought you wore the pants in the relationship?” I tease, referring to a conversation we had recently. Summer claimed that she ran the show, and from what I’ve seen, it might be true in certain situations. My brother will do anything to make Summer happy. But when it comes to Summer’s safety, Reid does what Reid wants, and I don’t think that’s ever going to change.

“You gotta choose your battles,” she says wisely. Ain’t that the truth.

“And you’re choosing not to fight Reid on this one?”

“I think it’s a great idea,” Xander adds in, grinning. He’s just as overprotective of Summer, if not worse. “Perhaps I’ll tag along too.”

“The hell you will,” Summer grits out, narrowing her eyes at her baby brother.

“Why not?” Xander says over his pint of beer.

Summer throws her hands up in frustration. “I have no female friends! I’m trying to make one. You guys are all going to scare her off!”

“What about Jade?” I add in, leaning on the table.

“She doesn’t count.”

“Why not?” I ask, my brows furrowing in confusion.

“‘Cos I’m stuck with her. I didn’t choose her,” she says, making a face.

“I’m pretty sure it doesn’t work like that,” I say slowly, leaning over and tugging on her ponytail.

She shrugs, pulling her hair out of my reach. “I’m surrounded by you guys twenty-four-seven. It would be nice to have some female company.” I grin. I imagine we would get overbearing at times.

“Who are you going out with?” Xander asks, rubbing his fingers over his sun tattoo.

“Taiya and her roommate.”

“Is she hot?” Xander asks.

“Who? Taiya?” Summer asks, frowning. She darts her eyes to me as if seeing if I’m gonna jump over the bar and beat the shit out of Xander just for asking.

“No, I’ve met Taiya. The roomie.”

“Isis? Yeah she is beautiful. But she’s off limits. Stay away from my friends, Xander, please!”

“Why? I’m a decent guy,” he says, looking put out. I eye his long hair and tattoos and grin. He will probably scare poor Isis away.

“Yeah, you are. But I’m trying to make friends, and if they hook up with you, it’s going to end in disaster.”

“What are you trying to say?” Xander asks, narrowing his hazel eyes. These two. It’s so amusing to watch them interact.

“I’m saying that you can’t have a one-night stand with any of my friends!” Summer says, throwing her hands in the air.

“You hooked up with mine,” Xander points out.

Summer purses her lips. “I didn’t have a one-night stand with Reid. I’m going to marry the man. It’s not the same.”

“You just made Isis forbidden fruit,” I mutter, shaking my head. Rookie mistake. Does she not know men at all?

Her eyes widen. “I did not,” she quickly backtracks, frowning at her brother. “Isis is looking to settle down,” she adds quickly, knowing that would probably scare Xander off. Okay, maybe she does know. “Shit, I better go help Tag,” she mutters, and I turn to see a group of customers walking up to the bar. As soon as she’s gone, Xander raises an eyebrow at me.

“She’s pretty,” I tell him. And she is. She has nothing on Taiya though, hell, no one does.

“Of course she is,” he mutters, but I see him hiding a grin. I refill his glass and then serve a few customers, before heading into the back to try to get some paperwork done. I cringe at the large pile of receipts, turning the laptop on and taking a seat at the desk. Reid walks in an hour later, unable to mask the look on his face. I slowly stand up.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, instantly on alert.

Reid sighs heavily, rubbing the back of his head. “Got a letter from Dad.”

I clench my jaw, lowering my eyes. “We told him not to contact us anymore.”

“He wants us to visit,” Reid says, clenching and unclenching his hands.