Princess Next Door(10)

“You don’t agree?”

“I’m twenty-five years old, and they think I’m already too old to marry and have kids. They wanted me to marry Carey, the guy I was telling you about.”

“Handsy Carey.”

She chuckled. “Handsy Carey, I really like that.”

He loved seeing her smile and the chuckle on her face as she relaxed in his company.

“I like this,” she said. “You’re a good dancer.”

“You’re not so bad yourself, Princess.”

When an upbeat song came on, they took a seat with his friends. Tammy and Marshall joined while he went and got a couple of beers for all of them.

Marshall came with him.

“Do you like her?” he asked.

Zane laughed. “You don’t need to do any of that kind of routine with me. I know you’re her friends and I’m just her neighbor.”

“Really?”

“Yep.”

“Last time I checked, getting jealous at a bunch of guys dancing with a girl, it doesn’t mean ‘nothing’ to me.” Zane stared at Marshall, who held his arms out. “You looked a little … put out by it all.”

He glanced back at Princess and saw her laughing at something Silas had said.

“I’m not in love with her.”

“I can see that, totally. Getting your friends to dance with her as well. I’m a guy. I was an asshole once as well.”

“You’re a bit much, calling me an asshole.”

He glanced over at Tammy. “I nearly lost her for being an asshole. I thought I didn’t want forever with her, so she went on a date with one other guy. It’s why I know why you’re feeling what you’re feeling. Don’t worry, kid, you’ll grow up soon enough.”

“I’m thirty years old,” Zane said.

“And the moment you think you don’t need to grow up, is the day you’re going to need to do that the most.”

Zane laughed. “I like you.”

“I get that a lot. Do you have a pet name for her yet?”

“Pet name?”

“Something you call her that no one else does?” Marshall asked.

He looked toward her. “Princess.”

“Do you know her real name?”

“Yes. Wynter Griffin. Princess suits her better.”

This time Marshall laughed. “You’re totally whipped, and right now you don’t even see it. I can’t wait to see how this unfolds.”

Zane ordered himself a soda, and designated himself as the driver for the evening. Marshall was already onto coffee, and he imagined he was the one driving him and Tammy home.

The rest of the evening he listened to his friends tell them all stories about some of the tours they’d been on. Nothing big, just booking bars and clubs, and getting rowdy. He liked watching Princess as the guys told their tales. She seemed to really enjoy them, and he just couldn’t get enough of being close to her.

He made sure to glare down any guy who approached with the hope of getting her to dance. That shit wasn’t happening, not on his watch.

By the end of the night, they all left the bar. His friends took off in their truck, and he looked at Marshall.

“I live right next door to her. I can take her home.”

“Come on, Marshall. It’s time to go before the babysitter charges us triple.”

“You better not hurt her.”

“I have no intention of ever hurting her,” he said. “It makes no sense driving out of your way when I’m going in exactly the same direction.”

“He’ll be fine, Marshall. I’m not so far gone that I can’t kick him in the balls like you taught me to.”

“See, I’ll even let her do that.”

Marshall nodded. “Call me as soon as you get home.”

“I will.” She threw her arms around Marshall, kissing his cheek. “Have a nice night, and thank you so, so much for bringing me out.” She moved away, and linked her arm with his. “You’re so sweet offering to take me home.”

“A real gentleman would do that.”

He nodded at Marshall, and took Princess home with him.

“I really enjoyed tonight. I was worried that I’d hate it. I begged Tammy to come with me. They really struggle to get a babysitter. Their kids like to tease and torment all of the people that look after them. I normally babysit for them if they want to go out, and I had to bribe them, offering ten dollars and a week of pizza.”

He loved listening to her talk.

“Could you pull over?” Princess said.

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

“I think I’m going to be sick.”

Before he had the chance to pull over, she leaned between her legs, and he cursed as she hurled vomit down onto the floor.

He rolled down his window and pulled up. She was still vomiting, and the stench was putrid.

Easing her out of the truck, he held her as she kept on vomiting.

“I’ve got you,” he said.

“I feel awful. This is not normal,” she said.

“Is this the first time you’ve drunk?”

“Yeah, I think it could have been the wings I ate on the way out tonight.”