Catching Summer (Second Chances, #6)(14)
“Why not?”
“It doesn’t matter,” he grumbled. “I just don’t like him touching you. What happened is in the past. I don’t even give a shit about it anymore.”
“Then why are you still so angry?”
He sighed. “I already told you. I don’t like him touching you. He’s not the kind of guy a girl like you should be with.”
Now I was intrigued. “Oh, really? Then what kind of guy should I be with?”
He pulled into my driveway and parked, but left the ignition running. “I don’t know, someone who actually cares about who you are instead of trying to get in your pants. Jax only wants to f*ck you. That’s all he ever wants from anyone.”
Grabbing my bag, I opened the door and slid out. I liked feeling protected with him, but he needed to know I wasn’t weak…not anymore. “Then I guess it’s a good thing I’m not interested in him. If there’s one thing you need to understand about me, it’s that I’m not easily fooled. I picked up on Jax’s intent before he even opened his mouth today. If you want to protect me from everyone, that’s fine, but let’s get something clear.” His head snapped in my direction; I had his full-on attention. “I’m a big girl and I can take care of myself. Don’t for one second think I can’t.”
“That’s not what I think when I look at you, Summer,” he murmured, his gray eyes boring into mine.
“Then what is?”
His lip curled up into a small smile. “I don’t think you’re ready to hear it. When you are, I’ll be right there.” He put his truck in reverse and waited for me to shut the door. Reluctantly, I shut it, still reeling over his words. “I’ll see you tonight at the restaurant. I’m meeting the journalist there to do the interview.” I’ll admit, when I saw him with her at practice and the way she was dressed in her tight pants and low-cut top, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy. It made me wonder if that was the type of girl he wanted: sophisticated, modern, and classy, with her high heels and perfectly made-up face. That wasn’t me.
Nodding, I stepped back. “Then I guess I’ll see you there.” With her. He pulled out of the driveway and disappeared down the road. It was going to be a long night.
—
“Are you okay?” Lara asked, stepping into my line of sight. For the past hour, I’d watched the journalist constantly find ways to touch Evan and smile at him. I could see it in the way she sat, poking out her breasts to draw attention to her cleavage. She wanted him.
“I’m fine,” I snapped.
She glanced back at Evan’s table and faced me with furrowed brows. “Well, if I didn’t know any better I’d say you were jealous. You sure are acting like it.”
“I’m not jealous. Just—”
Lara grinned widely. “Just jealous? Why don’t you admit that you like him? I think you’re forgetting that we’re twins. We’re from the same egg, so we basically share the same brain.”
Laughing, I tore my gaze away from Evan’s table. “Lara, you’re too much sometimes.”
“So, you do like him?”
“I didn’t say that,” I replied quickly. Who was I kidding? I did like him and I was jealous. I didn’t like seeing him with another woman, especially one who kept touching him. I’d give anything just to go over there and tell her to back off.
“It’s okay if you do. Evan’s a nice guy. He’s a much better man than his best friend.” Her gaze landed on something over my shoulder and she snarled, “And speaking of which, said best friend just walked through the damn door with another wildebeest.” She squeezed my shoulder and slid off the stool. “Is it okay if I go home? My head is killing me.”
I looked at her and then over my shoulder at Luke. In that moment, I hated him for what he was doing to her. “Go,” I told her. “Grayson and I will be fine here.” Grayson was helping an elderly gentleman at the end of the bar, but he acknowledged us with a nod of his head.
“Thank you,” she whispered hurriedly. In a flash, she rushed to the back and out the exit door.
“Grayson, what’s up, man?” Luke greeted him as he approached the bar.
Grayson’s jaw clenched, but he put on a fake smile and shook Luke’s hand. “Not much. Been busy.”
“I hear ya,” Luke said, sitting down at the bar. His lady friend took the seat beside me, smelling like cheap perfume and sex. My stomach rolled in disgust. How Lara could ever fall in love with someone like Luke was beyond me. What was worse was that he was Evan’s best friend. You are what you hang out with was what I’d always heard.
“Well, hello, Summer. How are you tonight?” Luke asked, slamming down the shot of tequila Grayson had just poured him. Grayson could see in my eyes that I had hit my limit. He shook his head, warning me, but I couldn’t let it go any longer.
“Actually, Luke, I’m feeling a little sick to my stomach. Do you want to know why?” I glared at him, not even acknowledging the girl he’d dragged in with him. He cleared his throat, his smile fading. Without waiting for an answer, I stood and walked over, stopping behind him and leaning down to his ear. I whispered low so his friend couldn’t hear me.
“I’m sick because every time you come in here with some slut bag, I have to look at the hurt on Lara’s face. You might not give a damn after you f*cked her and left, but I sure as hell do. If you so much as bring another one of your skank-ass friends in here, I promise I will literally kick you out myself.” I slapped my hand on the bar to get Grayson’s attention. “Close his tab. He’s leaving.”