“That obvious, dude.” He stands beside me as we watch the scene play out. Levi is busy mixing cocktails for the girls, and Mojo keeps circling around my girl. A dull laugh pumps through me. Is Raven my girl? Yeah, Raven is mygirl.
“She’s not into me, though. She’s intohim.”
“Her brother?” His voice pitches, and just as fast as he freaked out, he points a finger at Mojo. “Oh, him,” Axel groans as if he were just as frustrated as I am. “Man, I really thought you and Raven made a good-looking couple. Now I’m going to have to stare at that snake in human skin for the rest of my days. Whoever Raven ends up with is going to be family.” He slaps me over the shoulder. “Better luck next time.” He looks to the bar and does a double take just as Jessie waltzes over. “I take it that’s your future plus one. I’ll see if I can get Lex to stop mocking her. I think it’s about time we all play nice.” He takes off for the bar as Jessie steps inclose.
“Hey,hon! You wouldn’t want to fetch a thirsty girl a drink, wouldyou?”
“I sure would.” I force a smile to come and go. “Give me aminute.”
She takes off, waving from over her shoulder. That skintight red dress she’s got on doesn’t leave much to the imagination. No bra. Thong. I can see the whale tail. Jessie is pretty. And sweet. She’s just not the one forme.
The one for me just so happens to be throwing herself at a snake—a totally nice snake when you get down to it. Axel is right. Whoever Raven ends up with will be family. Heck, once Raven and Mojo become a couple, it’ll be too late to let her know how I feel. Too late to fight for her. Too late to make hermine.
A self-righteous rage percolates inside me, and I want nothing more than to head over like some juiced-up caveman ready to claim what’s mine. I’ll be damned if I don’t go down without a fight. Not that I’m going to knock Mojo out like a bowling pin. I’ll just make him disappear for a while. And hopefully, Raven will see that it’s me she’s reallyafter.
I make my way to the bar and break up what appears to be a lively retelling ofMoby Dick. Mojo is famous for his fish tales. Sorry, buddy. Nottoday.
I tell Mojo he can go on his dinner break, and he takes off without so much as awhimper.
Raven’s mouth falls open as he takes off. “What did you do thatfor?”
“Because he’s hungry.” I frown over at her. “So, has he asked you outyet?”
She makes a face and inspects her fingernails. “Not yet, but he was just about to before you barreled in and practically shoved him out thedoor.”
I shake my head. “If he was going to do it, it would have happened by now. I hate to break it to you, but the dude’s just not that intoyou.”
Her face contorts with shock. Those doe eyes open wide with horror. “Not that into me?” She clutches at her chest, at that soft sweater I want to turn into a pillow later just so I can take in her scent. I confess, I pulled a sweatshirt off the couch she abandoned there last night and did that very same thing. Raven has always held the faint scent of lilacs, and I crave that scent more than I crave food orwater.
I glance to the end of the bar where Levi and Low have Lex and Axel riveted with the details of their snorkeling adventures, so I steal a moment to lean in toward the beautiful woman beforeme.
“Nope. Maybe it’s time you cut your losses.” I mix a quick Shirley Temple and glide it over toher.
“Cut my losses?” she balks so loud three different tables turn our way. “Do I look like a quitter toyou?”
My stomach ties itself in a knot. I know full well Raven always finishes what she starts. One year we entered into a candy-eating contest, each with our own club store-sized tub of red licorice, and she gnawed on half the barrel before puking up a sea of red. Raven is tenacious, fearless, and unabashedly not afraid ofcarbs.
Raven lets out a dramatic sigh, and a part of me gets the feeling it’s all an act. “Hey? Iknow! Maybe you can give me some pointers on what guys like—especially that guy.” She points toward the kitchen. “And with a little training from a pro, I can land my man.” That determined spark in her eyes looks all too familiar. Nope, she’s not faking. Damn. Why can’t she leave well enoughalone?
“What kind of pointers?” I gruff the words out like a threat. The last thing I want to do is give up my best material only to have her use it on some otherdude.
“I don’t know—clothes? Hair? Body language?” She bites down over her bottom lip, and my balls ache just watching the endeavor. “And, you know—other things. I bet he senses the fact I’minexperienced.”
My entire body shakes, demanding to have her. I glance to Levi in the event I’m about to get a knife to thehead.
My phone goes off, and I fish it out of my pocket. “Huh, I don’t recognize thenumber.”
Raven shrugs. “It’s late. You should get it. It might be anemergency.”
“It’s never an emergency. It’s always someone trying to sell me a timeshare.” I pick it up and listen as the dizzying words fly by like a coven of angry bats. I hang up and stagger back amoment.
“What is it?” Raven sits at the edge of her seat, her hand outstretched as if to catchme.
“It was an emergency. I gotta go.” And with that, I speed the hell out of thebar.
Raven rideswith me all the way to the Jepson Police Department where we’re met with Marlin, Lex’s brother whom I met briefly when he flew into the bar looking for his sister onenight.
“She’s in the holding tank. She was with a friend, but she got away.” He looks to Raven and me, and it’s spooky how much he looks like Lex. I don’t know how Axel does it—looking at this guy with a straight face. It’s essentially the same face he goes to bed with at night. Raven, however, only slightly resembles her brothers and thankfully so. I’ve been getting a little relief in the shower by way of her beauty these past few weeks, and the last person I want to see while doing so is either of those clowns. They might be my good friends, as good as brothers, but I draw the line once my hand takes a dive for thenight.
