“You better buy me a drink, then. I’ll go easier on you.” I smiled, turning my back to him and facing the bartender. Then I snapped my fingers, pointing in front of me as he smiled and grabbed the bottle of Jack.
Over my shoulder, James called out, “Make it two.” He placed one hand on the bar to my right and stood to the left of me. His forearm pressed against my back, holding me in place and leaving me no escape. “What shall we drink to?” he asked.
“My brother,” I replied. Thomas was our link. The connection that James and I shared. “What did he say about me?” I asked.
James smiled, turning his head to face me. “That you’re his favorite sister.”
“Jackass, I’m his only sister.”
“I know.” He laughed. “He told me you’re hard to please.”
I shook my head. “I’m not. I’m just picky and I don’t settle.”
“Can’t fault you there. He’s proud of you.”
“For what?” I asked, looking at him, stunned.
“He’s proud of the strong woman you’ve grown into, and I’d have to agree with the little bit of you I’ve experienced.”
“Ha,” I said. “I learned everything I know from my four brothers.”
The bartender placed our shots on the bar and started to walk away.
“Hey, can we get two more?” I asked before he could get too far.
He nodded and grabbed the bottle, making two more drinks.
I lifted my glass, waiting for James to pick his up before I spoke. “To Thomas.” I tipped my drink, clinking the glass with his before downing the liquid.
I watched over the rim as James swallowed it and didn’t wince. His features were so strong and manly. I mean, what the fuck was that? I’d never thought of any one as manly.Maybe I shouldn’t have another drink.
“Tell me who you really are,” James said as he placed his empty glass on the bar.
“What you see if what you get,” I said before I licked the Jack off my lips.
“I know there’s the Izzy everyone sees and the real woman underneath.”
“James, what you see is what you get.”
“Are you always so hard?” he asked, brushing his thumb against my hand as it rested on the bar.
“I don’t know. Are you always so damn nosy?”
“I think you haven’t found the right man to tame your sass.”
I turned to glare at him. “Hold up. I need a man, is that what you’re saying?”
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I think your tongue is so sharp because you haven’t found the man who makes you whole. Someone who crawls inside you so deep that you finally figure out who you are, what you were always meant to be.”
“What the fuck?” I asked, scrunching my eyebrows in confusion.
“It’s for another day, doll. Sometimes, we just need someone to bring out our true nature.”
“Either I’ve clearly had too much to drink or you’re talking out of your ass. I’m going to go with option two.”
He cupped my face in his hand, rubbing the spot just behind my ear with his fingertips. “Sometimes, we don’t know who we really are until we find the perfect partner to bring it out.”
“Jimmy, I think we were talking about one night. You and me fucking each other’s brains out and then walking away. Now, you’re talking crazy if you think I need you in my life to complete me. I’m certainly not Renée Zellweger and you’re no Tom Cruise. I don’t need any man to complete me. I’m quite happy with my life.”
