“Just Coke. I’m driving.”
“I can take you home. Or call a taxi,” she suggested, trying to be helpful.
“Zoe…”
“Okay then. Say no more. Coke it is.”
“Well then, if he’s going to be a girl about it, I’ll take his if you’re pouring, Mum.” Kane grinned wickedly as he slid onto the stool beside me. “Big brother…how’s our girl doing?” Kane asked gulping down a large swig.
“Our girl?” Zoe smirked as she slipped in between us, her eyes never leaving Mum’s. “Jenna, can I get another?”
“Sure thing.” Mum smiled, sliding another vodka and orange juice across the bar. “How are these two boof headed sons of mine treating you, Zoe?”
“You know them.”
“Yes, I do.” Mum grinned widely. “That’s why I’m worried!”
Bloody women and their secret codes. It was something I would never understand and gave up trying a long time ago.
“Hey…we’re not that bad!” Kane objected.
Zoe finished her drink and turned to face me. She was beautiful. She always had been. Even through that awkward dorky tomboy phase she went through, in my eyes she’d always been something special, even if she never knew it.
“So, Spencer McLaren,” she slurred. Her eyes were glassy and her cheeks rosy. I knew she was well on her way to drunk, and when her hand landed in the centre of my chest, I could only pray she was tipsy enough that she didn’t feel my heart beating out of control beneath her touch. “Are you just going to sit here and stare at me all night or are you going to come and take me for a twirl around the dance floor?”
Shit! I hated to dance. I had absolutely no rhythm and Zoe knew it. What’s worse is when I did dance, which only ever happened after I’d downed more than my fair share of shots, I cleared the dance floor with my wild dance moves faster than calling last drinks.
“Zoe!” I growled out my warning.
She didn’t flinch. It was just another thing I loved about her. She wasn’t afraid. Never had been. She was a witch and she knew exactly which buttons to press to get me to do whatever her heart desired. As soon as she fluttered her long, black lashes and pouted her perfect, completely kissable lips, I was screwed. I knew it. She knew it. Fuck, everyone in the bar knew it.
“But Spencer…” she whined.
Over her shoulder I watched as Kane tossed his head back and laughed loudly. He’d always found it funny how whipped I was by the tiny firecracker that was Zoe. I was just waiting for the day when some woman wormed their way under his skin and he knew exactly what it was like.
“Hey Zoe!” he called out, stealing her attention.
She wobbled on her feet and instinctively I grabbed her hips to steady her. She sobered instantly. It took a second and a few deep breaths, but the moment Mum slid a glass of ice water onto the bar in front of her, Zoe gulped it down greedily before focusing her attention on Kane.
“Yep?” She smiled forcefully.
“What you want to dance with an old man for, anyway? Wouldn’t you much rather dance with the younger, better looking, more worldly and obviously better in bed version?” Kane taunted, trying to lighten a suddenly very tense situation.
Zoe looked up at me. I wasn’t sure if she was looking for permission or assurance, but I offered her both. Kane was my brother. My twin brother. I trusted him with my life, which meant I trusted him with Zoe’s. If he fucked it up, I’d kill him. A fact he was very aware of.
“You know what, Kane? You’re right. Let’s do it!” She smiled, pushing off me and taking Kane’s hand.
I watched him lead her to the middle of the dance floor and pull her into his arms. For the first few beats of a tired country classic she looked stiff and scared, but soon enough she relaxed and I let go of the breath I’d been holding. When minutes later Zoe’s head dropped onto Kane’s shoulder, I turned my attention back to the bar.
Yet another mistake.
Mum was there waiting for me and I could feel the interrogation coming.
“You can’t protect her from everything,” Mum offered sincerely.
I knew she was only trying to help. Deep down I knew that. It didn’t make it any easier to swallow. I wanted to. I had to. Someone had to. And if I was being honest, I wanted it to be me. It’s hard to believe that the ball of fire wrapped in my brother’s arms; the woman who I’d die to protect, was the same one I hadn’t seen nor heard from for over two years. This time didn’t matter. The old fights and arguments had been long forgotten.
“That girl’s tough,” Mum said, her eyes firmly fixed on Zoe and Kane.
“Yeah, she is,” I agreed, following her gaze.
“But…”
“Not as tough as she pretends to be.”
