“I’m fine, really. Even better now,” I say, gesturing to the empty shot glass.
“That’s what a big brother is for.” He pushes to his feet with a chuckle and heads back to the bar.
“You’re so lucky,” Alex says, watching him go.
I narrow my eyes. If she gives me the whole “you’re so lucky to have such a hot brother speech” I’ve gotten my whole life—and, naturally, have never understood—I’m going to thump her.
“I wish my sister and I were as close as you guys,” she adds.
“Oh.” I glance over at Cory with a little smile. “Yeah, well, Cory and I didn’t always get on so well. He used to make my life hell when we were little.”
“Harriet and I have never been that close, but now I wish we were. Of course, that’s never going to happen with her on the other side of the planet.”
“Well, yeah,” Geoff says. “Have you invited her to visit?”
“Of course. But she always makes excuses. She hasn’t traveled outside of New Zealand, so I think maybe she’s intimidated.”
Geoff nods in understanding. “New York is a lot if you’re not used to it.”
Alex’s shoulders slump as she gazes down into her wine, and sympathy swoops through me. I don’t know what I’d do without Cory. I wish I could help her be closer with Harriet.
My gaze floats across the bar to where Myles and Cory are working side-by-side, pouring drinks. I notice how the longer curls on the top of Myles’s hair fall across his forehead, and he pushes them back with his tattooed arm. Cory’s warning to stay away from him comes back to me, and I frown. Even if I wanted to sleep with Myles, Cory would have a fit.
“It’s not all good, though,” I mumble. “Cory can be way too overprotective.” My eyes linger on Myles, on the way he’s twirling the bottle for a girl in front of him, laughing at something she’s said. He glances up to find me watching and falters, nearly dropping the bottle. He pours her drink without any further fanfare, and once she’s gone he sends me a grin. But it’s not his smug one, which is kind of jarring with him behind the bar, where I always see him as the cocky bartender. I smile back, chewing my straw distractedly, my mind replaying that thing he said to me at the store the other day.
Ah, it’s probably a good thing it was a joke. With the way I’m feeling tonight, I might be tempted to take him up on the offer. In fact, I should probably stop drinking right now, just to make sure I don’t do anything stupid.
I sigh, turning back to my friends. They’re both peering at me with amusement.
“Jesus, Cat.” Geoff snickers. “Could you be any more obvious?”
“What?” I push my vodka aside and reach for a glass of water from the table, gulping it back.
“Cory doesn’t want you to hook up with Myles,” Alex says. “Is that what you mean?”
I blink, focusing my attention properly on them. “What are you talking about?”
“Come on.” Geoff elbows me. “Youobviouslyhave a thing for him.”
“No, I don’t,” I say, and they share a laugh.
“I think you should go for it.” Alex leans past me to look at Myles. “He’s hot and he’s totally your type.”
Why does everyone keep saying that?
“I shouldn’t,” I mumble. Whoops—I meant to say,I’m not interested.I reach for another glass of water and take a long pull.
“I knew it!” Geoff grins, triumphant. “And yeah, you should. He’s definitely into you.”
“But—” I fiddle with my glass. Is Geoff right?
“Is it the Mark thing?” Alex guesses.
“What?”
“You said he reminded you of Mark, and that put you off him.”
“Right, yes. That’s one of my rules; I don’t date guys who share the same traits as my ex.”
