“Well, this has been interesting,” I say as I stand up, walk to the sink, and wash my bowl and spoon.
“Because of you, Tracker had to leave me last night. Next time can you just do as you’re told so my man doesn’t have to babysit you?” Allie sneers.
“Actually, Tracker volunteered to go with us, so stop running your mouth, Allie,” Arrow adds, then looks to me. “You want a ride home?”
“We’ll take a cab,” I tell him. I turn around just before I walk out of the room. “Oh, and Allie . . . go fuck yourself.”
* * *
Lana wakes up and takes a quick shower while I go in search of Rake. I knock on his door, hoping that he’s alone.
“Yeah?” he calls out.
“It’s me!”
“Come in, Anna,” he says, so I turn the doorknob and enter his room.
“Please tell me you’re alone,” I say with my eyes closed.
He laughs and throws a pillow at me, which hits me in the face. “Think I’d invite you inside if I wasn’t?”
I open my eyes, pick up the pillow from the floor, and throw it back at him. “I never know with you.”
I sit down on his bed. “Did Arrow tell you what happened last night?”
“He told me. What I want to know is why you didn’t.”
“I didn’t want to make a big deal over it. You taught him a lesson back then, Rake. You beat the shit out of him, and Arrow decked him last night. While I hated to do it, I’m glad you made me file that report on him, because I didn’t want him to do the same to another woman.”
“I’m glad Arrow handled it,” Rake replies. “My brothers will always take care of you if I’m not there.”
“I know,” I say. “I’m glad Arrow was there too.”
“Next time you’re going out like that, give me a heads-up.”
“Going out like what?” I ask, watching him as he puts his hands behind his head.
“Dressed up like . . . that.”
I bite my lip to stop my grin. “Dressed like what, Rake?”
“Christ, Anna,” he growls. “All the men in that place were watching you. We were lucky we made it out of there with only one guy getting hit.”
My lip twitches. “Aren’t you happy I came back home?”
His eyes soften at that. I’d said it as a joke, but I could see he didn’t take it that way. “I’m beyond happy, Anna; trust me on that.”
He puts his palm over his heart. “Everything feels right, you know? I was unsettled when you were gone.”
And this is why I love my brother.
I clear my throat. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
I look away, staring at his door. “What happened to Bailey?”
He’s silent.
I look back at him to see a weird expression on his face. “That was years ago, Anna.”
“I know,” I say. “I was just wondering.”
“I don’t know where she is,” he says. “After high school finished we went our separate ways.”
“Did you love anyone after her?” I ask him.
“I’ve loved a lot of women, Anna,” he says with a cheeky grin.
I roll my eyes. “Not like that. I mean love.”
He shakes his head. “Why all the questions?”
“Just something I’ve been wanting to ask you for a while,” I say, shrugging sheepishly.
“It’s in the past, Anna,” he says, his voice barely a whisper. “Doesn’t matter anymore.”
I thought it did, but I didn’t want to push any further.
“Lana’s in the shower and we’re going to catch a cab home.”
“I’m taking you both home,” he says, his tone final.
“Bossy.”
“I thought we could grab some lunch or something on the way,” he says.
“Sushi?” I ask, perking up.
“No,” he replies, laughing. “Definitely not. How about we grab some sushi for you, then go to another restaurant where I can get a decent meal.”
I gasp. “Was that you compromising? I can’t believe it.”
“Don’t get used to it, baby sis,” he says, picking up another pillow and throwing it at me—this time I catch it in my hand.
“Mature, Rake!”
I hear Lana call my name and I stand up.
“Oh, shit,” I mutter. “The reason I came here in the first place was to get some clothes for Lana to borrow.”
Poor thing must be waiting in a towel like I’d been doing earlier this morning. Rake gets out of bed and pulls out a T-shirt and boxer shorts. “Looks like we’re taking you to your house first to get dressed before we can go out for lunch.”
“Or,” I say, “we can get drive-through and go to my apartment and stuff our faces.”
“I like how you think, Anna.”
“Glad you approve,” I say, taking the clothes and walking toward the door.
“Thanks, bro.”
“Anytime, sis.”
FIVE
WHEN I get a call from Summer a few days later, I’d forgotten that I’d given her my number in hopes of a job at the bar. She tells me to come in for a trial. I’m sitting in the kitchen with Lana, about to get ready to go, when she speaks.
“Have you ever been spanked?”
I choke on my piece of toast. Lana taps me on the back until I turn and look at her. “Why the hell would you ask me that?”