“Hope she knows how lucky she is,” she says, accepting the remainder of her money.
“Actually, I’m the lucky one,” I tell her, smiling. It’s the truth. If only she would let me in, let me see that side of her again. Her vulnerable side. It’s not like I expected Taiya to fall back into my arms yesterday, but I guess I was hoping for… something. When I left, hearing her cry ripped my heart out. Those tears let me know a few things. They show just how much I’ve hurt her, but they also show that she cares enough to maybe work things out. I need to fix the damage I’ve caused, to show her just how amazing she is. The woman deserves the world, and I plan to give it to her.
Rachel sighs. “I highly doubt that,” she says under her breath, before walking back to the table, drink in hand. I smile at her retreating back. If she only knew.
“Can I get a drink or you going to stare at the blonde all night?” comes Xander’s amused voice. I turn to my left, smiling at him in welcome. His long hair is tied back away from his face, showing off the ink on his neck. I think he’s had even more work done since the last time I’ve seen him.
“That new?” I ask him, pointing to the side of his neck.
“Yup,” he says, sitting down on one of the stools.
“Soon, we aren’t going to be able to see any of your skin,” I say as I pour him a beer.
“I don’t have any on my legs,” he says, lifting his shoulder in a shrug.
“Yet,” we both say at the same time. I’ve known Xander for a while now. He’s younger than me, but doesn’t look it. With his tattoos, muscular build and penetrating eyes, he looks like someone you wouldn’t want to mess with.
“How’s Jack?” I ask, referring to his dad. I slide him his beer across the table.
“You know Dad,” he says, lifting the glass and taking a long sip. “I thought Summer was meant to be here?”
“Yeah, me too. Reid’s giving her a late pass,” I say, chuckling at my own joke.
Xander tightens his lips. “Sucks not having her at home, so I come to see her and she’s not even here.”
“She’ll be here; don’t worry,” I say, crossing my arms and watching him. He loves his sister so much it’s insane. I guess because she was never always in his life, he doesn’t take her for granted now. Xander grew up with his dad, and Summer with her mum. He really is a good man, and I hope he doesn’t ever get involved in the things his old man used to.
“Hey,” Tag says, walking over to us. I realise he served everyone at the bar while I was here shooting the shit.
“We still on for tomorrow?” Xander asks Tag. Tag grins slowly, and nods. What the hell are these two up to?
“What’s happening tomorrow?” I ask, extremely curious. When they both start laughing at my question, I stand up straighter. Now, I really need to know.
“Sorry I’m late!” Summer calls out as she rushes behind the bar. I notice that her hair looks different, lighter or something. We all watch as she rushes to the office and comes back seconds later without her bag. She then walks over to her brother and kisses him on the cheek in greeting.
“What did I miss?” she asks, scanning each of our faces.
“You mean besides work?” Tag says dryly, earning him an elbow to the stomach from Summer.
I chuckle. Summer rolls her eyes, and then leans down to grab an apple juice box from the fridge.
A customer stands at the bar and Tag quickly walks over to serve him.
“So Taiya and I are hanging out next Saturday,” she says, poking the straw in and taking a sip. Yes, Reid stocks the bar with her favourite drink.
“Really?” I say, extremely interested. I lean down and wait for her to tell me more.
“I thought we’d start here for pre-drinks then head out clubbing.”
“Who’s going?” I ask.
“Me, Taiya, her friend Isis and…” She mumbles the last name so I can’t understand what she said.
“You, Taiya, Isis and who?” I ask, frowning.
She purses her lips, and then huffs out a frustrated breath. “Reid.”
Xander and I laugh. “Reid is tagging along on girls’ night?”
“He’s… insisting,” she says, looking put out. Truth be told, I’m thrilled Reid is going. He can keep an eye on Taiya for me, so I know she will get home in one piece, and no guys will try anything with her if Reid is standing right there. If they value their lives, anyway.
“I thought you wore the pants in the relationship?” I tease, referring to a conversation we had recently. Summer claimed that she ran the show, and from what I’ve seen, it might be true in certain situations. My brother will do anything to make Summer happy. But when it comes to Summer’s safety, Reid does what Reid wants, and I don’t think that’s ever going to change.
“You gotta choose your battles,” she says wisely. Ain’t that the truth.
“And you’re choosing not to fight Reid on this one?”
“I think it’s a great idea,” Xander adds in, grinning. He’s just as overprotective of Summer, if not worse. “Perhaps I’ll tag along too.”
“The hell you will,” Summer grits out, narrowing her eyes at her baby brother.
“Why not?” Xander says over his pint of beer.
Summer throws her hands up in frustration. “I have no female friends! I’m trying to make one. You guys are all going to scare her off!”