Page 33 of The Hero I Can't Resist
Aria giggles, and as we stand across from each other, we finish off our drinks. We both set our empty glasses down and then walk out to the dance floor.
I stop next to Alex on the way. “We’re going to dance.”
He’s already following us, looking between Zach and me.
I can see he’s unsure what to do here, and so help me if he tells me I can’t dance, I’m going to lose it on him.
But Alex just follows us, standing a few feet away with his arms crossed over his chest. I tune him out, along with Zach. I mean, if he wants the blonde's hands all over him, that’s his prerogative, but I’m not going to sit and watch.
The next song is a line dance, and Aria and I line up. I get lost in the music and the movements. It’s not until the end of the song that I see that Zach has moved into Alex’s spot, and Alex is over at the booth with the blonde. Zach is watching me closely, nostrils flared, eyes dark. And I ignore him.
In reality, he didn’t do anything wrong, but jealousy is an ugly thing.
The song ends, and Aria and I are laughing, waiting for the next song to begin. Two men come toward us, but they don’t even get a word out. Zach steps in front of them. “Move along.”
Both men have to lean their heads back to look at him and must figure they don’t have a chance because they both walk away.
I spend the rest of the night ignoring Zach until Aria says she’s tired and has to be up early tomorrow for work.
“Come on, I’ll take you home,” I offer.
She points at me and laughs. “You can’t drive either.”
I put a thumb over my shoulder. “Alex or Zach will give you a ride home.”
I want to rip my brother’s ass because he should be here. He should be with his wife. I trip over my own feet, making me realize that I may be a little drunker than I thought. Before I fall on my face, an arm goes around my waist, and Zach pulls me up against his chest. “Easy now. You okay?”
I pull from his hold. I’m mad at him, and maybe I’m being ridiculous, but I don’t care. I point over my shoulder. “Don’t you have a date waiting on youor something? I’m ready to go, and we need to take Aria home. Can you tell Alex?” I avoid looking at Zach. “Or I can get an Uber or something.”
Zach puts a hand at the middle of my back. “Come on. I’ll take you home.” He looks at Aria. “You ready?”
She seems to find all this funny and laughs. “If you two want to be alone, I can find a ride.”
I loop my arm through hers. “Don’t be silly.”
Zach walks us through the bar, and it makes me mad that every woman we pass is checking him out. I know he’s a good-looking man, but I’m not ready for this crash of emotions to come over me. When we get outside, he points to his truck. “I’m right there.”
He opens the back door, and I let Aria climb in before I get in after her. Zach doesn’t seem bothered by us both riding in the back. I expect him to shut the door, but he surprises me when he leans in and pulls the seatbelt around me and snaps the lock.
He’s looking all around as he walks to the driver’s side, and Aria is elbowing me in the side with a little giggle. “That’s so hot.”
I look at her, surprised, and she holds her hands up. “Whoa there, tiger. I meant it’s hot how Zach put your seatbelt on you. He wants you safe.”
I shrug like it’s no big deal, but on the inside, my lower belly pulls. Why am I being this way? It’s not Zach’s fault that he’s so handsome and everywhere we go, women are looking at him.
Grudgingly, I ask Zach, “Do you know where Penn and Aria live?”
He looks at me in the rearview mirror. “I do.”
I jerk my gaze from his and look out the window.
Aria elbows me in the side. She leans in to whisper in my ear, “Girl, he’s got it bad. I would love if Penn looked at me the way Zach looks at you.”
I look at my sister-in-law and see the pain on her face. I hate that she’s not happy, and it makes me want to kick my brother’s butt all over again.
On the way to Aria’s house, we talk and laugh. When a popular song comes on the radio, I ask Zach to turn it up, and Aria and I sing along, laughing over our out of tune antics.
We’re both smiling as Zach pulls into Penn and Aria’s driveway.
