Part of me wants to leave. I’m in my early twenties, and I’m already an old man.
“Let’s get drinks!” Parker yells over the music. I nod, and we head to the bar. Colby himself is working it. Colby is older than us, a few years older than my sister. I raise my arm, signaling two beers, and he spots me and nods.
I reach through the crowd and grab the two beers he passes me. “I’ll put it on the tab,” he yells, and I nod back at him.
“Here, let’s find some space,” I say to Parker. I head out to the dance floor.
“Well, look what the cat dragged in,” Parker yells. My head turns, and I see Harley and Brit on the dance floor.
Harley is twerking against some guy, and Brit is standing next to motherfucking Cole Bradford. Fuck.
She doesn’t see us, so I walk up behind her. I can’t tell what she’s saying but she’s sort of animated with her hands on her hips.
“You shouldn’t be here, Superstar,” I whisper in her ear as my hands come to rest on her hips. She jumps and turns toward me.
“Ty?” she squeals.
I grin. “You should have that leg propped up,” I scold her.
“Harley wanted a girls’ night out,” she says, leaning toward my ear. I get a whiff of her perfume. Damn, why does she smell so good?
“How’s that working out for you?” I ask her.
“Well, we are going to need a ride home because there is no way she’s driving back,” she says as she motions toward a drunk Harley who is now grinding on Parker. I roll my eyes. Sometimes I just wish those two would fuck and get it over with already.
“Hey, Ty,” Cole says to me. I can see him watching me intently as I talk to Brit, and I want to tell him to go fuck off, but something tells me that would not end well.
“Hey,” I answer with a nod in his direction. I look back at Brit who looks like she wants to shrink into the floor. “How’s the ankle?”
She holds up her drink. “Better.”
“You’re on pain meds, Brit. That’s not smart.”
“OK, dad. I didn’t take any today. So, back the fuck up. I can take care of myself,” she replies defensively.
I sigh. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.” We’ve been clashing ever since she came back. I know why, but I also know as much as we have argued and as much as she’s tried to push me away, we fit together so perfectly. If she’ll just forgive me and give me another chance.
“You want to dance more?” I ask her.
I can see she doesn’t, but I’m curious if she’s going to be stubborn and fight her need to sit down. And then there’s fucking Cole. I can see his hand on her ass, and I want to rip it off his goddamn arm.
She shakes her head, surprising me. “I should get off my ankle.” She glances up at Cole. “I probably should go sit down.”
“Sure. Let’s have a seat. Good to see you, Ty,” he says, dismissing me. Only I don’t answer to Cole. Cole was a player in high school and in college from what I hear. He sees nothing more than a conquest for pussy in Brittany, and I’m not about to let that happen.
“I think Brit should get home. She’s not ready to dance on that ankle,” I state as I pull back my shoulders and raise to my full height, which is about two inches taller than Cole. Cole’s in shape still, but not anywhere as much as I am.
“Dude, Brit and I are on a date, do you mind?”
“Actually, Cole, I do mind,” I state, taking a step toward him.
“Ty, fuck off, Brit is with me. And she’s made it clear that you aren’t a thing anymore, so get lost.”
“She doesn’t look like she wants your hands on her ass from what I can see,” I hiss back at him. Brit doesn’t think I still know her, but I do. I know when she’s uncomfortable, and having Cole’s hands on her ass is making her visibly uncomfortable.
I see Brit look between us.
“OK, boys, let’s take this testosterone match down a few notches. Cole, this ‘date’ is over. Ty, I can take care of myself.” She steps back from us both and walks over to Harley. Fuck.
“Way to go douchebag. What the fuck?” Cole says as he slams into my shoulder and walks toward Brittany.
I look over and see Harley is dancing with Parker, and both of them are watching us. I follow after Cole and can hear him say something to Brittany. Apparently, Harley doesn’t like what he says because I see her turn toward him.
“Cole, you are such a pussy-seeking dick! Brit, come on, let’s get out of here,” Harley says as she drags her friend toward the bathroom.
“Way to go, asshole,” Parker says as he walks toward the bar.
I step toward Cole, who turns to survey the dance floor. A woman waves to him, and he starts toward her, but I block his path.
“Brit is mine, just so we are clear.”
“Whatever. Good luck with that. And for the record, bro, she doesn’t think that.”
“She will soon,” I reply. “So, stay the fuck away from her.”
“No problem. I wouldn’t want a piece of that little prude anyhow,” he states. And I’m about to clock him in the face, when a hand comes down hard on my shoulder. I turn to see Parker standing there.
“He’s not worth it,” he whispers in my ear before flicking off Cole, who rolls his eyes and walks away from us.
I shake my shoulders out and follow Parker to the bar. He hands me a beer, but I decide I don’t want to drink. I want to get the fuck out of here with Brittany.
She leans over to Harley and says something. Harley nods and whispers into Parker’s ear. He nods to me and waves to Brittany.
“What’s the plan?” I ask her.
“You’re driving me home in Parker’s car, and Parker’s gonna take Harley home in her car.”
“OK,” I say slowly. “Now?”
She nods. “Oh, I’m sorry. You just got here. I can sit for a while and let you dance.”
I shake my head and lean in toward her ear. “I didn’t want to come out anyhow. Let’s go back to my place and watch a movie,” I suggest. I can see her contemplating it, and finally she nods.
I grab her hand and lead her to Parker’s car. Opening the passenger door, I help her to get in the seat. I grab the seatbelt to buckle her in, and she takes it from my hand.
“I got it,” she says softly, our faces mere inches apart. Damn this woman is going to be the death of me.
“OK,” I say, fighting every instinct to kiss her. I walk around to my side and get in, taking a moment to compose myself before I drive us to my place.
“Thanks,” she says meekly as I drive us up the mountain.
“For what?” I ask.
“For getting me out of there. I mean... that didn’t sound right. I had fun... well, for a while it was fun. I can’t believe Cole turned out to be such an asshole.”
“I’m surprised you went out at all,” I admit, glancing over at her ankle. I don’t mention Cole because if I do, I may turn around and go pummel his ass.
But Brittany’s presence calms me as I focus back on the road. It’s so familiar: her, us, chatting and driving. I spent so much of my time fighting this exact scenario that it’s weird to come full circle and want it.