Javier
The Previous Night
After all hell breaks loose at the Brooks house, Gabriella, Gracie, and Connor decide they are going out. Ryland fights with them about staying home since they’ve been drinking.
“I’ll go with them,” I volunteer and regret the words as they come out of my mouth. But there’s no way Gabriella’s going to the bar without me after drinking that fishbowl. I saw Connor make one, and I’m pretty sure it’s lethal.
Ryland glares at me.
Chloe takes his arm and softly says, “Let him go with them, Ryland.”
It’s not your decision where I go or don’t go, Ryland.
I ignore him and turn to Chloe. “You want me to drop you off first?”
She turns to him. “Ryland can take me home, right?”
What are you getting yourself into, Chloe?
They exchange a glance I can’t interpret then he says, “Gracie and Connor can handle their alcohol better than Gabriella. That fishbowl she drank is going to hit her hard in a little while. Don’t let her drink any more. She’s pissed, and that’s why she’s drinking. She’ll regret it in the morning. And Gracie can get a bit wild, so if any dudes get on her, pull them off because Connor will probably be too busy trying to get laid to watch out for either of them.”
It’s going to be an awesome night of babysitting. Can’t wait.
“Got it.”
He clenches his jaw. “You aren’t going to take advantage of my sister’s state, right?”
What a dickhead. He thinks I’m a total douchebag.
I scowl at him. “Are you seriously asking me that?”
He holds his hands up. “I had to ask.”
I’m shaking my head in disgust when the three siblings come down the stairs. Gabriella hands me my shirt. “Here’s your shirt back. Although I prefer you without it,” she giggles and puts her hand on my chest.
Yep, the alcohol is already hitting her.
“Why do you have his shirt?” Ryland growls at me.
For crying out loud.
“Calm down, Ryland. Gabriella made him take it off at the door to get into the party. She had it in her bedroom so he wouldn’t lose it,” Chloe says.
“Not that it’s any of your concern,” Gabriella says.
I put on my shirt. “I’m going with you three if that’s okay?”
Gabriella puts her finger on my nose. “I don’t know. Are you going to play good cop or bad cop?”
I’ll play whatever cop you want when you’re sober.
Nope. Don’t go there.
“To be determined. Let’s go.”
“No more drinks, Gabriella,” Ryland instructs.
She rolls her eyes at him. “Mind your own business, Ryland.” She bounces out the door, and I follow.
“They’re such assholes,” Gabriella mutters.
“He’s not innocent, either.” Gracie points to me.
“Leave it, Gracie. At least he stood up to Ryland and Hudson.”
That’s my girl. Give me some credit.
She’s not your girl, and you’re not going there. You shouldn’t have kissed her earlier.
Make sure they are all safe tonight then resume normal life.
I open the door for Gabriella, and Gracie and Connor get in the back.
When I start the car, I ask, “Where are we going?”
“Let’s go to Ybor City,” Connor says.
“In Tampa?”
“Sure. It’s early enough.”
No way I’m letting them loose in Ybor.
“Sorry, dude, not tonight. Pick a closer place.”
He grumbles, “Fine. Bridge Street.”
“Got it.”
Gabriella puts her hand on my leg. “Can I pick the music?”
“Sure, but do me a favor and put your belt on first.”
Her fingers inches up my leg, and she murmurs, “What if I need help?”
I secure it and put my face next to hers. “Done.”
She licks her lips and briefly strokes my cock over my swim trunks.
Great. I’m going to have an endless hard-on.
I wink and sit back in my seat then drive down the island. Gabriella puts on a top hits channel, and they all sing along.
We pass the sports bar I usually hang out in and go to the end of Bridge Street. A tiny, outdoor bar is attached to an indoor one. It only has a few patrons, but since it’s a small place, it makes it appear full.
Connor and Gracie go straight to the bar and order shots. They get one for me, but I shake my head and point to the tap. “I’ll take a pint and a bottle of water,” I tell the bartender.
I intercept the shot Connor tries to give Gabriella.
“This glass is dirty.” I hand it to the bartender, spin Gabriella, and steer her to a table. I mouth to the bartender, “No shots for her,” and she salutes me. Connor and Gracie stay at the bar.
I pull the chair out for Gabriella to sit, and she does. As soon as I take my seat, she stands and sits on my lap with her arm around my shoulders. “Hi.” She beams.
Damn, this girl is like the devil tempting me.
“Hi. You having fun?”
“Now that I’m away from my bossy brothers.”
“Connor doesn’t boss you around?”
She shrugs. “Not like the others.”
I open the bottle of water and hold it to her lips. “Have a sip.”
She takes a small sip.
A frown appears on her face. “Sorry, my party was a disaster.”
I push her hair behind her ear. “I don’t think it was a total catastrophe.”
“No?”
“Nope.”
“It ended with gang members screwing in my parents’ bedroom, Hudson kicking everyone out before eleven, and all of my siblings fighting.”
I lean closer to her. “You’re forgetting about important details.”
“What’s that?”
I shouldn’t encourage her, but I can’t stop myself. She’s the most tempting thing I’ve ever had in front of me. “I had a pretty good time in your bedroom.”
She grins, but then it disappears. “My brothers didn’t scare you off?”
“Your brothers care about you. They mean well, but no, I’m not worried about them. I can handle them.”
She snorts and puts her finger on my chest. “That would make you the first guy ever to handle them.”
How the hell did Chloe find this girl?
She’s twenty-four, guaranteed drama and trouble. You don’t need that in your life.
“I take it your brothers like to intimidate your dates?”
“You have no idea.”
“If you were my sister, I’d lock you up.” And I would. She’s beautiful, confident, and has a personality like no one I’ve ever met.
“Why is that?”
“Because no one would be good enough for you.”
She strokes from under my eye to my lips. “What about you? Are you good enough for me?”
“No.”
She doesn’t act like any twenty-four-year-old you’ve ever met.
Good Lord, how is this girl not taken?
She’s a Brooks.
She cocks an eyebrow at me. “No?”
“No.”
“Why is that?”
You’re way too innocent for me, even with your sexy sassiness.
“I’ve done way too many bad things in my life for a girl like you,” flies out of my mouth before I think about what I’m saying.
She traces the armband tattooed on my biceps. “What if I want you to be bad?”
My dick pulses under her leg.
Oh fuck.
Just to put my cock in further turmoil, I ask her, “And what would those bad things look like?”
“Well, we wouldn’t be wearing these clothes,” she mumbles and gently pulls at my hair. “Clothes are overrated, don’t you think?”
“Sometimes.”
“In that case, I think we should continue where we left off.” She pushes her lips against mine and flicks her tongue in my mouth, recreating the heat I felt from our first kiss.
I slide my fingers through her hair and kiss her back just as good as she’s giving it to me.
“Get a room.”
She pulls back. “Shut up, Connor.”
“There’s a bathroom right there if you need some privacy.” Gracie smirks and points to the back of the bar.
“Speaking from experience?” Connor says.
Gracie smacks him on the arm.
Gabriella stands and wobbles.
“Whoa. Easy there.” I hold her waist and steady her.
She bats her eyelashes. “I’m fine.” She picks up her purse. “We need some music.” She spins and takes a few steps to a jukebox.
I drink my beer and watch her flip through choices.
“Do I need to worry about you, or are you a good guy?” Connor asks.
Connor’s a cool kid. I’m guessing he’s close to Gabriella’s age. Unlike his three brothers, he seems laid-back and carefree. I’m guessing it’s not only when he’s drinking and probably since he’s the youngest.
I turn to him. “What do you think?”
“I want to give you the benefit of the doubt and say yes.”
I take another sip of beer. “I’m not going to harm your sister. But you’re a man, and I don’t tell men what to think, so make your decision about me on your own.”
He takes a sip of his vodka tonic. “Fair enough.”
I finish my beer, and the waitress sets another round of drinks on the table, including more shots.
“No shots for Gabriella.”
Gracie hands me two. “Then you take them before she returns.”
“I’m driving.”
“We can leave your car here and call the Monkey Bus or walk.”
“Fine, but no more after this.”
They clink their glasses with me, and I throw it back. Gabriella approaches the table and reaches for it, but I drink it before she can.
“Hey, was that mine?”
“It was gross. You didn’t want it.” I chase the shot with a long sip of beer.
She glares at me, so I pull her onto my lap. “Are you going to shoot me dirty looks all night when I saved you from that nastiness?”
She snorts. “You saved me?”
“Yeah. I saved you.”
“Am I supposed to thank you now?”
I stare at her lips, feeling a little buzz from the alcohol. “Only if you want to.”
No more drinking. Get some water, or you’re going to do something you regret.
She smirks. “I’m starting to feel like you’re just as bad as my brothers. I don’t need to be taken care of.”
I lean into her ear. “I thought you said you wanted a real man and not a boy?”
She traces my jaw. “What does that have to do with you acting like my brothers?”
“One, don’t ever mistake me for your brothers. Two, a real man takes care of his woman. So if that’s what you want, you better get used to it.”