Page 42 of Fear of Love (Falling #3)

“Maybe all three,” Wyatt spoke for the first time. We all watched as the girls slowly turned to face us. I instantly knew they were drunk off their asses by the loopy smiles that graced their faces.

“Baby!” Josie jumped up, almost falling over as she rushed over to Wyatt.

“You came.” Mila was smiling like a weirdo at her boyfriend.

“We were just thinking of our hotties.” Tasha stood up, stumbling her way toward the bars. I barely paid them any attention, only focused on a certain blonde who was still sitting and staring at me.

She was looking at me so intently, it was like she was mentally undressing me.

Thankfully hte others were occupied to see the way she stared at me.

When she bit her bottom lip, I had to clench my jaw.

Now was not the time to be turned on, but it was hard not to be when she was looking at me like that.

“Care to explain why we got a call at one in the morning that our girlfriends have been arrested?” Trevor asked from beside me, eyes glued to Tasha.

“Well, we went to a strip club,” Josie answered. “And we wore these amazing sashes that Tash got us.” She grinned as she grabbed hers.

“It was so much fun,” Tasha echoed. Oh yeah, they were beyond plastered. I had yet to hear why they were arrested, but I bet it had to do with being intoxicated in public.

“You should have seen the men,” Lydia said. “The abs and muscles.” I watched her gesture with her hands. She almost had a dreamy look on her face as she spoke.

“Jo got a lap dance and then this really hunky one with long hair gave one to Lyd. He kept flirting with her,” Mila rambled. I raised an eyebrow at that. I was pretty sure they weren’t meant to tell us that part, but clearly the alcohol in their systems was making them loose-lipped.

“And then,” Tasha dragged the word out. Just like the other three, I stayed silent with my arms crossed, letting them talk. “We decided to go to the bar down the street where we got some free shots. They were really good.”

“Then we got on tables and danced while people cheered.”

“But some asshole had to go and ruin the night by trying to hit on us,” Lydia spoke up. “When he wouldn’t stop, I kicked him in the balls and punched him.” She looked directly at me with a proud ass grin on her face. “See.” Holding up her hand, I saw her knuckles were swollen and bright red.

I ground my teeth. Some asshole hit on my girl and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

The anger that came over me had me rooted in place.

I should have been there tonight. Should have been the one looking out for her.

Because if I had been then Lydia wouldn’t have a hurt hand from punching some dickwad that wouldn’t get away from her.

The girls continued their story, too drunk to read the tension growing in the room.

“The club security didn’t like that and tried to kick us out. Can you believe that?” Josie rolled her eyes and kept talking. “When we refused to leave, they tried to manhandle us, so Tasha hit that one.”

I was impressed with Trevor’s restraint. From the corner of my eye I saw him standing still as a statue.

“Right in the nose. You woulda been proud, babe.” Tasha didn’t realize just how little her words eased Trevor right now.

“Next thing we knew, the cops came and brought us here.” Mila waved her hand around the jail cell. “The officers are really sweet.”

We finally learned how they got arrested, but I could guarantee none of us were thrilled about what transpired tonight. I didn’t know about the guys, but I was seconds away from demanding who this security guard was who tried to manhandle my girl and my brother’s girlfriend.

“Officer,” Josie suddenly cheered. “You made it.”

From the corner of my eye, I noticed a female officer slowly walking toward us, water bottles in her hands.

I paid her very little attention, my eyes glued to Lydia.

I had no right to be pissed. Lydia and I weren’t in a relationship, but the caveman inside of me was furious and concerned she was out alone.

That she was getting lap dances from some guy and getting hit on by another at a random bar.

It was undeniable how attractive Lydia was.

Short blonde hair, high cheekbones, green eyes that could pierce any man’s soul, and lips that begged to be kissed.

She was smart, funny, sarcastic as hell, and independent.

There was plenty to like, so it was no surprise she got hit on a lot.

I understood that, but it didn’t mean I liked it.

While I was busy staring at Lydia, the police chief came over to tell us the girls were free to go. I noticed Wyatt saying something to him, but I’d worry about that later. Right now, I needed to get Lydia home before she crashed.

One by one, the girls stepped out of the cell, each one shakier than the last. If it weren’t for the guys, they would have all fallen flat on their faces.

Grabbing Lydia’s elbow, I steered her toward the front doors.

I’d seen her drunk a few times, the most recent being in Australia, and knew she got really clingy while inebriated.

“Thank you.” She gave me the biggest drunk smile.

Lydia didn’t smile often. Most times, it was a tight-lipped one, but the few times she has graced me with a real one, dimple and all,, it was breathtaking. Even while drunk.

“Let’s get you home.” My tone was low because I was trying my hardest not to say something I shouldn’t.

As we headed for the doors, we were stopped a few times, some of the officers coming up to talk to the guys. They were hiding their annoyance really well, plastering on polite smiles until we exited the building.

We all gave each other a look over the girls’ heads, a silent ‘we’ll talk later’ look, before steering our girls to our respective cars. But not before they all drunkenly expressed their love for one another, of course.

I tamped down on my worry and anger, steading Lydia as she rested against me.

I sighed into my coffee mug as I replayed the rest of the night in my head, including Lydia dropping the bomb that she grew up in foster care.

Something I had absolutely no clue about.

She never talked about her family. It made me feel like an asshole for never once asking her.

Over the last two years, I’ve kept her at arm’s length, not even trying to get to fully know her.

The vulnerability in her voice when she asked me to stay was what kept me up all night. I’ve never heard her sound so vulnerable. She was under the influence, but they say drunk words are sober thoughts.

There was still so much to learn about Lydia, but I wasn’t sure if she wanted me to know those things.

We were more than just friends with benefits.

At least, that’s how I felt. It was hard to tell what went on in that thick head of hers.

But with the way she looked at me last night, I wondered if things were changing for her, too.

I couldn’t believe I was a thirty-year-old man with woman problems. The last time I was this flustered over a woman, I was in uni.

My phone buzzed on the counter, taking me out of my thoughts. I already knew it would be my brother. I knew him better than anyone and knew he wasn’t going to let last night be swept under the rug.

I swiped to answer and brought it to my ear so I wouldn’t wake Lydia.

“Hey.”

“Figured you’d be up already.” Wyatt didn’t even bother with a greeting.

“Didn’t get much sleep either, huh?” I took a sip of my coffee as my brother sighed through the phone.

“I need you to talk to me out of doing something.” I already had a feeling I knew what he was referring to.

“The security guard,” was my only response.

“On the drive home, Jo told me that he grabbed her and tried to pull the girls outside.” I could hear the anger in his voice. “The police chief said he’d make sure none of the girls got in trouble, but that guard should be held accountable.”

I wasn’t surprised that Wyatt wanted to find the person who touched Josie.

I bet Trevor and Landon were also chomping at the bit to do the same thing.

Hell, I wanted to find the guy that put his hands on Lydia and make him pay, but I also knew it wouldn’t solve anything.

As much as I wanted to agree with Wyatt, I needed to be the responsible one.

“Let’s say you find the guy. What then?” I asked.

“I’d…”

Wyatt was the type to jump headfirst into a fight. He wouldn’t purposely start one but he’d finish it. Back when he first started playing for the Knights, he would gladly get in fights with other players until he grew out of it. That tendency was showing at this moment.

“You hit him. Bruise your hand right before playoffs. Before your wedding.” I leaned against the counter as I spoke. “It might feel good hitting the guy, but when Josie finds out, you know she won’t be thrilled.”

“She’d be pissed,” Wyatt mumbled.

“Word could get out and the team could hear about it. You don’t want to be benched for the playoffs.”

Wyatt was quiet for a moment before he sighed.

“You’re right,” he said but didn’t sound thrilled by it.

“Of course I’m right.”

“Fuck off.”

I chuckled at his words.

“I know you want to defend Josie and I get that. But outside of getting a moment of satisfaction, is it truly worth it? While the girls did get arrested, they held their own last night. I mean, Tasha and Lydia looked pretty proud of themselves.” Wyatt laughed through the phone.

“Your fiancée is going to wake up with a killer hangover so just focus on her and your wedding in two weeks. Okay?”

“Okay.” Wyatt was quiet for a moment, and I knew he would listen to what I just said. The last thing he’d do was ruin his and Josie’s big day, or the playoffs for his team. “Thank you, Lan.”

“Anytime.” And I meant it. It didn’t matter that Wyatt was an adult and about to be married, I’d always be there if he needed me.

I hung up and took one sip of my coffee before my phone rang again.

Trevor’s name came across the screen, and I groaned.

I had a feeling I was going to be on the phone all morning with the guys.

With a shake of my head, I answered, ready to convince another brother not to go after the guy his girlfriend punched.