Page 74 of Hideaway Heart

“Lalalalala, not listening,” Mabel shouted from behind the stall door.

I laughed. “Sorry, Mabel. I know it’s your brother we’re talking about here.” Sticking the cap back on my head, I ducked into the stall Ari had vacated. After finishing up, I went to the sink to wash my hands.

“I’m only teasing,” Mabel said, drying her hands next to me. “I think it’s great. Xander is a good guy.”

“It must be hard to meet someone when you’re so famous,” said Ari. “You must have that suspicion in the back of your mind all the time, like does this person like me for the real me, or are they just dazzled by the celebrity persona?”

“It can be weird,” I said, yanking some paper towels from the dispenser and drying my hands. “Although in Xander’s case, he didn’t like the real me atall, and he definitely wasn’t dazzled by my celebrity.” I laughed as I tossed the towels in the trash. “I kept trying to get rid of him, and he just kept refusing to leave. I’ve never met a more stubborn man.”

“All my brothers are like that,” said Mabel. “And as the baby sister of the family, I’ve experienced the full range of their bossy behavior. But they were also the best big brothers ever, so I can’t really complain.” She turned to Ari. “Should we go back out and see if that one guy in the red shirt is still at the bar?”

“Sure.” Ari smiled at me. “See you back at the table.”

They left the bathroom, and Veronica came out of a stall and washed her hands. “Austin can be like that too. Bossy and demanding.” She laughed as she pulled paper towels from the machine. “But I kinda like it.”

I smiled. “You guys are so great together. He adores you.”

Veronica lit up. “I’m madly in love with him. I wake up every day and pinch myself.”

“Think he’s the one?”

“I’m pretty sure,” she said, her cheeks growing pink, her blue eyes bright. “I mean, it’s only been a few months, so it’s still a little new, but it just feels so right.”

A banging on the door made us both jump. Veronica stepped in front of me like a shield, which I thought was so sweet.

“Kelly?” Xander’s voice was muffled. “You in there?”

“Yes!” I shouted. “I’m coming out in a sec.”

“I’ll wait.”

Veronica and I exchanged a look. “He’s protective,” I said again.

“Also kinda crazy about you,” she whispered back. “I can see it.”

* * *

“That was fun,” I said on the way home.

Xander remained silent behind the wheel.

I leaned over and thumped his leg. “You didn’t have a good time?”

“What?” He glanced at me. “Sorry, I was distracted. Yes, I had a good enough time.”

“Just good enough?”

“I was on duty,” he said. “It wasn’t as easy for me to relax as it was for you guys.”

“Well, thank you for letting us go.” I left my hand where it was. “And for dancing.”

He fell silent again.

“Austin and Veronica are perfect for each other. Think they’ll get married?”

“Maybe. If my brother doesn’t fuck it up.”

I laughed. “He seems pretty taken with her. What about Devlin? I take it since he left with someone tonight that he’s single?”