Page 77 of Rebellious Hearts

I snorted. “You’re never going to get away from family drama, but I’m always ready for something to drink.”

Amy smiled at me and stood, looking at Luke and Sofia. “Excuse us, we’ll be right back.” She smiled sweetly at Luke and then at Sofia. “You’re going to be cool?”

“We’re totally cool,” Luke said.

Amy rolled her eyes at her brother, but she smiled at Sofia—it was a warm smile. I trusted that Sofia would be fine with Luke. If there were people I could trust with my life in this world—aside from my brothers—it was Luke and Amy.

“What are we having?” I asked when we got to the bar.

“I don’t care.” She shrugged. “Choose something. I just wanted to get you alone.” She waggled her eyebrows at me.

I chuckled. “I should be used to your cunning by now.”

Amy smiled cheekily at me, and I turned to the bartender, ordering tequila. If Amy was going to let me choose, then we were going to do this right. Besides, Amy wasn’t scared to drink.

“So?” I asked when I turned back to her while the bartender got us a bottle of Herradura Tequila. It was smooth on the tongue and one of my favorite kinds. I wasn’t a tequila connoisseur, but I was going to get the best of the best because Icould.

“So, what?”

I groaned. “You’re going to make me say it, huh?”

“Say what?” Amy asked, feigning ignorance.

“What do you think of her?” I asked. “Sofia, in case you weren’t clear on that.”

Amy laughed, enjoying making me say it. I didn’t mind as much as she thought.

“I think she’s great,” Amy said.

“Really?”

Amy nodded, and the tequila arrived. We lifted the shot glasses and clinked them against each other, making eye contact before throwing them back.

“Really,” Amy said. “She brings out a different side of you. She softens you up a little, shows the man underneath the mask. He doesn’t come out to play as often as he should.”

I snorted. “You’re making me sound like I have a split personality.”

Amy chuckled. “No, just a very cautious one. I like seeing you like this, so open and relaxed.”

I didn’t know how to answer her. I didn’t realize that it was so clear that I felt comfortable around Sofia, but Amy was right. Sofiadidbring out a different side of me.

“What doyouthink of her?” Amy asked. “I think that’s more important.”

I shrugged. “I mean, I like her.”

“Youlikeher?” Amy asked, incredulous.

It was much more than that.

“Well, Ireallylike her, if that satisfies you more.”

Amy crinkled her nose, not satisfied, but whatever.

“It’s not going to last, though.”

“What do you mean, ‘it’s not going to last’?”

I lifted a hand for the bartender to bring more tequila.