I gestured down the front of my body. “And let all this effort go to waste? Not a chance.”
Besides, I had a point to prove. This bitch could be sexy as hell and have that rat-bastard Jason eating out of the palm of her hand.
Footsteps on the front porch had us all peering down the hallway, and Darren let himself in, just as Marc had.
“Dammit girls, start locking your front door! You never know who’s lurking arou- ¡Mierda!” he exclaimed as soon as he clapped eyes on me. “Jax! Jesus, that outfit… Are you sure? It’s rather…”
Darren couldn’t find the words, but Callie could. “Amazingly hot!” she declared, brushing past my brother to engulf me in a hug.
“Aww, thanks, Callie. So are you.”
The royal blue cocktail dress matched her eyes, making them stand out like massive sapphires. It clung from her bust to her waist, then flared slightly, allowing the material to flow around her legs with every little movement. Team that with a pair of nude heeled boots, and she was a total babe. Darren, as always, looked good in black jeans and black button up shirt rolled to the elbows; however, his mouth remained pressed into a tight line while he looked me up and down again.
When his eyes met mine, they narrowed further. “Well, I guess this makes up for wearing sleepwear the last time we went out.”
I raised my eyebrows at him. “Last time sucked. And I don’t even care that you can’t admit your little sister is a hot-ass woman.”
Darren scoffed and rolled his eyes. “You’re beautiful as ever, J. I’m just gonna have my work cut out for me tonight making sure every motherfucker in the bar keeps his distance from you lot.” He circled his finger between us three girls.
Marc laughed and ran his hand over Lozza’s booty. “That’s pretty much what I said when I arrived.”
“We can handle ourselves,” Loz sassed. “Now, let’s get this show on the road!”
“If we must,” I grumbled, grabbing my coat and clutch, then slipping into my baby-pink pumps.
Darren smirked when I stalked past him with my chin held high, appearing infinitely stauncher than I felt.
Twenty minutes later, we pulled intoPhat Slimsand exited our respective vehicles. As soon as we stepped through the doors of the popular bar, we were engulfed by music from the live band. There was already a decent crowd around various tables in the room and the night had a good vibe about it. People were here to have a few drinks and have a great time. I got the feeling it was going to be one to remember.
Darren stood between me and Callie, scanning the room for a table while holding my elbow like I was a child about to get lost in Disneyland. Lozza waved at us to indicate they’d found a table, and Darren attempted to guide me in that direction.
Instead, I detached myself from his firm, protective grip, and beelined to the bar. I had to get at least one drink under my belt before coming face-to-face with Jason. Bitterness still consumed me over what happened three years ago, and my belly churned with deep-seated dread.
Slinking through the crowd, I ignored the attention I drew and took a standing spot at the large, polished timber bar. The attention didn’t bother me; if I wanted to be a wallflower tonight, I would have worn something a little… less.
I ordered the first round of drinks from the barman, who gave me the once-over but didn’t ask for ID, then turned to watch the band while waiting.
Out of nowhere, the man next to me roughly shunted me to the side. The impact had me stumbling and grasping at the edge of the bar to catch my balance. My eyes snapped to a bald guy whose presence commanded attention, but he seemed oblivious that he’d just rudely slammed his big-ass body into my tiny one.
I set my one hand onto my hip and tugged his shoulder with the other.“Hey, asshole!What the fuck?”
“Whoa there, sweethea-” He turned to face me, no doubt preparing to be a dick, then reared back as if I’d slapped him. My breath hitched. My stomach knotted, then dropped, and I swear time halted. He sucked in a sharp inhale as his hazel-green eyes widened in shock.
“Ja-Jax?”
Within that second, I went from boiling with fury to feverish and exposed from the way his gaze roamed over my body. The unexpected pang shooting through my heart almost reduced me to my knees. He was so familiar, yet so… different. It took my mind a few beats longer to rearrange the old memory of him and create a new one—complete with shaved head and broader shoulders.
A lifetime of memories flooded back before halting a full three years ago; at the night that broke us.
For as long as I could remember, Jason Malone had been a thorn in my side. Our mamas had been best friends since they met through our papas, and our papas’ history stretched back to their university days. They weren’t just good family friends; they were familia, and a close one at that.
As kids, we lived a few blocks apart, and if Jace, Darren, and I weren’t at one house, we were at the other. And just like turbulent siblings, Jason and I were like oil and water; we co-existed but didn’t mix well.
The seven-year age gap didn’t help either. While I struggled through the awkward teenage years, Jason emerged from his puberty metamorphosis as a heartthrob. With his hazel-green eyes and sandy brown hair, typical sexy male body shape, and a wide, endearing smile overnight, he went from annoying brother’s best friend to holy-hotness. I began to fantasise about him when I shouldn’t have and noticed things about him I hadn’t before.
Like the way his brows furrowed when deep in thought.
Malnacido [Bastard].