Stay strong. Hold your ground. "I'm working. But you already knew that, thanks to someone."
The last part is said pointedly at Zayn. I knew he would fucking blab about it. After finding out he was the one who brought me home last night, I was considering giving him that chance to talk he keeps begging for. But now? Out of the question.
Easton scoffs. "Don't blame him. What makes you think being a bartender is a good idea?"
Honestly, I'm not so sure anymore, but I'm not about to tell him that. "The tips are amazing, and besides, I'm not alone."
I
nod over to Kennedy who is whipping up drinks like a fucking professional. My brother, however, couldn't care less right now.
"Let's go," he tells me. "I'm taking you home."
"No. You're not."
"Amelia."
I cross my arms over my chest and lean back against the counter behind me. "I don't know what it is about you two, but you can't always go all caveman and control my life. I'm eighteen, and I can make my own choices. Like working here."
A subtle smirk makes its way to Zayn's face as Easton throws his head back and groans. Then, with a look at Zayn, he nods toward the stools and they both take a seat.
"Wait, what are you doing?" I question, suddenly panicked.
E shrugs. "If you won't leave, then I have no choice but to sit here and look after you."
I'm shaking my head before he even stops talking. "Absolutely not. You have to go."
It's bad enough that I'm making a total fool out of myself in front of all these strangers, but to look like an idiot in front of Zayn is not something I'm willing to do. And yet, if I give in and leave, Easton will think he can continue to railroad me into doing what he wants. Regardless of what I choose, there's no winning for me.
Kennedy steps up next to me and runs her fingers through her hair. "You okay?"
I huff. "I'd be better if you could make these two leave."
As if she didn't realize they were there, her eyes meet Easton's and widen. A blush coats her cheeks, and she runs her fingers through her hair. My brother licks his lips, looking down for a second and then back up at her.
What the fuck?
"Did you two...?"
Kennedy clears her throat. "Oh, shoot. I forgot a customer."
She walks away and leaves me to stare at my brother with my tongue in my cheek and my brows raised. For the first time since he got here, Easton looks anywhere but at me. When I glance over at Zayn, he's clearly trying not to laugh.
Sighing, I lean against the counter in front of them. "If you ruin the one friend I have here, I'll tell the whole school how you wet the bed until you were nine." Zayn snorts, but the smile vanishes from his face when I focus my attention on him. "I wouldn't laugh if I were you, Captain Bronsyn."
When we were younger, Zayn thought it would be fun to run around my house in his underwear with one of my pink, frilly capes on his back. Easton painted a giant B on Zayn's torso and completed the outfit with a princess tiara and satin white gloves. My mom took a ton of pictures of it. Thankfully, I still have them.
"You wouldn't."
I smile sweetly. "Try me."
IT TAKES MUCH LONGER than it took Kennedy, but I'm finally getting the hang of this thing. My roommate and another one of the bartenders take some time to teach me some of the recipes, as well as how to flip a bottle in my hand. That one took an obnoxious amount of attempts to get, but I managed to do it.
Easton and Zayn still refuse to leave. I don't know if that's because of me, or because Easton wants to spend time near Kennedy, but there's nothing I can do about it. They flashed their fake IDs and managed to score a couple beers, so I guess I'm stuck with them.
As I'm wiping down part of the bar, I hear Easton mutter to Zayn about needing to go to the bathroom. He slips off his stool and heads for the back of the club. Meanwhile, I move to stand directly in front of Zayn.
"You just had to tell him, didn't you?" I complain.