“Shall I order us some water?” Conner asked. He patted her shoulder. Errin sat hunched over the bar and couldn’t see straight.
Not like it took a lot for her to feel the effect of a cocktail, but this was ridiculous even for her light-weight-ass.
“I wanna go home,” Errin said.
“Come, Bunny. We’ll grab a cab outside and go home.” He helped her down from her barstool by her elbow. Conner strolled to the side of the packed dance floor of the so called new it place for a Friday night.
They had been out for an hour, and she already had enough to drink. And enough of the place altogether.
Conner took their coats from a sturdy lady behind a desk and after another glance at Errin, he slipped them through the back entrance, leading them through the side ally, and in front of the main entrance of the nightclub where the taxi line stood.
“Fresh air will do you some good,” he said while patting her arm that was hooked through his. She didn’t answer him, but did her best at nodding.
“We’ve got three people in line before us, Bunny. I think it will take another ten minutes and then we’ll get you home.”
“Is the cab driving me all the way to Austin?” she said with a trembling lip.
“Aww, fuck. How much did you drink tonight, Bun?” he scolded. “Or did you take a drink from a stranger?”
She shook her head and the first tear went down over her cheek. Conner traced his index finger over her cheekbone and swiped it from her face.
“Is that what you call Austin now—home?” he asked as he pulled her in to hug her close.
She nodded against his hard chest and he held on tight and whispered, “Fuck.”
“I miss him,” she whispered back.
“I know, Bunny. I felt it the moment you stepped out of the plane and walked into my arms.”
“You did?” she said as she backed up in her silver stiletto heels to look her brother in the eye.
“Yeah. Don’t know what’s so fucking special about Austin, Texas that got all my sisters hooked.”
“It’s the D.” Errin hiccuped and glanced over her shoulder when someone snickered behind her.
“The what?” Conner asked with furrowed brows.
“The D. It’s the dick that’s so good, we’re hooked. Got nothing to do with the weather, the friendly southerners or all that shite,” Errin said.
She shivered because she forgot to wear her thickest coat over her spaghetti strapped silver paillette dress. The icy wind pained her face, reminding her November in New Jersey was so different from Texas.
“Shite, eh? Talking like a true Irish lass.” He smiled before they took a few steps further in the line, now almost first in line.
“I still held hope that after a couple more days, you’d be reminded of your passion for dancing and you’d miraculouslylove it back home.”
“I still love to dance, Con.” Errin narrowed her eyes at him. “To work out routines and express myself through dancing, it’s what makes my heart beats faster.
“It’s just that my heart is so heavy right now. I don’t know if dancing can make this big lump in my chest beat faster or if it’s only weighing it down more.”
“Deep, sis.” Conner laughed. “Ah, we’re up next.”
“Yeah well, I’ll tell you something about deep, Brennan—” she started but Conner held up his hand, almost face palming her.
“Shut ye face, sis. Never, ever do I want to hear ‘bout what ye were goin’ to say,” he said.
She almost doubled over from laughing. “Was just making conversation, Con.”
“Well, converse about something else,” her brother said.