He grimaces. “No can do. I’m on babysitter duty tonight.” He gestures to the VIP area where I spot Greer dancing.
The bartender comes our way as soon as she recognizes Matt and takes my order quickly.
“Bash let his darling sister out of the house? I’m surprised. Should I go and have a drink with the girl?” I raise my eyebrow at her.
“Actually, I think you should go.” His hand is rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
“Excuse me? You know better than anyone not to tell me what to do.”
“I know, Iz. Listen, Giovanni’s here. He saw you dancing with some guy and almost lost his shit. He went to calm down, but I think you should go, unless you want your date to end up missing.”
I roll my eyes at him before taking the shot of tequila the bartender put in front of me. “Whew! Bring me another, hun,” I say to the gorgeous blonde.
“Sure thing, babe.” She winks at me, and I giggle.
I pick up my fruity drink and drink a third of it.
“Women are nothing but trouble,” Matt mutters to himself.
“Pardon me, Matty?”
“I said you’re a big pain in the fucking ass.” He wraps his arms around me. “Please do this for me. I need to watch Greer, and I can’t be on my game if I’m worried about you and Gio as well.”
Just then blondie comes back with my second shot.
“Thanks, babe. Put it on his tab.” I gesture to Matt.
He sighs and nods to her, and she smiles before walking away.
I hold my shot up to Matt before making a toast. “To good friends and the things they owe you.” Then I toss it back and hiss. “Tequila burns so good.”
“So?” he asks.
“Let me suck this drink down; then I will go home.”
“Alone, Izzy. Go home alone.”
His implication that I would take a stranger to my home angers me, but I attempt to push it back down.
“Don’t worry, Matty. The only man going to bed with me tonight will be B.O.B. He’s the only one who knows how to do it right anyway.” I suck down the rest of my drink while I listen to Matt groan next to me.
Magically, Kevin has appeared next to me. “Isabella, would you like to dance again?”
“She’s good,” Matt answers for me.
“I’m sorry, who are you?”
Matt goes to step up to Kevin, but I step between them. I stumble slightly as I feel the alcohol hit my system.
“Matt’s my brother. He’s going to take me home. I had a nice night, Kevin. Maybe we will see each other again.”
“I can take you home.”
“No thanks, I have a ride. Have a good night.”
He leans in to kiss my cheek, but I step back into Matt involuntarily. “Nice to see you again.”
Dante appears and takes my hand, leading me out through the back of the club.
