Zoey groans out loud from the bed. “What?” he asks incredulously. “Just saying.”
“Turn your downstairs brain off,” Jax says.
My eyes instantly drop to his crotch. He is sporting an obvious erection in those super tight jeans he’s wearing almost making me blush. Zane notices instantly where my eyes go. He quirks a brow at me with a smirk but doesn’t say a word.
Things get quiet for a minute. The atmosphere in the room takes a turn to the serious. The air gets a little thick with tension. I can feel stress vibrating off of everyone in the room.
“Zoey, I wanted to say I -,” Maddox begins but gets cut off by Zoey. “No apologies. Right?” she looks at Jax with such sweetness.
“No apologies,” he agrees kissing the palm of her hand.
“Ugh, you two are so sweet my teeth hurt,” I joke. I’ve never even considered love or anything remotely resembling it but who wouldn’t want what they have. The problem is that kind of love is so rare it’s like I’m looking at a unicorn. “How long have you been together?”
Zane lets out a chuckle. “The easier question is how long haven’t they been together?” He grins wide looking at his sister and Jax.
Maddox’s jaw drops as he gapes at Zane. “Really, man. Even when they weren’t together, they were fucking together.”
I notice a hint of sadness his eyes, but otherwise he seems fine. I am beginning to realize that, despite his feelings, Maddox knows Zoey is with exactly who she is meant to be with. He seems genuinely happy for them.
“Okay, enough of that,” Jax says with a smile hinting on his lips. “We’re together. Have been for a very long time. Will be even longer. End of story. Right, Angel?”
It’s all I can do not to swoon. They are too sweet. And knowing what I know, he must really love her to be here by her side. The guys I’ve known would’ve moved on by now.
I look at the time on my phone. I need to get going soon, but I don’t leave until I convince Zoey to come by the shop before she goes back to River City.
Maddox and I are pulling out of the parking lot when his phone buzzes. He clicks the read button on the screen of his SUV. It’s from Zane. Maddox is already smirking before he even hears the message.
“I want her number,” the hands-free system says.
I feel myself turning fifty shades of red. “He’s been asking me for days,” Maddox informs me casually.
My mouth drops at the revelation. I’ve seen him at Lucky’s, but I had no idea he’d seen me. Much less took an interest considering all the women flocking around him. I know I look good, but when lots of beautiful women are surrounding you, how do you possibly notice another blonde?
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I almost shriek.
“Awe look at you. Getting all red over a guy,” he teases me with a smirk. “Seriously though, Tori. Zane’s been known to be a bit of a player.”
“And you’re not,” I guffaw. Maddox has a different girl nearly every night. I know he’s hung up on Zoey, but the guy’s not a monk. Why would he be when he knows he will never get the girl?
“It’s not the same. The girls I’m with know the score. Zane has this way about him. Women fall in love without him trying. Probably because when it comes to women, he’s all southern charm. He doesn’t break hearts intentionally, but he’s left a string of them.”
I shake my head, still a little insulted that Maddox thinks I’m some kind of pushover or something. I’ve never been the head over heels type. I’m not the fairytale kind of girl. I’ve probably had as many flings as Maddox. Okay, maybe not that many, but I’ve had my fair share. I’ve never been with the same guy for more than a couple of months.
If we get along well enough, then I try them out for a bit, but the second things start to get serious, I hightail it out of there. I’m not necessarily commitment phobic. I just don’t understand the point. I have a good time while it lasts and when it’s over, it’s over. “I’m a big girl, Mads. I think I can handle myself.”
“I’m not saying you can’t,” he says as he pulls in front of the tattoo shop. “I’m just saying that Zane is – well he’s Zane. I don’t think you’ve ever come across anyone like him.”
“I grew up in New York. I think I can handle one little southern boy,” I snap.
“Alright, alright," he surrenders but I'm pretty sure he doesn't mean it. "Point made. I’ll text him your number.”
We walk into the shop, and my now foul mood must be apparent because Dane quirks a brow at me. I wave him off, so he turns to Maddox. “What’s got her so pissy?”
“I might have insinuated she was too delicate to handle a guy,” he shrugs with a laugh. A fucking laugh.
“What guy?” my brother growls like the caveman he is.
I narrow my eyes at him wishing him a long, slow, agonizing death. Then my phone rings. My heart begins to race, and my hands gets sweaty as I stare at the number I know must belong to Zane Valen.
