“Why not?”
“You were there, Jax. She was with another guy.”
“And you said she looked ready to kick him in the balls. Talk to her, Zee, or you’re going to regret it.”
I shake my head with a grunt. I’m being fucking stubborn I know, but this is twice she has either withheld or lied to me. I feel like this time it’s actually both. She is keeping something from me. If she can’t be honest and open with me then we have a problem.
I know it’s a bit hypocritical of me. I have secrets of my own. I’m really not actively trying to hide it from her though. I’m not going out of my way or lying to her. If the time ever came when she just asked, I would’ve told her what she wanted to know. I mean there is really no hiding Rory. I’m sure we all give off the same vibe. But she’s never asked or mentioned anything.
I walk – stagger – my way into my kitchen digging for some more Jack from the cabinet. I hear Jax get up and come behind me. He grabs the bottle before I have a chance. “You’re done for tonight, Zee.”
I stand there with my anger reverberating through me and the room. “Back off, Jax. If I want to keep going I will.”
“And if I want to kick your fucking ass, I will,” he snaps. “We have a fucking game tomorrow. You’re not getting plastered.”
“Why the fuck not? It’s not like you never played nursing a hangover.”
“That’s exactly why not. I know how it feels. The way it affects your game and the team.”
I reach for the bottle, but he keeps it just out of my reach. “Give me the goddamn bottle, Jax,” I yell though it sounds anything but threatening with the slur of my speech. Even I can hear it.
“Zane, I am about five seconds from knocking your fucking ass out. Go to bed.”
I don’t know who he thinks he’s talking to. He knows I am not afraid of him. I’m not afraid of anyone or anything. I don’t even give him a chance to swing. I do it first.
But with all of the alcohol in my system, my usually swift movements, are stunted – slowed to pitiful speeds. Jax and I are pretty evenly matched when I’m sober, but right now. He doesn’t even have to try. He deftly dodges the right hook I send his way. He throws me his fucking devil brows.
Then the world goes black.
“Wake up asshole,”roars through my hears like an atomic bomb being set off in my brain. I feel like I ran into a brick wall. A brick wall named Jax fucking McCabe.
Motherfucker actually knocked my ass out.
I touch my jaw with a hiss. He got me good. I can only imagine what it looks like.
Pretty sure I deserved it after swinging on him, but I was drunk. There should be some kind of code that says I get a free pass. Right?
Except I know better because the shoe has actually been on the other foot. I guess he was just returning the favor.
I walk into my bathroom and take a cold shower that immediately wakes me up and any lingering drunkenness vanishes. I finish getting dressed in the damn suit I have to wear to fucking games. I used to hate it with a fucking passion. Still not crazy about it, but after years of doing it, it’s not that big of a deal anymore.
I get my gear together and start to make my way out of the bedroom. Jax is exiting my guest room at the same time.
“Figured I’d have to drag you out of there,” he says as he straightens his tie.
“I wasn’t that fucking drunk,” I grumble the lie.
“Yeah man. I’m going to pick up Zoey. You riding or taking your truck?”
“Don’t we have that shower thing for you guys and Layla later?” I ask.
“At four.”
“Then I’ll take my truck so I can leave when I get ready.”
“You better not try to flake on Zoey, man. I really will kick your ass.”
“When have I ever flaked on my sister?” I ask with a hand on his shoulder. He gives me a disbelieving look then laughs. I give a small chuckle myself before turning serious again. “Seriously though, I promised Lacy’s dad I’d have dinner with him tonight.” It’s true but even as I say it, I doubt I’ll go. It will be the first time since she died that I miss.
