TWO WEEKS LATER, Sydney’s irritation at being on house arrest was beginning to wear on her. There were still no updates from the police and she wanted out, so Thane reluctantly agreed to have dinner with Lucy and Zach. Of course, it had to be at a restaurant he approved of, meaning, it had to be one he had the star-power to shut down for an evening.
Sydney didn’t much care what he had to do to give them a night out with her cousin, so she didn’t voice her opinion on the amount of money he was spending by shutting down a popular restaurant for an evening... well, she didn’t voice it much.
“Syd, are you ready?” Thane called from the hallway.
She stepped out of the bedroom and smiled. “I’m coming. Keep your pants on.”
“Two more weeks, love, and I’ll be ripping them off.”
Sydney giggled and kissed him quickly. “Promises, promises.”
Thane ushered her out of the apartment and down to the garage where Wallace waited with the car. Arriving at the back entrance of the restaurant, they were secreted in and showed to their table where Lucy and Zach already sat.
Lucy jumped up and made a run for Sydney. “You’re actually here!” she exclaimed as she hugged her. “I didn’t know if it would happen.”
Sydney chuckled. “Sorry it’s been so nuts.”
“I get it.” Lucy smiled and hugged Thane.
“I’m Zach.”
“Oh, sorry,” Lucy said with a laugh and faced him. “Yes, this is Zach.”
Zach was tall with dark hair and deep brown, almond-shaped eyes. To say he was gorgeous was an understatement. His Asian features and height gave him model good looks and the fact he obviously worked out, made him all that more attractive.
Careful, love.
Sydney smiled up at Thane. You’re still hotter, but stay out of my head, mister movie star.
Thane shook Zach’s hand and Sydney followed suit.
“Come and sit,” Zach said. “Apparently, we have the place to ourselves. Must be nice to be the biggest movie star on the planet.”
Thane chuckled, but for a second, it was a little awkward.
“Zach, love. Filter,” Lucy ordered.
Zach laughed. “Right, sorry. I tend to say what I’m thinking.”
Sydney sat across from Lucy while Thane sat across from Zach and, once the server took their drink orders, they studied the menu.
“So, Lucy tells me you’re from Cali,” Zach said. “Which part?”
“San Jose.”
“No shit?” he said. “Me too. East side.”
“Oh, wow, close. We lived in Willow Glen.”
He chuckled. “You were on the good side of the tracks.”
Sydney smiled. “Is there a bad side in this day and age? Everything costs a fortune.”
“That’s true. Did you go to Willow Glen?”
“No, Valley Christian.”
“Oh-hoh, private school. Nice.” He chuckled. “For me, it was Silver Creek.”
“That’s a good school,” Sydney said.
“Yeah, it was okay.”
“What made you come here?” Thane asked, laying his menu on his plate.
“I needed a change. Thought I could do a college exchange for a semester, but now that I’ve met this gorgeous woman”—he smiled at Lucy—“I’m thinking of making it a yearlong exchange.”
Lucy blushed. “Which would be wonderful.”
“It totally would, babe,” he said, and kissed her.
Sydney focused on her menu again, a little surprised by the public display of affection... well, no, perhaps it was more that it was shudder-worthy PDA. The kiss showed so much tongue, Sydney wasn’t sure if Zach was kissing her cousin or trying to find out how many licks it took to get to her chewy center.
Ugh, gross.
“Zach,” Lucy admonished. “We’re being rude.”
“Right, sorry. You totally just carry me away, babe.”
Oh, boy.
Thane squeezed her hand. Romance is lost on you?
That’s not romance. That’s just creepy.
He grinned, lifting her hand to his lips.
Oh, good, honey, perpetuate the creepy.
“So, Thane,” Zach began again. “How’d you get into acting?”
“I kind of fell into it, to be honest, and it took off.”
“Yeah, dude, that’s an understatement.”
Thane smiled. “I’ve been very lucky.”
“Did you know Zach was a competitive surfer?” Lucy said.
Sydney smiled at her cousin’s attempt to take the focus off Thane.
That explains the “dude” talk. I feel like I’m trapped inside Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.
“Where’s your favorite place to surf?” Thane asked, squeezing Sydney’s thigh.
“Whoa, man, that’s hard to answer.” He gave a stoner chuckle.
Stoner chuckle?
Sydney glanced at him. Well it is!
“There’s this totally gnarly beach in New Zealand,” Zach continued. “It’s called Piha and the waves are righteous. Not as big as some places I’ve been, but totally worth it.”
Lucy grinned. “Zach managed to travel all over the place for next to no money.”
“That’s impressive,” Sydney said, a headache forming rapidly.
“Yeah, I got some sponsorships, stayed at youth hostels... that kind of stuff. It was awesome.” He sipped his beer. “Even if I had the money to do it differently, I don’t think I would have. What about you, Sydney? Growing up with such a rich dad must have meant travel, right?”
Really? Rich dad? Who is this guy?
Lucy gasped. “Zach!”
“What? It’s just a question. Her dad’s like the sixth richest man in America... it’s not like it’s a secret.”
Thane threaded his fingers with hers, easing the pain in her skull. Patience, love. Your cousin loves him.
Sydney tried to stamp down her irritation “Dad traveled a lot for work, so we didn’t have much family vacation time. Mom and I were kind of our own team.”
“Hmm,” he murmured. “You think he was “traveling,” or steppin’ out?”
“Zach!” Lucy snapped again.
Sydney scowled at Zach.
“I’m just kiddin’,” Zach said.
Sweetheart, you okay?
Yep. Dandy. She forced a smile before facing Lucy. Lucy was studying her closely, but Sydney was glad her cousin didn’t ask any questions.
Sydney suffered through dinner, rethinking her need to be out of the house. She wished she could click her heels together and be anywhere else, but Thane was right, Lucy adored this twat waffle, so she needed to at least try.
Twat waffle? Thane choked on a sip of wine and gave her a sideways glance. Warn me next time you’re feeling feisty.
Or how about you just stay out of my head?
“Are you all right, Thane?” Lucy asked.
“Yes, lass, fine. Thank you.”
He raised an eyebrow and kissed Sydney’s cheek gently. Behave.
Suck it. She gave him a saccharin sweet smile and sipped her wine.
Dessert arrived and Sydney plowed into her cheesecake in an effort to get the night over with. If she had to endure Zach’s inane Spicoli speak for much longer, she was sure she might snap. It was Lucy who called the dinner to an end.
“Is anyone up for a walk?” Lucy asked.
“I’m actually really tired,” Sydney lied. “Raincheck?”
“Of course.” Lucy hugged Sydney and whispered, “You hate him.”
“I don’t hate him.”
“Yes, you do.” She pulled back with a frown. “Shit.”
Sydney noticed Thane guide Zach away from them and focused back on Lucy. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Lucy said with a sigh. “Now I have to dump him.”
“No! Don’t do that on my account.”
“Lovey, you were the one and only test. I knew if you had an issue with him, he was gone. Remember when you visited freshman year of high school and totally hated George?”
Sydney nodded.
“Well, George got arrested for three rapes. Then, there was the Ellie thing, oh, and the Mr. Murray incident of two-thousand-and-twelve.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Syd, you have this uncanny ability to get to the soul of a person. If they’re rotten your body literally reacts to them. You’re a human litmus test.”
“How am I a human litmus test?” she asked.
“Because you get all emotional and headachy when you meet horrible people.”
Sydney rolled her eyes. “Don’t be dramatic.”
“Syd, you met Ellie and immediately asked for ibuprofen, just like with George. You also refused to touch her. Same with George. Ellie had just stolen diamonds from a jewelry store, and then, you remember Mr. Murray, right?”
Sydney shuddered. “The creepy teacher?”
“Yes. He was sleeping with multiple students in exchange for good grades. You know who’s good and who’s bad just by meeting them.”
“I’m sure Zach’s fine, Luce. He’s just kind of a dooooood.”
Lucy giggled. “Nah, he’s gone. He wasn’t very good in bed anyway.”
“Lucy!” Sydney admonished. “Way TMI, babe.”
She rolled her eyes. “I just wish you could have met him sooner. Now he’s going to be a pain in the arse about me cutting him loose.”
“Luce, really. Don’t make your decision based on me.”
“Okay, love.” Lucy hugged her again.
“I’m serious,” Sydney pressed.
“I promise.”
Sydney narrowed her eyes, but knew she couldn’t control what Lucy did, so gave her a quick nod and walked with her back to join the men. Thane wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close.
“It was great to meet you, Zach,” Thane said, and shook his hand.
“You too, man. If you ever need a hot Asian guy for a movie, hook me up.”
Thane chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Like hell you will.
Thane patted Sydney’s bottom before hugging Lucy. “Good to see you, Lucy.”
“You too, Thane. I’m sure I’ll see you sooner than later.”
Thane smiled. “That’s the plan.”
Sydney tried not to stiffen as Zach pulled her in for a bear hug, falling against Thane in relief when Zach released her. She waited until she and Thane were in the car before groaning out loud. “Oh my god…I need a shower. That was gross.”
Thane threw his head back and laughed. “You look like a toddler who just ate a lemon for the first time.”
Sydney blushed. “Sorry. I know I’m being dramatic, but that guy gives me the willies.”
“Willies, eh?”
She grimaced. “I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t mean to be so ungracious to him.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for. He was kind of a jerk.” He squeezed her hand. “Shall we head back? Are you tired?”
“A bit, but...”
Thane chuckled again. “Making out before sleep?”
“Well, duh.”