Oh dear.

Something about his smile made my insides flutter. His lips were full, and he had the tiniest gap between his front teeth. It was hot. Just looking at him made me a mess. I couldn’t even answer his question.

“Did you give me the wrong number?” He asked.

“No,” I answered breathlessly. My hands fidgeted in my lap.

He looked over his shoulder, and then glanced back at me. He’d figured out already that we shouldn’t be talking like this in front of my brothers. I didn’t know whether to be shocked or humiliated. “I was hoping you’d text me back.”

“I’m sorry. I’ve,” I hesitated. “I’ve been really busy.”

His smile widened. “Busy huh? Washing your hair?”

I laughed. “Okay. I deserved that.” I shifted in my seat so that I was turned more in his direction. It felt like we were secret spies, trying not to get caught. “It’s just really complicated.”

He ran his fingers through his dark hair, brushing it away from his face. “I’m starting to see that.”

Was he frustrated? He had every right to be honestly. I’d told him to text me. I guess maybe I thought that once he found out who I was that he would run for the hills. The same way that everyone else did. Friendship was the only thing that I had to offer, and frankly I could barely give that.

I reached in my bag and retrieved my phone. Opening my messages, I quickly typed a reply to the numerous messages he’d sent me.

Peeking over at him, he smiled. I’m not sure what for. I only wrote –Hey. I watched as he typed a response, and waited for my phone to vibrate.

You look beautiful.

And there went my stomach again. Good thing I hadn’t eaten yet, because the flighty feeling in my stomach was making me nauseous.

Keeping my head down, and my eyes on my lap, I whispered loud enough for him to hear me, but no one else. “I’m a lost cause.”

“Not to me.”

Sweet Jesus. “You’re wasting your time.”

“Says who?”

The guy had a response for everything. He was exasperatingly sexy.

“Do you want me to stop texting you?” He asked me.

Slowly, I shook my head no.

“I won’t stop. You know that don’t you.”

“I don’t want you to.”

Fox stopped at the other end of our table to say something to the girls before he made his way back to us. Once again, my conversation with Josh was cut short, but somehow this time was magically enough.

Just weeks ago, I would’ve never believed it was possible to feel this way about a guy. It would’ve been completely absurd to me. I barely knew Josh, and already I was crushing hard for him. The feelings were real. Granted, they were based only on the feelings he stirred inside me, but something about him made me feel alive.

Or…

Maybe I was just desperately horny. Talk about a foreign feeling for me, considering the past few years I’d had.

Whatever it was, the chances are it wasn’t going away anytime soon. My body was practically buzzing just sitting next to him, and my phone apparently.

Josh: It’s going to be a long night sitting next to you without speaking.

Me: Funny, I was just thinking the same thing.

Josh: Is it bad that I hope your brothers get so wasted, that they forget the two of us are sitting here.

I had to stop myself from laughing out loud at his text.

Me: Not at all.

“Come dance with me, Little Bird.” Fox said as he took my hand.

I groaned, but I was faking it. Truth was, I was like a kid in a toy store. Normally Fox would be the last person you’d see on the dance floor, especially when it involved being seen with his sister. He was always the brooding, stiff, and in-charge guy. Not this time. He was more carefree than I’d seen him in years. It was one hundred percent out of character for him. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t freak me out a little.

The song playing through the loud speakers was a soft one, and Fox gave me a little twirl before pulling me close. He even grinned, and for a split second I remembered what it was like to be a kid again. It made my head spin.

“Who are you and what did you do with my brother?” I was only half joking.

“What?” He gave me a funny look. The smell of alcohol on his breath was strong, and I moved my head a little to keep it from wafting in my face.

“I know something is up. I’m not a complete idiot. You’ve barely said two words to me all week, and now you’re acting all weird. You haven’t danced with me since I was like ten. I just want to know what’s going on.”

“I’m in a good mood for once,” he countered. His tone was clipped this time, like I had said the wrong thing.

I just couldn’t leave well enough alone. I had to go and open my fat mouth. This was supposed to be the moment when I nodded and smiled, and pretended he wasn’t being a complete nut. I was supposed to close my lips.

But I didn’t.

“Tell me,” I pushed.

“Drop it. We can talk about this later.” He glared at me. “It’s not the time or the place. You should just be happy that we’re out having a good time tonight.”

I huffed. “I knew it. I knew something was up the moment you let me out of prison.” That’s what I called my house, just not usually out loud and in front of Fox.

“The fuck.” He stopped moving, and I wished for the life of me that those words had never left my mouth. “Why would you say that? You’re safe there.”

“It’s not the time or the place.” I repeated his words.

He was about to say something that I knew would sting, but he didn’t get the chance.

A commotion stirred from behind me.

“Shit!” Fox yelled.

When I turned around I saw Obi and Garrett arguing with a couple of guys. The crowd gathering around them was huge. I gasped when I saw Garrett being shoved to the floor. My heart was racing. It was happening so fast. Fists and elbows were flying, and people were scrambling around. Someone was going to get seriously hurt.

“Obi!” I screamed. Fox had his arm wrapped around my waist, and was hurling me away from the crowd before I had a chance to push myself through. I was completely freaking out. My mind was having flash backs to a scarier time, and it was making it hard for me to breathe.

“Fox!” Josh’s voice wailed over the crowd as he ran towards us.

I was still clawing at my brother, trying to get loose. Obi needed help. Why was no one helping him?

“Take her, and get the other girls out of here.” Fox shoved me into Josh’s arms. “I have to help my brother.”

“No!” I tried to protest, but I was fighting a losing battle.

My brother got right up in my face. “Listen to me, Bird. Everything is going to be fine. Let Josh take you home, and we’ll be right behind you. I swear it will be fine. He won’t hurt you.” Fox looked up at Josh. “Or I’ll kill him.” He was serious as a heart attack.

But it wasn’t Josh I was worried about. It was Obi. They were going to kill him.

Before I knew what was happening, my feet were being lifted off the ground, and I was maneuvered through the bar at lightning speed. I wasn’t struggling anymore, but Josh’s hold on me was just as tight.

The one night I was out having fun, and all hell broke loose. Fox would never let me leave the house again.

“Let’s go before the cops get here,” he called out.

He took one of my hands, and Paislee took the other. We raced across the parking lot, and that was when I noticed another girl with us.

Our feet halted in front of a Camaro, and I was still trying to catch my breath, when Josh yelled out. “Shit! Is anybody sober?”

“I only had one drink. You know that’s my limit.” Paislee spoke up.

“I haven’t had any,” I said, unsure of where my voice had come from. It didn’t even sound like me.

“Here,” he handed me the keys and we all climbed into the car.

I fastened my seatbelt and stared at the black steering wheel in a daze. My feet were tingling, and I couldn’t seem to get my body and my mind on the same page. It was too much. The freight train of emotions in my brain had no shut off. It was a high-speed race to see how fast I could go before I derailed.

“You okay?” Josh asked. His hand covered mine. “Hey, look at me.”

My eyes captured his, and I loosened my grip on the steering wheel.

“Everything is going to be fine. I promise. Just take a deep breath. You can do this.” His voice was calm, and soothing. “Are you with me?” He asked.

“Yes.” I confirmed.

“Then hit the gas baby, cause we need to get the hell out of here.”