“Yeah, and probably a French man’s hygiene habit too!” I yell out, enjoying the banter.
“Harumph. And here I thought you came to visit because you missed me,” Seb whines and wanders over to the bar shooting his fiancee a hurt look.
We all dissolve into a pit of giggles for moment before Cadence sighs and shrugs. “Better go comfort the big hot musical baby. Don’t have fun without me!” She runs over and jumps on Sebastian’s lap and it’s not long before they’re attached at the mouth again.
“I love her!” Anca loud whispers into my ear.
“Yeah, she’s great. In fact, it was in a bar just like this, that she convinced me to come over and talk to you,” I say, pulling her against me, burying my face in her hair and taking a deep breath. I can never get enough of her scent.
She wriggles and runs her fingers up and down my back making me sigh. “Oh, so we have her to thank then?”
“I guess.”
“Don’t tell Jez. He’ll put frogs in her bed.”
“She’s used to it she’s engaged to Seb!”
“First round’s on… DAD!” Hailey comes over, a tray full of shots in her arms. Our collective yell of appreciation fills the bar.
***
“So, hey, I hear you’ve become quite the heartbreaker,” Cadence says as she comes over to sit on the stool next to me later. The seat is empty after Emily and Anca left for a girls group trip to the bathroom.
“And where did you hear that?”
“A little French birdie told me.”
“And what did the nosy French birdie tell you exactly?”
“That I should probably come visit and see you one last time, before Jez kills you.”
“Fuck.”
“Seriously, what’s going on with you two?”
“I thought we were in the middle of an awkward cease fire.”
“Not you and Jez, idiot. You and her.”
I don’t say anything, just pick at the label on my beer.
“Honey, I flew five thousand hours to get here because my darling fiancee thought you needed a cuddle. Talk to me. What’s going on with you two?”
“What isn’t?”
“That bad, huh?”
“No, that good.” I turn to her and shrug.
Her face softens. “Aw, Maz.”
“No. No ‘Aw, Maz’. She’s Jez’s sister, Cadey,” I sigh.
“Yeah. And you’re his friend.”
“Bros before hos?”
“No. What I meant is, in the end, the happiness of the people he loves most will be what’s most important to him. Trust me.” She gives me a slow nod, and for just a moment, I want to believe her that this will all end well.
I lean over and give her hand a squeeze, “I’m glad to see you.”
“You too, and while your face is still pretty too,” she laughs and pinches my cheek again.
I’m about to lean in and give her another hug when we hear a loud shout from the other end of the bar. I can just make out Emily and Anca standing there surrounded by a growing group of men.
“Shit.” I jump to my feet.
“Whoa, wait. Let’s just see what’s happening.”
“I don’t need to see what’s happening, those guys are harassing them.” I take a step forward, before a leather clad arm thumps against my chest.
“Stop. She can take care of this herself.”
I push the air away and look up at its owner. “Jez, are we not seeing the same thing? Your little sister is being molested by a bunch of guys in a bar, and you don’t want to do anything?” He just looks at me and shakes his head.
Over the noise in the bar, I can hear her voice, it’s raised, and I can’t quite make out the words she’s saying. The blood in my veins boil and I take another step forward. Jez grabs my arms and pulls me back, hard
“Don’t do it. man. Take a breath first. Trust me, she’s not going to appreciate you intervening if she can take care of the situation herself.”
“Fuck you, Jez. Look!” I point over to the growing crowd of men tightening around her. “You’re okay with that? If you are then FUCK. YOU. Don’t sulk just because she said she doesn’t need you anymore.” I shake my head at his pettiness.
“Maz… you shouldn’t talk like that,” Cadence warns me, but I ignore her as I tear my arm out of his hold.
“It’s okay, Cadence. We both know he doesn’t care how I feel anymore. So, let him go, It’s not the first mistake he’s made.” I hear Jez say as I push through to where Anca’s standing.
There’s shouting and laughter and my chest tightens with worry. I elbow one of the men as I force my way into the middle of the circle, where Anca is standing. Emily’s been pushed out of the circle. They’re all pressing closer around her, beers in hand, eyes roving all over her body.
“Hey, babe!” she says to me as I come up next to her.
I spin around, taking in the scene. “What the hell’s going on?
“What do you mean?”
“I’m just… what are you doing?”
“I’m telling these guys my story of meeting Vanessa Mae at my college-…” I don’t let her finish and grab her wrist, pulling her towards a gap in the crowd. “Whoa, where are you taking me?”
“Yeah, buddy, where are you taking her? She hasn’t finished yet.” One of the men says, blocking me from stepping forward.
“She’s done entertaining you for tonight.” I spit in his face.
“Marius!” She shouts at me and tries to pull her hand out of mine.
“Hey… is this guy bothering you?” One of the other meatheads comes up and tries to push in between us.
I can’t believe what’s going on. Who the fuck do these guys think they are? “You’ve got to be kidding me, right? I’m saving her from you guys.”
“Oh my god,” I hear her say, her hand coming up to her forehead.
“Saving her from us? It looks like you’re the one she’s trying to get away from.”
“No, I’m her…”
“Her… her what?” meathead number 1 interrupts me.
“Her bodyguard?” meathead number 2 jumps in.
“Her boy toy? Her momma?” The crowd starts to get into it.
Anca steps in between us and grabs my hand. “Guys, it’s fine… let’s go Marius.”
“Or maybe she’s your momma? Go home little boy…” meathead 1 sneers.
I move out from behind Anca and push myself against him. “That’s it…just shut the fuck up.”
“You’re gonna make me? Mommy’s boy?”
“Marius! Stop it!” I hear her yell somewhere in the back of my head.
“Just stay out of this Anca. I’ve got this.” I jam my finger into meathead’s chest. “You’re going to fucking regret you ever came here tonight and messing with my girl.”
He snickers and pushes his face close to mine. “Why? Because you’re going to hit me with your itty bitty bow? Yeah, I know who you are. Can’t even play a proper instrument. Go take your groupie and fuck off home.”
“She’s not my groupie.”
“In that case, maybe she won’t mind coming home with a real man then.” He reaches for Anca, and before I know what I’m doing, I swing and my fist makes contact with his jaw. The pain through my hand is blinding, but it doesn’t distract me from watching him recover and pull his own arm back, ready to swing at me.
His arm comes around in an arc, almost in slow motion, and I feel my body duck out of the way. The momentum of his swing helps me as I run forward, ramming my shoulder against him, taking him down to the ground.
“Oh my god, Marius!” Someone yells out. But it barely registers.