I shrug. “I’m just saying, it’s cozy.”
“Be nice, B.”
“Oh, are you guys on a first-letter basis now?” Bastian asks, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.
“What if we are,Bastian?” I watch him grit his teeth at the nickname. “We have history, you know.”
“Oh yeah? Were you an alcoholic douchebag back then too?”
The dig hurts, and I slam my beer on the marble counter. “If you’re jealous?—”
“I’m not, but she’s my stepsister’s best friend.”
“Jesus, you two, simmer down. If you’re done with yourdick-measuring contest—” Fiona’s phone buzzes, and we all look at it before she snatches it up. Her face pales when she stares at the screen.
“Who is it? Is everything okay?” I ask, reaching for her hand.
Fiona yanks away from me in a jerky movement. “I, uh, yeah. It’s just the…” Fiona licks her lips as her voice trails off.
Bastian narrows his eyes. “The…?”
“What?” Fiona asks quickly.
“You didn’t finish your sentence.”
“Right, yeah, the lawyer. It’s just the lawyer for my mom’s estate.” She hops up, her phone in a white-knuckled grip, and walks to the living room.
“That was weird, right?” he whispers.
I glance at Sebastian, and for once, his expression isn’t hostile. “Yeah, really weird.”
Bastian stands and picks up our plates, takes them to the sink, and starts to rinse them off. I watch him in silence for a few moments before I clear my throat.
“Look, this wasn’t my idea. I’m sorry.”
“I know,” he concedes, turning to face me. “Fiona is…” We glance where she’s pacing with her back to us, and Bastian lets out a frustrated sigh. “Listen, Stitch. Like I said, she’s my stepsister’s friend, so I sure as shit am not going to let anyone hurt her.” He steps up to the counter and places his palms flat on top if it, leaning toward me until our noses practically touch. “Understand?”
I’m transfixed by Bastian’s large hands splayed out in front of me and the way his forearms flex under his weight. My dick twitches involuntarily. I bring the beer to my lips and take a sip, staring into his ice-blue eyes. I refuse to let him intimidate me, but also, I completely get it. Fiona’s special, and I’d be throwing the same threat his way if our roles were reversed.
“Yeah, I understand.”
CHAPTER SIX
FIONA
The guys are still talking, but all I hear is a buzzing noise as I wander into the living room. I stare at my phone, hoping that I imagined the text. But it’s still there in a little blue bubble.
Unknown
How was your shift at the pub?
A chill runs up my arms.
It’s him.
My stomach still twists painfully when I think about the trauma Dennis caused over the years.
Vancouver is a really big city in another country. I blocked his number. I thought I was safe here.
