Page 15

Aiden shifted in his seat. “Because when Kenzi comes in, and you see her with someone else, I want you to make a choice.” I frowned, completely taken off guard by this conversation and where it was going. “You have to decide if you’re going to fight for her, or if you’re walking away for good.”

“I don’t understand. You nearly killed me when you found out about me and Kenzi the first time, and now you’re telling me to fight for her or leave her?”

Yeah. This was all kinds of fucking bizarre.

“Things change,” was his reply, like it was that simple.

“Like hell. If you’re playing a damn joke on me right now it’s not fucking funny.”

“Does it look like I’m kidding?”

“You’ll have to forgive me for not believing you.” I rubbed my jaw for effect. “My jaw still hurts from where Liam hit me the night of Kenzi’s accident.”

Aiden pursed his lips, and then slowly stood up. “Believe me, don’t believe me, it’s your call.” He clapped me on the shoulder just as the front door to Stella’s swung open. My head snapped up, and every ounce of oxygen in the room seemed to disappear the moment I laid eyes on Kenzi. Dark blue jeans showcased her shapely legs, muscular thighs, and her boots made her look taller. She unzipped her coat, revealing a plain grey long-sleeve shirt that hugged her body, showing off her boobs. A little too well, I might add. Man, I’d missed her. I still miss her. Every miserable fucking day.

“That guy she’s with?” Aiden whispered in my ear. “Is a tool.”

Right on cue, said tool slowed down to let Kenzi walk ahead of him with Maddy, and openly checked out her ass. He snickered to his friend, making a ‘I’m going to tap that’ motion with his hands. Aidan’s grip on my shoulder tightened.

“Not the kind of guy I want around my sister.”

Without looking at him, I replied, “I’m not the kind of guy you wanted around her either.”

I watched Kenzi talking animatedly with Maddy while their dates bought them drinks, and fought a smirk when Kenzi pulled a face. He probably bought her some froufrou girly drink, like a Cosmo or some shit. She hated that. She smiled politely, and it was like a punch to the gut. It left me winded, short of breath. I remembered being on the receiving end of those smiles — the genuine ones, the ones that made me feel like I could give her the world. And damn if it didn’t make me want to try.

“I want a man who’s going to love her.” Aidan’s words made me look at him. “A man who’s going to treat her the way my Dad treated my Mom.”

Man, this conversation kept surprising me. Aiden and I had never been friends, but I knew their family history like the back of my hand. I knew how much Coach loved his wife, and how hard it hit them when she died. I also knew that out of everyone, the twins dealt with it the hardest. And from the cloudy expression on Aiden’s face it was obvious that it still hurts him to talk about. I was clueless as to why this conversation mattered to me, but it did.

“How about another round?” suggested Aiden. “I’m not quite ready to leave yet.”

I caught his meaning, and gave a sharp nod before he walked back to the bar. He stopped next to Kenzi, and said something to her that made her scowl. Her date visibly straightened, but in terms of sheer size and height he was no match for Aiden. And he wasn’t exactly the kind of guy I thought Kenzi would date, but that was probably because I was comparing him to me. He was very much clean-cut with his coifed blond hair and beige chino’s, whereas I was all rough edges.

I deflated at the thought of seeing her with other guys, and realized that Aiden had a point earlier. I had to decide what I wanted because I couldn’t keep living the way I had been, on pause in the hopes that Kenzi would wake up one day and remember me. What we had. And the problem? I was scared. Terrified actually, that I’d lost her for good.

WHEN IT BECAME obvious that nothing was going to happen between Kenzi and her date — who’s name we learned was Collin - Aiden and I decided to call it a night. We ended up talking about hockey, and cars, and I came to the conclusion that he’s not all that bad. We actually got along. We kept an eye on Kenzi for most of the evening without getting too close, and an hour into the ‘date’ Aiden and I agreed that Kenzi had no real interest. In fact, she was starting to look uncomfortable, and Collin was well on his way to being drunk. Now? He was absolutely hammered, and getting handsy. Aiden and I stopped mid-conversation when Kenzi shoved Collin hard enough to make him stumble into a bar chair and knock over a few drinks. Aiden and I were out of the booth before he recovered, but we hesitated when Kenzi stood her ground. Collin spewed some shit about how Kenzi was a ‘cock tease’, which earned him a loud slap across the face.

I didn’t move.

Until Collin took a hold of Kenzi by her upper arms, and squeezed hard enough to make her wince.

Aiden and I moved as one, both making a bee-line for Collin. Aiden got to him first.

“Lay a hand on my sister again,” he warned, “and I’ll make sure you lose it.”

“Get off me, man.” Collin slurred his words.

“Aiden.” Kenzi touched his arm. “It’s fine. Collin was just leaving, right?” She glared at the douche in question.

“Yeah.” He shoved Aiden, prying himself free. “No pussy is worth this much trouble.”

Kenzi gasped, and before Aiden could get a hit in, she launched herself at Collin and started swinging her arms. When she accidentally elbowed Aiden in the face, I jumped in and pulled her back.

“Let me go!” She kicked her legs out, and I hissed when the heel of her boot connected with my shin. “Let me knock that asshole out!”

“Let your brother deal with it.” When her squirming became too much, I twisted her around, and held her to my chest.

“Will you stop?”