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That’s what I envy.
“Lucky you,” Cam says wryly.
“Like you can’t bag any of the women swarming this place?” Derek glances around the crowded bar. “You can have your pick of ‘em. You and Maguire. Oh wait.” He grins. “Maguire is celibate. All the women are hands-off.”
“Don’t remind me.” I down the rest of my beer, feeling restless. Moody. Derek moves to refill it but Cam stops him.
“He’s had enough to drink.”
“I have not,” I protest. “I definitely need more.”
“It’s making you down in the dumps,” Cam points out. He turns to Derek. “He needs a break.”
“Okay.” Derek backs off the pitcher of beer and I scowl at both of them, annoyed that they’re playing like they’re my mom or some such shit.
We sit like this for at least twenty minutes. Derek and Cam chatting. Me glowering. The girls at the other table glancing over at us every once in a while. The only reason I know this is because I stare at their table the entire time. My excuse is Blair. I’m watching over my sister and I see the dirty looks she shoots my way.
Tough shit. I’m not even looking at her. I can’t keep my eyes off of Joanna.
The way she smiles at her friends, bending close to confide in them. The sound of her laughter. She absently twirls a dark strand of hair around her finger, her teeth sinking into her lower lip when someone else is talking, seemingly lost in thought.
Until her gaze drifts and lands on me. She always seems surprised to catch me staring, but she never looks away quickly. No, she holds my stare, looking right back at me for a few long, burning seconds before she finally returns her attention to her friends.
She probably thinks I’m a stalker. I’m acting like one and it’s obnoxious as shit.
Again, I don’t really care. I’m just waiting for some asshole to approach them and try to flirt with Joanna.
I won’t let it happen.
Taking a deep breath, I rub the back of my neck, annoyed with my own thoughts. I sound like a caveman. All territorial and shit. What the hell is wrong with me?
“I think she gets the hint,” Cam says when Derek finally leaves our table and heads for the bathroom.
I frown at him. “Who are you talking about?”
“Your sister. You can’t stop glaring at her.”
“Oh. Right.” I nod, playing it off. “I don’t want any schmuck to approach her.”
“With the way you’re staring like you’ll cut off someone’s balls if they even look at her, I don’t think you have to worry about it,” Cam says wryly.
I lean back in the booth, a sigh escaping me. “I’m overprotective.”
“I’ll say. She can handle herself, you know. She’s pretty smart.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I just sat next to her for at least a half hour and talked to her.”
“You two spoke?”
“Of course, I talked to her. I’m not going to just sit there and glare like a statue. That’s more your style.” I know he’s trying to tease me and lighten the mood, but it doesn’t work.
I don’t even want Cam talking to my little sister, and I trust that motherfucker more than any other guy on our team.
Cam’s smile fades when I don’t respond. “Come on, Maguire. Lighten up. What’s your deal anyway? And don’t say this has anything to do with Blair. You don’t get this twisted up over her.”
A sigh leaves me and I scrub my hand across my face, wishing I could confess everything.
