“Oh, I thought Zane was warning you away from me.” Braydon laughed, and Zane glowered. “Cos I’m a big bad wolf and all.”
“Braydon, I’ll meet you in the garden in a minute, okay?” I pushed him towards the French doors. “Go back to the back yard. I’ll be out in a moment.”
“I’ll be waiting, sugar lips.” Braydon laughed and walked out.
“Hey,” I turned around, and faced Zane. “I can’t wait for tonight.” I sidled up next to him and he pushed me away.
“I don’t want you talking to Braydon any more, Lucky.” He frowned, his eyes looking distant.
“You can’t just ban me.”
“Do not go outside and talk to him.” His face looked stern. “I’m not going to tell you again.”
“Why not?”
“He’s bad news.”
“Why is he bad news?” I shook my head, befuddled.
“Just listen to me.” His voice was sharp. “I don’t have to explain myself.”
“Because it is always on your terms right?” My voice caught. “I can’t keep playing this game, Zane. You can’t choose to tell me only what you want. It’s not fair.”
“I told you about my brother today, Lucky.” His voice was pained. “That was a big move for me.”
“And I’m glad you told me, but it didn’t have to be a secret, Zane. I told you about my parents. You knew I would understand. I know how badly it hurts.” My breath caught.
“You do not understand.” He looked at me angrily. “We are not the same, Lucky.”
“I’m not saying we are the same. I’m just saying I know what it feels like to lose someone you love.”
“I don’t know what you want from me, Lucky.” Zane’s eyes were bleak. “I don’t know you well enough to share my deepest darkest secrets with you. I’m sorry. That’s not who I am.”
“I didn’t say I expected that.” I bit my lip and sighed. “Look, you have guests out there, we don’t have to talk about this now.”
“Lucky, I’m waiting.” Braydon called out to me from the doors and I walked out to him, averting my gaze from Zane as I left.
“I hope I didn’t get you in trouble.” Braydon frowned as I joined him. “Zane hates me.”
“Why did you come if you knew he didn’t like you?”
“I wanted to see you.” He smiled impishly. “I missed you and I was worried about you.”
“Why were you worried?”
“Zane’s a little crazy.” He shook his head. “I would feel horribly if something happened to you.”
“Nothing’s going to happen to me.” I sighed. All of a sudden I was dreadfully tired. It had been another really long day and I was emotionally exhausted.
“Zane has anger issues.” Braydon looked at me seriously. “Look, maybe I shouldn’t tell you this, but Zane has it out for me.”
“What?”
“I know, it sounds crazy, but he is really crazy. You know he dates every girl I’m interested in.”
“Huh?”
“Zane has taken out all of my exes.” He pulled out his phone. “That’s one of the reasons I have been trying to contact you. I care about you. I don’t want him using you.”
“What are you talking about, Braydon?”
“Look.” He opened up the photo gallery on his phone and started showing me photos. “You see all these girls? These are all girls I’ve dated at one time.”
“And?” I was so annoyed that I didn’t even look at the photos.
“Just take a look.” He pushed the phone in my face and I looked down.
“Okay and?” I was about to tell him to leave when I saw the next photo on the screen. “Wait, let me see that.” I frowned and grabbed his phone. I scrolled through all the photos quickly, and I felt my heart freeze. I recognized at least 10 of the women on the camera as Friday night dates of Zane’s. “How do you know these girls?”
“They are all girls I dated.” Braydon leaned towards me. “I don’t want to make you jealous, Lucky. I’m not interested in them now. They were all good-time girls, I want a real commitment now, with someone like you.”
“You dated all these girls?”
“Well, you know.” He grinned. “Slept with, spent a few weeks with, that sort of thing.” And then he frowned. “But then Zane always took them away from me.”
“He stole your girlfriends?” I frowned. “Why would he do that?”
“He’s crazy man.” He shook his head. “And now he’s after you. But you’re special to me, Lucky. I can’t let him get you as well.”
“I know some of those girls.” I shook my head in disbelief. “I’ve seen him with some of them in the diner.”
“I’m sorry, Lucky. I didn’t mean to make your life a Hollywood movie.”
“I need to go, Braydon.” I stood up. “Thanks for telling me everything.”
“Can I take you out to lunch tomorrow?”
“I don’t know.” I looked at his earnest face and felt something in me click. Wasn’t Braydon the type of guy I had always told myself to date. “Maybe, call me tomorrow, and I will let you know.”
“Awesome.” He pulled me towards him, and gave me a big hug. He smelled like sun, sand, and beer. But he was warm and soft, and I felt comforted by his embrace.
“I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” I gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked through the living room quickly. I needed to go to bed. I just wanted to be by myself. I didn’t care if I was being rude by leaving the party early. These weren’t my guests and none of them had been particularly nice to me. I certainly didn’t owe them anything. They were Zane’s guests and I didn’t care if he thought I was a bad co-host.
I walked quickly through the room and ignored Gina’s shrieks of “Lucia, Lucia.” She was lucky I didn’t turn around and tell her shut up. I ran up the stairs and was about to sneak into my room when I saw that Zane’s door was slightly ajar. I’m not sure if it was shock or curiosity that caused me to walk up to the door, but I creeped to the door quietly and peeked inside. I saw Zane sitting on the bed and he was caressing Angelique’s cheek. The beautiful blonde was lying in the bed and saying something. I leaned in to get a better glance and I saw tears running down her face. My breath caught and I tried hard to hear what they were saying.