Best friend's Baby Sister [END]

BFBS : 5

•••

"She's not interested, man. Back the fuck off." She shifts her gaze to mine. Darkness clouds her chocolate eyes and anger pulls down her pretty face. "Are you all right, Rebecca?"

"I am now."

Nick holds up his hands. "Sorry. Didn't mean to trespass on your territory."

Freen gives her a what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you look, then before I know what's happening, she coils her fists and goes to hit Nick right in the face. I grab her arm at the last second, the logical part of my mind kicking in. She said she's applying for surgeon jobs. Getting arrested for a bar fight won't look good on a resume.

"He's not worth it," I say softly, and Freen turns, just inches from me. She unclenches her hands and lowers her arm. I keep my fingers wrapped around her arm, feeling the heat of her flesh through her t-shirt.

"But you are," she says so softly I'm not sure I heard her correctly.

"What?"

She shakes herself, pulling out of my grasp. "You sure you're all right? You don't need me to punch this cocksucker in the throat?"

It's like one of my brothers coming to my defense, but there's something different with Freen. Maybe I'm the only one who feels it, and there's a good chance I'm only feeling whatever the hell it is because I want to.

And also because I've had a few drinks.

But there's nothing brotherly in the way Freen stands in front of me, eyes narrowed and arms held out slightly to her sides, ready to pummel Nick and defend my honor.

"No, but thanks. Really. You didn't have to do that."

She puts her hand on my shoulder and turns, keeping herself between Nick and me. "That guy's an ass."

"He's been hitting on me all night."

"All night?" Freen tenses again and turns around. Nick is slinking away, but won't get far if Freen decides to go after him.

"Even in the scrubs." I give her a half-smile and sigh. "I'm trying not to go off on a rant right now, but I cannot stand guys like that. There are other reasons for going to a bar, you know. Not everyone wants to hook up with you, Mr. I'm-Doing-Business-in-Newport."

Freen laughs. "That was his line?"

"It was one I remember. It's pretty bad, huh?" I readjust my purse on my shoulder. "I think this is a sign from the universe I'm not meant to be at a bar tonight. I just want to go home."

"Did you drive?"

"No, I came with Nam. So it's going to be a long night."

"I can take you." She doesn't look at me as she offers.

"I don't want to make you leave."

"Honestly," she starts and forces herself to look at me. Our eyes meet for a fleeting second before she brings her hand to the back of her neck. "I'm tired. I came straight from work and I haven't had a day off in over a week."

"That's brutal."

"It is. So let me take you home and use it as an excuse to bail early. I don't think the guys are ready to hear that I'm not the partier I used to be."

"You can use me as your scapegoat." She can use me any other way too. "I'm going to tell Irin I'm leaving and then we can go."

Ten minutes later, we're walking out into the parking lot.