Love thy Neighbour : Book 2

Chapter 7

The following week flew by. Zane was flat out at his work as was I with mine and the studying. Friday night came around and we were going to see a live band with some of Zane's fellow police colleagues, Zach, Rochelle and my friend and workmate Ella.
Zane as working until 11pm and then he was going to change at the station and join us all at the pub.
Ella, Zach, Rochelle and I met Jiemba, Andy and their girlfriends at the pub entrance about 9pm. The band playing had another fellow police officer in it called Simon who I had met a couple of time since Zane and I had become official and we had seen him perform twice.
There was another band playing up on the stage so we all made out way through the cloud
Ella and I stepped up to the closest bar and ordered some drinks.
Zach was next to us with Rochelle, leaning up over the top of the bar and holding his hand up to get the blonde bargirls attention. She noticed him and smiled walking over immediately to ask him what he wanted. It was so obvious she found him attractive the way she battered her lash extensions at him and her lips pursed up. She didn't even notice Rochelle was standing next to him. Not that they were an item but still the barmaid didn't know this?
"Two beers thanks". Zach grinned at the blonde and handed her the $20 note he held in his hand. She took it from him still smiling and grabbed two glasses from the tray behind her. As she poured the first beet from the tap she continued to smile at him then asked him how his night was going?
"It is just getting started" . Zach grinned.
The barmaid put the first beer down on the bar and started pouring the second, her eyes still flirting with his.
I shook my head nudging Ella with my elbow and motioning in Zach's direction. She looked past me to see what was happening. Zach was now exchanging numbers with the blonde barmaid and Rochelle was
"You definitely got the better twin". She laughed lightly shaking her head.
" Hell yes". I nodded taking a sip of my drink.
When Zach and the blonde had finished their little chat he turned back to look out across the crowd at the stage but not before looking at Ella and I.
"What?". He shrugged but was smiling.
"Nothing we don't expect from you Zach". I shook my head. "Poor Rochelle".
He rolled his eyes and leaned in close to me.
" Enough about Chelle". He whispered in my ear. " it's never going to happen".
Hmmmmmm he could do a lot worse!
" Does she know that?" I looked at him.
"She should". He replied lifting his beer to his mouth. He leant back on the bar now and turned his attention to the stage and pre show band. They had just finished which meant Simon and his band were next.
I was just after 11 and many drinks and songs later when Zane and Matt walked in. He hadn't gone home to change but they both had civilian jackets on over their uniforms. As Zane reached me he slid his arms around my waist and kissed my lips hello.
" Hi babe". He smiled down at me.
" You didn't go home and change".
He shook his head. " Was pretty hectic tonight. Just wanted to get here and see you and watch Simon play".
Matt said Hello then asked Zane if he wanted a beer? Zane nodded and Matt walked off through the crowd to the bar.
Zach appeared beside us then. God knows where he had been. Most of the night? Rochelle stayed about an hour and then said she had a headache and was heading home but I had suspected it was because Zach was a flirt and was in his element tonight at a bar with lots of single women.
" Busy night bro?". Zach asked his twin looking him up and down.
" Pretty full on". Zane nodded.
Matt returned then with two beers handing one to Zane and lifting the other up to his lips. He nodded at Zach who returned the gesture.
Ella grabbed my arm then and said " Oh fuck".
" What?". I looked at the worried expression on her face as she half hid her face into my shoulder obviously hiding from someone.
" It's my ex". She muffled into my shoulder.
"Who?" I looked up scanning the crowd even though I didn't know who or what he looked like?
" Nash, dark hair in a man bun, tall, white tshirt". She peeked out from my shoulder long enough to point him out then turn back to look at the bar, her back in his direction.
Zach noticed something going on and leaned in to ask what was up?
" Ella's ex is here apparently". I replied.
He nodded grinning. No idea why he was grinning but he was.
" Has he gone yet?". Ella asked me, still facing the bar.
He hadn't. In fact he was looking over at us. One of his mates was pointing over in our direction. Fuck he had spotted Ella.
"No.". I replied.
" What is he doing?". Ella turned around at that exact moment and their eyes locked onto each other and she grabbed onto my arm. "Oh for fucks sake".
Zane leaned over and asked if everything was ok?
"Ella's ex has spotted her". I replied. He looked in the direction of the guys approaching us.
Ella was still holding onto my arm when Nash her ex and his mates reached us. He leaned in and said "Hello " to her,
"Hi Nash". Ella nodded.
He took a sip of his beer and said "How have you been?".
"Good thanks". She replied politely.
Sensing something was about to happen Zach walked around me and stood next to Ella slipping an arm around her shoulder.
"Hi you are?". He held is hand out to Nash who hesitated then shook hands.
"Ummm Nash.".
"Ok never heard of you. Friend of Ella's?" Zach said giving Ella a squeeze.
" Something like that". Nash nodded.
" Well good meeting you." Zach said then looked down at Ella and asked ". Dance babe before the band starts up again?.".
"Sure". She nodded looking both relieved and excited.
And with that Zach grabbed Ella's hand and they brushed past Nash and his friends and headed to the dance floor.
I looked at Rochelle who just stood there watching them walk off. I felt so bad for her. It was obvious she had feelings for Zach.
She looked at me and I smiled and she managed a small one back.
For the rest of the night we listened to the band, drank and talked. Zach and Ella stayed close to each other all night which kept Nash away from approaching her again. Rochelle called it a night about an hour after Zach and Ella had started hanging close and I had walked her out to catch a taxi.
" Are you ok?". I asked her as we waited for the approaching taxi.
"Yes, just have a headache coming on". She said. I wasn't sure it was true or if she just wanted to get out of there and away from Zach and Ella but it wasn't my business so ai didn't ask anything more.
By the end of the night they were kissing which didn't surprise me with Zach.
Zach had his tongue down Ella's throat as we waited for our Uber.
" Get a look of at your brother". I nudged Zane who was saying goodbye to Matt and the others.
" Do I have to?". He half laughed and looked in the direction of his twin. He shook his head, slipped an arm around me and kissed the tip of my nose. "Love you".
"Love you too". I returned the gesture by kissing his lips.
" Get a room you two". Came Zach's loud voice.
Still looking down at me Zane replied " Talking to yourself mate?".
Everyone laughed at that.
Our Uber pulled up then and Zane, Zach, Ella and I piled in. Matt was getting his own Uber as he was going in a slightly different direction to us and there wasn't any room in ours, It took us less than 10 minutes to get home. Ella got out too and the last we saw of her, she was waving and holding hands with Zach as they were walking up the steps nextdoor.
Zane shut the car door behind us and we headed into our house.