"Hey Ali, how was college?" Ben asked happily as he came over to her and hugged her.
She hugged him back her whole body stiff, "Yeah it was good thanks Ben" she said quietly.
As he let go of her she stepped even closer to me, our sides were almost touching and I closed the tiny distance pressing my body to hers. Something was really wrong with her and him. I could feel her trembling slightly, she hadn't looked up from the floor.
"So are we ready to go?" Johnny asked impatiently, Ali nodded and he smiled happily. "Oh crap, Ben this is Ethan my new bodyguard, Ethan, this is Ali's brother Ben" he said waving between us.
Ben looked up at me shock written clear across his face, he glanced at Ali who was looking at him pleadingly.
He smiled a wicked smile and held out his hand to me, "Bodyguard huh? Nice to meet you Ethan" he said squeezing my hand showing me he knew to play along with the façade.
"Yeah you too Ben" I said trying not to laugh and give her away, Lia was staring at our hands looking like she disapproved or something.
He looked over to Lia again, "You know Johnny said I could stay tonight, that ok with you Ali?" he asked curiously.
She shrugged "It's not my house" she said as she walked out to the toilet quickly.
I watched her go feeling something was really wrong but I had no idea what, maybe her and Ben had fallen out or something. Johnny walked out as his phone rang and Ben smirked at me, "So what the hell are you doing back here Ethan? And body-guarding my sisters boyfriend no less" he said chuckling slightly.
I rolled my eyes " I know man, talk about awkward" I said uncomfortably not wanting to look away from the toilet door where I knew Lia was.
"Awkward doesn't even cover it, I take it Johnny doesn't know you two used to go out" he said shaking his head grinning.
I shook my head "No Lia didn't want him to know so...." I said trailing off shrugging.
I saw her come out of the toilet, she glanced in my direction and quickly looked away, I caught sight of her eyes before they dropped back to the floor, they were hurt and a little scared. "I keep meaning to come over yours and say hi to your parents" I said casually, he stiffened and shook his head looking at me curiously.
"I don't think that's a good idea, they don't like you, it would be weird" he said frowning. What the hell? They don't like me? Oh shit I guess I upset their daughter when I left, they probably didn't forgive me like she didn't.
"Right yeah I guess, I didn't think of that" I said guiltily, I guess I screwed up more than just my relationship with her after all if her parents didn't like me now either.
"Let's go" Johnny called from the front door.
We made the awkward car journey in a limo's that Johnny had ordered to take us out, Lia didn't speak just sat next to Johnny holding his hand for dear life. We picked up Becca and she gave me the death glare as she got in, her eyes fell on Ben and she froze before shooting her eyes to Lia. Ok so she know's what the hell's going on, maybe I'll ask her, if she doesn't rip my head off before the end of the night.
"Hi Rebecca" Ben said grinning at her turning on the charm.
"Hi Ben, how are you?" she asked politely and moving to sit as far away from him as possible. She shot Lia a questioning look and Lia just shook her head looking sad again but plastering on a fake smile.
"So, I'm gonna get wasted tonight so someone's gonna have to carry me home" Lia said teasingly looking at Johnny and running a hand up his leg.
He grinned "Fine, as long as you know I'll be carrying you straight to bed" he replied as he grabbed her hand and pulled it into his lap looking at her with a sly smile.
She giggled "Well don't you always?" she asked rolling her eyes at him, he grinned and started kissing down her neck. "Easy there baby, save that for later" she said pushing him away playfully., He grinned against her neck "Oh I've got plenty of that for you beautiful girl" he said tickling her and making her giggle.
God I was so freaking jealous, I squeezed my eyes shut and rested my head back on the seat, this is gonna be a long night. Maybe I'll get lucky and someone will try and shoot him again and I'll get Lia all to myself. When I opened my eyes I noticed that Becca was staring at me with a murderous expression on her face, my balls tightened slightly as she gave me chills, Damn that girl really wants to kill me!
We arrived at the club at just after nine and I got out gratefully, staying close to Johnny as we walked past the crowd, there didn't look to be any threat so I relaxed slightly. Ben was lingering behind trying to talk to Becca but she just made the bare minimum of polite conversation with him.
I checked out the bar and watched as Johnny and Lia and everyone else went and sat in a booth in the corner which was actually a good place for a protection point of view. I wasn't strictly a bodyguard, well not of the type that stops him from doing anything anyway. He was to carry on life as normal and I was to accompany and keep and eye and stop anyone suspicious.
A few groupie girls came over immediately and started flirting with him which I allowed, Lia didn't seem even the slightest bit jealous as he chatted to them and they draped themselves all over him.
Rebecca came to stand next to me at the bar, "Hey, look Becca I think we need to get this sorted, you can't be hating on me forever" I said giving her my most persuasive smile.
"I'm not here to talk to you Ethan, I just wanted to ask you a favour" she said looking annoyed that she even had to speak to me in the first place. I nodded interested as to what this girl could want from me, oh God please don't ask me to stay away from Lia. "Watch Ali for me, she can get into trouble easily, she's a magnet for assholes" she said smirking at me, ok wow I'll include myself in that then.
"Yeah I'll watch her don't worry, I won't let anyone hurt her" I said honestly, I would never let anyone hurt her, I would rather cut off my own hands.
"I don't just mean other guys Ethan, watch Johnny and Ben too ok" she said as she walked off leaving me even more confused.
Lia stood up and walked to the bar next to me ordering four shots of vodka, she slid one to me and drank one herself. "You ok? You look a little tense, are things between you and Ben ok?" I asked moving closer to her and noticing how she flinched when I said his name.
"Yeah fine, cheers" she said holding up the second shot to me, I tapped my glass to hers and watched as she downed hers again with a grimace. She downed the third one and smiled at me,
"You not gonna drink that?" she asked pointing at my still full glass in my hand.
"Um actually not yet, the night guard isn't taking over for me until eleven, I'll have a drink when I'm off duty" I said smiling slightly.
She grinned "Well maybe you'll save me a dance then tough guy" she said flirtily as she walked off leaving me standing there shocked. She grabbed Becca and dragged her to the dance floor strutting her stuff making my mouth water as she shook her booty to perfection.
Within about two minutes guys were swarming around them, damn no wonder why they want me to watch her! She wasn't interested in the guys who were watching her intently, in fact it wouldn't surprise me if she didn't even notice. She was talking to Becca looking serious, Becca looked equally grim as they danced absentmindedly. Becca kept glancing over at the table and shaking her head looking angry about something which thankfully wasn't me for a change!
The night guard came up to me at eleven, "Hey man, they're over there, I'm still gonna hang around for a bit though, you watch Johnny, he's asked me to keep an eye on his girlfriend" I said hating that damn word, 'girlfriend'.
"Sure man, I'd like to keep an eye on his girlfriend for him because damn that girl is fine" he said watching her as she continued to dance. I punched him hard in the arm, actually a lot harder than I thought. He winced and rubbed his arm "Shit man that hurt" he whined. I'd worked with this guy before and he was definitely a ladies man.
I went over to Johnny's table, he was in the middle of snorting a line of cocaine from the tabletop.
Bloody idiot! "Johnny, Max is here t
he night guard, I'm gonna stay too and keep an eye on Ali, Max is your main guard so any problems do as he says ok" I said looking into his drunk and drugged up face.
He grinned looking like he wasn't really listening. "Sure man, make sure no asshole touches my girl" he slurred, I nodded and went back to the bar buying three more shots and taking them to Rebecca and Lia.
"Hey, want a drink?" I asked offering them one.
Becca sneered at me, "From you? No thanks" she said venomously.
Lia giggled and rolled her eyes, "Thanks Ethan, I'll have hers if she doesn't want it" she said taking two glasses, she waved it under Rebecca's nose teasingly "Last chance" she said grinning.
"Ethan watch her while I go to the bathroom" Becca said leaning in so Lia couldn't hear, I nodded and watched as Lia downed the two shots.
"Wanna dance with me Ethan?" she asked grinning at me making my heart melt, I nodded and downed my shot as I followed her to the other side of the dance floor.
I forgot what a good dancer she was, she was grinding around attracting attention with every move, not that I think she meant too, it just kind of happened. I knew she used to want to be a dance choreographer but I had no idea what she was even studying at college. She moved closer to me as the music was louder over here.
"Sorry about Bec's" she said in my ear our cheeks almost touching sending prickles of excitement through my body.
"Don't worry, like I said I deserve it" I said honestly, her hand went to the back of my head as she closed the little distance between our bodies. My breathing sped up as my chest rubbed against hers as we danced and swayed to the beat.
"Yeah you do" she said in my ear.
She pulled away quickly looking at Ben who had come over to where we were dancing he was smiling at her. "Wanna dance Ali?" he asked raising an eyebrow.,
"No, I'm dancing with Ethan" she said moving close to me, I put my arm around her pressing her tiny frame to mine protectively. He glared at her and walked off, she wrapped her arms around my neck tightly and pressed her face into my neck her whole body rigid with tension.
"Lia talk to me, something's wrong between you and Ben, tell me what it is" I said wrapping my arms around her so she couldn't squirm away.
"I can't" she said sounding like she was trying not to cry, I rubbed my hand down her back soothingly.
"Please" I begged.
She shook her head and pulled away from me walking over to Johnny's table and sitting on his lap kissing him deeply making me burn with jealousy.Lia got more and more drunk as the night went on, dancing on the table and laughing uncontrollably at nothing. She had been hit on more than I had ever seen anyone get hit on in my life, they were almost queuing to hit on her and buy her drinks. Johnny was just as wasted his eyes closed his head back with a small drug induced smile on his face. I stood protectively behind her the whole night shooting warning glances at anyone that got too close to her. The only time she acknowledged me was when Ben came near her and she would shrink to my side looking uncomfortable. Even Rebecca seemed to warm to me by the end of the night, well she stopped trying to kill me with her glares anyway which I took as a good sign.
At about two in the morning a guy came over and grabbed Lia's ass, I stepped forward and went to her side immediately making him back off, the next thing I know Johnny came bounding over and grabbed her elbow. "Ali! What the hell was that? Are we touching other people in our relationship now?" he shouted in her face looking angry as hell.
She pulled her arm out of his grip, "It was nothing, he touched me not the other way round" she said clearly annoyed.
"So if I let someone touch me that would be ok would it? Maybe I will" he growled glaring at her., She rolled her eyes at him "Oh don't keep threatening it baby, you want someone else go get them, see if they'll put up with your shit" she said annoyed.
"Fine I will, you find somewhere else to sleep tonight" he said angrily.
She laughed looking unconcerned, "Yeah go ahead Johnny, you'll be crawling back by morning once you get your waster druggie mind around the fact that I'm the best damn thing that ever happened to you" she said as she turned and stormed over to Becca.
Johnny turned to me angrily "Make sure she gets home would you please?" he asked as he wandered over to a table full of girls and sat down with them. Ok shit this is awesome! She's now single, I'm in love with her, if I could just get her to forgive me!
I walked over to Lia and Becca and caught the end of their conversation, "Ali, I'm so sorry, you can't come to mine, I'm already on the sofa because of my family down for that wedding tomorrow"
Kate said apologetically.
Lia nodded "Yeah I know, I'll go home, it'll be fine, look I'll call you tomorrow" Lia said hugging Kate.
Kate nodded looking at her sympathetically, "Are you sure you don't want to go make up with Johnny?" Beccca asked looking over to Johnny who was now flirting with the girls doing shots.
Lia waved her hand dismissively, "Screw him, if he wants to do that it's up to him, I'll sort something out" she said not looking bothered at all.
Ben came over then and threw his arm around Lia making her smile fade as she shrugged off his arm "Hey, I just heard you're not staying at Johnny's tonight, wanna share a taxi home?" he asked grinning happily. She looked horrified and looked back at Becca.
Becca grabbed her hand and pulled her to her side away from Ben, "She's staying at mine" she said smiling trying to look friendly but her eyes were hard. Ben looked disappointed as he walked off.
Lia closed her eyes, "I'm gonna go get a hotel or something, I'll call you" she said hugging Becca and walking off towards the exit.
I text Max to tell him I was leaving and walked up behind Lia waiting as she handed her ticket over for her jacket. "Hey, you can stay at mine, I've got room" I offered trying not to look too hopeful.
She looked at me seeming to be thinking about it before she shook her head, "Thanks for the offer but I'll be fine" she said walking off. I rolled my eyes and followed her out hailing a taxi and grabbing her hand. She looked at me shocked "Ethan, I'll be fine thanks, I'm gonna get a hotel" she said waving for another taxi.
"Stop being so damn stubborn Lia, jeez you always were stubborn as hell" I said chuckling as she smiled slightly, I always told her that was one of the things I loved the most about her, maybe she remembered me saying it.
I gave her a persuasive smile and nodded towards the waiting taxi, she sighed "Are you sure you have room, if I get there and your expecting me to sleep with you I'm gonna kick your ass" she said trying to look threatening but failing miserably.
"Yes I have room, you can have my room, I'll sleep on the couch" I said as I gave her a little pull towards the cab.
"Ok thanks" she said reluctantly as she climbed in smiling at me gratefully. My insides danced with excitement that I could help her, maybe she could forgive me after all. I climbed in next to her and deliberately held onto her hand, she didn't make any comment or try to take it back or anything which made my heart beat faster.
Chapter 6
We sat in silence for the fifteen minute taxi ride, when we got there I grabbed my wallet to pay but she laughed and shook her head. "It's fine Johnny's got it" she said grabbing a handful of bills out of her pocket and passing them to the driver.
"Err Miss there's over five hundred dollars here" the guy said trying to hand her back the money.
"Yeah, it's my boyfriends and he's gonna be seriously pissed when he realises I've gone home with his drug money" she said laughing. Me and the driver both stared at her in shock, she shrugged
"What? Oh come on guys, that's funny right? Payback?" she asked pushing me to get out of the taxi as the driver started laughing.
"Wow remind me to never get on the wrong side of you" he called as we got out making us both laugh again.
"Is Johnny gonna be pissed about that?" I asked grimacing slightly thinking of him shouting at her, I think I'd have to rip his head off if he did.
She laughed "
For five hundred dollars? No he won't be annoyed at all, he wouldn't even notice if he dropped that in the street, I was just kidding" she said as she followed me to the elevators.
I hadn't lived at this place long but I would have to make a quick dash for the sideboard and put away the photo of her and me when we were younger, I took that photo every new place I went, it was always the first thing that was unpacked and took pride of place.
As I opened the door I led her to the kitchen, "Can you boil the kettle and I'll make us a coffee, I just want to use the bathroom" I lied pointing to the kettle.
She was looking around smiling, and I wished I had tidied up a bit before leaving the house this morning as my breakfast stuff was still on the side, I was hardly ever here so there wasn't too much mess luckily. I grabbed the photo off of the side and went to the bedroom quickly making the bed and grabbing the dirty clothes off of the floor throwing them in a pile at the bottom of the wardrobe before heading back out to the kitchen. She was sitting on the worktop waiting for the kettle to boil, she looked so beautiful my heart sped up uncontrollably.
I grabbed some cups and started making coffee's standing close to her making my whole body tingle with need and desire. "Thanks for letting me stay Ethan, I'll take the couch, I don't want to kick you out of your bed" she said frowning apologetically.
I smiled, jeez she's sweet, I forgot just how adorable she could be. "I don't mind Lia" I said honestly, she grabbed my biscuit tin from the side and opened it hopefully only to look disappointed that it was empty. I chuckled and went to the fridge grabbing the milk and a chocolate bar and chuckling it into her lap.