Page 20 of Then There Was You

“You’re drunk?”

“Yep! Not as drunk as the last time I saw Ashlyn, although the night isn’t over yet.” She wriggles her eyebrows. “That’s why I’m here. I need shots!” She waves her arm dramatically, and I chuckle.

“Youneedshots? Ash sent you down here, didn’t she?”

She nods. “She said if she came down here, you wouldn’t give her any. You know that she’s a grown woman, right?”

I smile. “Yes, Taylor. I’m aware she’s a grown woman. She’s also my baby sister. How drunk is she?”

She rolls her eyes. “Never mind. Alex will give me some if you won’t.”

She’s already moving along the bar to where he is.

“Taylor. Wait.”

“Alex,” she shouts, ignoring me. “Can I get some shots?”

“Hey, Taylor. Sure,” he replies. “What do you want?”

“Hey, darlin’. You’re a little underdressed, aren’t you?” a guy asks, sliding up next to her and wrapping his arm around her shoulder. She tries to move out of his hold, but he doesn’t let her. “Come and dance with me.”

“No, thanks. I’m good,” she says, trying to shake off his embrace.

“Aww, you’re just a little tease, aren’t you?”

“Get your hands off her!” I bite out. “She’s not interested.” I’m beyond pissed that some random guy has his hands on her. He’s got one chance to step away or I’m going to make him.

“Fuck off! No one asked you,” he shouts.

“Wrong answer!” I round the bar in seconds and drag him off Taylor.

“What the hell—”

“Get out! You’re barred,” I tell him, dragging him through the crowds of people and tossing his ass onto the sidewalk.

“You can’t do that!” he cries, scrambling to stand up.

“I just did. It’s my bar and I can do what the hell I like. Have some fucking respect. She said no!”

I leave him on the sidewalk and head back inside. Taylor’s waiting by the door for me.

“Are you okay?”

She nods. “Thanks, Seb. I guess now I know why you’re so protective of Ash.”

“Guys like that are assholes. I see far too many of them in here disrespecting women. I don’t want that for Ash or you.”

“I’m an idiot. I should have at least put on a sweater before I came down here. I guess I was asking for trouble. Drunkandhalf dressed.”

“It shouldn’t matter what you wear, Taylor. No man has the right to put his hands on you if you don’t want him to. That’s not to say it isn’t a little… distracting.” Her cheeks flush pink, and I chuckle. “Go back upstairs. I’ll bring the shots up. What do you want?”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

She smiles. “Tequila, please. Two each.”

“Two each?”

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