Page 41 of Like Sugar

“See, she knows how to live it up.You could take a lesson or two from her.”

“She’s drunk, Rob.”

“So what?It’s her birthday.”

“Her twenty-first.She’s young and stupid.Out there dancing with strange men.I bet she’ll go home with some guy.If she gets murdered, Wyatt will never recover.”Yeah.Wyatt.Not me.

“True.But the way your jaw is tensed tells me it’s not just Wyatt who wouldn’t recover.”

Awesome.“Fuck off, Rob.She’s my employee.”

“I’m just saying, the way you are staring her down right now says something else.”

I looked down to my empty glass.“She’s twenty-one.”

He gave me a quizzical look.“So?”When I didn’t respond, his eyes lit up like headlights in a dark field.“You’ve already banged her, haven’t you?”My continued silence gave me away.“Oh my fucking god, you like this girl!”

I swatted at him.“Let’s just tell the world, shall we?”I grumbled.

“Well, are you just gonna let that dude grind all over your lady?”

“What the hell would I even do, Rob?I can’t go out there.The consequences of being caught are far too high.”

He contemplated my position.“I think you’re an idiot, but I also think I can help you out.”He slid off the chair and made his way toward Candace with the ease of a man who has cut in many times.

Fucking playboy.That used to be you too, jackass.

Despite knowing my brother had no intention of doing anything with Candace, my hackles were up as she giggled and flirted with him.I resisted the urge to drink myself stupid, knowing I had every intention of making sure Candace made it home — alone — this evening.

Rob expertly deflected any attention directed at Candace and kept her hands in respectable places.When she wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned her head on his chest, I saw him slip his phone from his pocket.Without looking at the screen, he sent me a text.

Rob:

back

I guessed that was my cue to meet him out back.

When the pair emerged from the club, Candace was giggling and pawing at my brother.Until she noticed me.“What are you doing, Candace?”I growled.

Her eyes went wide.“This is Rob,” she spat out quickly.“He and I were just headed somewhere.”

“Where do you think you’re going withRob?”

“Somewhere I can get laid,Mason.”

Rob tried to cover a laugh with a cough.“Try again, sugar,” I retorted.

This time Rob’s eyes went wide as Candace narrowed hers.“You can’t dictate my personal life.It’s my birthday, and I’ll fuck if I want to.”She crossed her arms.

“Jesus, Candace.Keep your voice down.”I surveyed the surroundings.“Rob, go,” I ordered.

He gave her a peck on the cheek.“Good luck, birthday girl.”He gave me a raise of his chin and headed off into the night.

“Why did you do that?”she screeched.

“You always take random guys home from bars?”I took her by the arm and led her toward the sidewalk.She stumbled, and I noticed her red stilettos.Her tanned skin glistened with sweat I was desperate to lick off.

“No.But that’s only because it was my first time in a bar.There’s always time to start new traditions.”

---