Dylan (Inked Brotherhood 4)

My plan is to stay in bed—well, on the sofa—and wallow, eating ice cream and watching crappy shows with Audrey and Ash. Only problem is, this is the night the two have chosen to announce their big news, and we’re doing it at Erin and Tyler’s place. Tonight.

How can I stay back? I can’t.

So I tag along, smiling at Audrey’s nervous chatter and Asher’s nervous silence. Tyler opens the door, and we find everyone already sitting inside, drinking and eating Chinese take-out.

Everyone but Dylan.

I even see Rafe, who’s rarely seen at such meetings nowadays, his golden mane sheared short and his tawny gaze pensive. There’s Zane and Dakota and Erin, who comes to welcome us in.

Ash takes a seat and pulls Audrey in his lap, and I retreat into the background as she shows her ring and waits for the excitement to pass before dropping the bigger bomb about the baby.

Cheers erupt, and I find myself smiling again as I sink into a chair, unable to resist the torrent of happiness rushing through the room. Audrey gets up to let the girls hug her in turn, and Tyler grabs his brother in a bear hug, all misty-eyed. Rafe is sitting next to Zane, a distant look on his handsome face, and Zane is laughing and toasting Ash and Audrey with his soda.

His dark eyes narrow when they fall on me. Zane is always sensitive to his friends’ moods, the emotional currents rushing around him, and I have to be the only strident note in this symphony of joy.

“Tessa?” He glances one last time at Dakota, who’s talking animatedly with Audrey, and pushes off the stool where he was perched, moving toward me.

Oh crap. “Hey, Zane.”

“What’s up?” He towers over me, his Mohawk adding to his already impressive height. “Did something happen?”

“Nope. Nothing happened.” I lift my hands and slump back. “Everything’s fine.”

“You don’t fool me,” he mutters, shaking his head. “Does it have to do with Dylan not being here tonight?”

“I’ve no idea why he’s not here tonight.” I shrug. “He probably couldn’t find a babysitter for his brothers.”

Zane sinks down on his heels and looks up at me, his almond-shaped eyes serious. “What’s going on between you and Dylan?

“Nothing’s going on between us,” I lie again.

“I don’t believe you.”

“And I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Look.” He puts a hand on my knee. “I love Dylan like a brother. That fucker has had my back for a long time now. But I swear, if he hurts you, there’ll be hell to pay. I’ll make sure of it.”

“Don’t, Zane.” I stand up, and he lets his hand fall. “None of this is his fault. It’s mine. Letting go is difficult, that’s all. I’ll live. Don’t worry about me.”

“But I do,” he whispers as I turn my steps toward Audrey and the other girls. “I sure as hell do.”

Chapter Twelve

Dylan

Zane is standing in my living room, looking pissed as all hell. His Mohawk is growing tall again, dyed a deep purple, and his dark eyes are flat and angry. He’s already refused a beer, and it just shows how fucked up my brain is that I didn’t remember he doesn’t drink anymore—not after he ended up in a coma from alcohol poisoning a couple of months ago.

“Care to explain what the hell you think you’re doing, fucker?” He glances at Dakota, who’s kneeling on the carpet, playing with Miles and Teo, and lowers his voice. “Are you out of your mind?” he hisses.

“What?” My head is pounding, and I’m so cold I don’t think I’ll ever feel warm again. It’s evening. I’ve finished work, returned home, and I’m slumped on the sofa, pretending I don’t feel like a double serving of days-old roadkill. “What are you talking about?”

“Tessa, that’s who I’m talking about.” He jabs a finger at me. “And you know it.”

Okay, fine, so maybe I guessed that much. I was just hoping to avoid this conversation. “What do you want me so say, man?”

“That you’ll stay away from her and stop making her sad. That chick would’ve jumped into a fire for you, and you go and give her hope and then break her heart again. Stay away from her.”

Just like Asher told me I should. Fuck.