I frowned. “Is that all you have to say?”
“No. I want to say be careful. I want to say slow the hell down, but I get the feeling that would be a waste of time. I know you – you don’t dive into relationships. You didn’t with Em, and you haven’t since. If you say this is what you want, then I have to believe you know what you’re doing.”
He shrugged and I sat there, speechless. Many times in my life, Vinnie had surprised me. Shocked me, even. But this topped the list. And it was a very long list.
“You’re a big boy,” he said. “All growed up. If you say it feels right, then I gotta believe you.”
I nodded, still reeling. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. So, do you guys want to come over for dinner or something? She was stuck in the kitchen at my party and I was a little – more than a little – drunk. Jas is going to flip her lid when I tell her she’s moved in. You’ll be lucky she doesn’t just turn up at your place and give Maia the third degree.” I must’ve looked as terrified as I felt, because he chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’ll rein her in.”
“We just need a bit of space first. We’re still figuring it out ourselves, y’know?”
“Yeah, well. I guess we can wait a bit longer – but not too long. Deal?”
I was pretty sure my relief was palpable. “Deal.”
Suddenly, he kicked me under the table, indicating the bar behind us with a nod of his head. I turned around and spied Alex, glowering at us. He was leaning against the bar in a way that made it fairly obvious this wasn’t his first drink of the day. Brilliant. Just what I needed. I tried to ignore him, but he made it downright impossible. The bartender was refusing to serve him.
“This could get ugly,” Vinnie said under his breath, taking another swig of beer as he watched the scene unfolding from over the top of his glass.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Alex demanded, leaning over the bar. “You’re a bloody bartender – you can’t refuse to serve me!”
“I just did,” the bartender said, folding his arms across his sizeable chest, completely unfazed. “Now piss off.”
Alex glared at him, then pushed himself upright, stumbling backwards slightly as he did so. Shit. I didn’t want to watch, but I couldn’t help it. It was like having front row tickets to a car crash. Alex was barely recognisable anymore. He used to be a lot of fun. He used to be a great surfer too, but I hadn’t seen him at the beach in ages. Em would be horrified if she could see him now.
As if he could hear me, Alex turned his drunken, festering gaze on Vinnie and I. Like the nickname he’d been given, he turned everything around him black. He sucked the mood dry, leaving nothing but ash and rot. Before I could react, Alex was weaving his way across the room, keeping us both in his sights.
“Great,” Vinnie mumbled. “Ladies and gents, may I present asshole of the year.”
I didn’t even have time to respond before Alex was standing in front of our table, albeit unsteadily. He looked more than half-cut, now that I saw him up close.
“I hear you found yourself a new victim,” Alex said, his words plump with alcohol. “Replacing Em, like she was never even here. Does she know about you, about what you did?”
I didn’t dare take my eyes off him, my blood boiling. “Walk away, Alex.”
“Fuck off,” Alex spat. “Mum told me about her. Says she looks like Em. She’s a fuckin’… replica… that’s what she is. She’s not her – you’re a fuckin’ idiot if you think you can replace Em with her. But then, maybe it suits you.”
I stood up, trying to keep my cool even though my heart was thumping so loudly in my ears, I could barely hear him. “Back off, Alex. I mean it.”
Just like in the movies, a hush fell over the entire bar. The only sound was the rugby commentator coming from the TV in the corner. This was going to get ugly, I could feel it in my bones. He was too far gone. Fight or flight? I made a snap decision.
“We’re leaving.”
“We don’t have to go anywhere.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Vinnie stand up. We stood together, facing Alex, the table between us, the epitome of brotherly solidarity.
Alex didn’t seem concerned. I had a feeling that was the alcohol, numbing his senses. I knew Vinnie wanted to finish what he’d started at the beach the other day. If Alex knew what was good for him, he wouldn’t be so cocky.