Chapter 10

Bradley glances up as Sydney crashes into the seat across from him, beaming. She's out of breath, having just finished dancing with Hangman in the small opening between the tables.

"Having fun?" he asks, although his tone isn't as grim as he expects, considering his mood.

Sydney nods, closing her eyes and letting out a sigh. "Tired," she breathes.

Bradley chuckles as she lets her body relax into the chair. Her cheeks are flushed and she's got about a million fly-away hairs framing her face. Her dark eyelashes are so long they're practically resting on her cheeks when her eyes are shut. He grits his teeth, reminding himself that falling for her would be a mistake. Perhaps if she weren't related to the one person who's wreaked more havoc on his life than a goddamn tornado, he might have let his guard down.

Sydney's eyelids flutter open and she eyes him curiously. "How come you're not dancing?" she asks.

He looks over at the two feet of space between the tables. "Didn't realize it was that kind of party," he says with a small smirk. He kind of hates it that her presence makes him goofy, so he instantly furrows his brows and pulls in his cheeks.

Sydney laughs and, for a moment, he watches her face transform as her smile reaches her eyes. His gaze shifts to look behind her toward the bar where Hangman is staring them down while waiting for his beverage. Bradley meets his eyes with an unyielding glare of his own. Hangman has nothing to worry about – Bradley isn't planning on pursuing Sydney any more than he is befriending Maverick – but a sick part of him still likes to make the cocky aviator sweat.

"So," Bradley says. "Seresin?"

"What's wrong with Seresin?" she asks, leaning forward into the table.

Bradley makes a face. "I'm not a fan."

Sydney smirks. "You don't say."

Bradley chuckles. His eyes slide to Maverick and Amelia who are sitting at the opposite end of the bar. "What's the deal with your parents?" he asks.

Sydney glances over at her mother and father. Her face falls slightly and she turns back to Bradley with a grimace. "They're plagued by an eternal love despite being completely incompatible with one another," she says.

Bradley raises his eyebrows at her in mild amusement. "That sounds awfully pessimistic," he responds.

Sydney shrugs. "Last week they weren't even on speaking terms."

Bradley frowns. "That must be tough," he says. "For you, I mean. And for them, I suppose."

Sydney lowers her gaze and starts fiddling with her fingers. He's almost sorry he brought it up. "I'm just tired of him stringing her along," she says.

Bradley glances over at Sydney's parents again and, as much as he hates to admit it, there is nothing insincere about the way Maverick looks at Sydney's mother. "In what way is he stringing her along?" he asks.

"He's just unreliable. One day, he's all in. The next, he's gone," Sydney says.

Bradley's gaze follows Maverick and Amelia as they head for the door. "I think they're taking off," he says.

Sydney looks over her shoulder and, when she turns back, she's wearing a sour expression. "I don't get how they don't see it. They make each other miserable."

Bradley watches her sympathetically. "But do they also make each other happy?"

Before Sydney could respond, Jake arrives at their table with a beer in one hand and a cocktail in the other. He slides into the seat beside Sydney, all the while eyeing Bradley suspiciously. "How's it hangin', Rooster?" he says with an artificial grin.

Bradley cocks an eyebrow. "Shouldn't I be asking you that, Hangman?"

Sydney snorts and Hangman looks at her, cringing. "Don't encourage him," he says.

Bradley rolls his eyes, glancing at Sydney who is biting into her bottom lip to keep from laughing.

Hangman looks back at Bradley. "Don't you have anywhere else to be, Bradshaw?" he asks.

Bradley stares at him. "This is my table," he says. "You guys are sitting at my table."

Hangman starts inspecting the surface of the table with furrowed brows. He then ducks down to check the underside as well. "Funny," he comments. "I don't see your name on it."

"I was here first," Bradley says flatly.

"Well," Hangman says with a wide grin. "I was here first," he states, pointing at Sydney.

Sydney scoffs, turning to glare at Hangman. Bradley closes his eyes and shakes his head. He purses his lips and brings a hand up to hide his laughter at the sight of Sydney's outraged face.

"I was joking!" Hangman throws his hands up in the air as Sydney stands. "Come on! You found Rooster's joke funny!"

Bradley blinks innocently between Hangman and Sydney. "My joke wasn't at her expense," he notes.

Hangman groans in frustration as Sydney starts to walk away. He jumps up and runs after her. Bradley observes their interaction from the table with a scowl and, when Hangman grabs Sydney's arm to prevent her from leaving, Bradley rises from his seat and marches over to them.

When Hangman sees him coming, he rolls his eyes and warns, "Back off, Bradshaw."

"I'd take your own advice if I were you," Bradley says darkly, putting himself between Hangman and Sydney.

Hangman laughs in his face. "Rooster," he says, his voice quiet but threatening. "Move."

"I'm leaving," Sydney says, pushing past them both.

Hangman gives Bradley a cross look but, when he goes to follow her, Bradley jumps forward to drive his palm into Hangman's chest.

"Rooster, I swear to god, if you don't get out of my way" –

"Let her cool off, man," Bradley says levelly. "You're not getting anywhere tonight, trust me."

Hangman narrows his eyes at him, trying to identify the ulterior motive behind Bradley's advice. He's wasting his time; Bradley just wants to prevent an unnecessary altercation and spare the trouble of everybody involved. "She doesn't have a car, Rooster," Hangman says finally.

"She'll take a cab," Bradley replies.

"A cab?" Hangman makes a face. "What are you, eighty?" He shakes his head, pulling out his phone. "I guess I can get her an Uber."

Bradley glances over his shoulder toward the door where, just outside, Sydney is standing with her phone in her hands. "She's probably beaten you to it," Bradley says, looking back at Hangman. "I can give her a ride," he offers.

Hangman chuckles. "And there it is."

Bradley watches Hangman coldly.

"Are you even sober?" Hangman asks.

Bradley stares at him. "I wouldn't offer to drive her if I weren't."

Hangman sighs, gazing at Sydney over Bradley's shoulder. "Fine," he agrees. "But no funny business."

Bradley gives him a bored look. "I don't think either of us is in a funny mood, Seresin," he replies. "So, you've got nothing to worry about."

Hangman eyes him with a grimace. "Well, aren't you two just a couple of peas in a pod?"

...

Bradley steps out of the establishment and Sydney glances over her shoulder to look at him.

"I'm not going back in," she says.

Bradley sticks his hands into his pockets and stands beside her. "I wasn't going to ask you to," he responds, looking straight ahead at the ocean rather than at her.

She glances up at him. "Good," she says.

Bradley nods, still not looking at her. He doesn't need to see her face bathed in the soft glow of sunset. He can already imagine what it would look like. He lets out a steady breath and says, "Want a ride?"

Sydney seems to hesitate for a moment and Bradley almost breaks and looks over at her. "Why not?" she finally says.

Bradley holds out his hand, motioning for Sydney to walk ahead of him and, when she steps forward, he lifts the bookbag off her shoulder. She turns sharply as he swings the strap over his own arm.

"What the hell, Bradshaw?" she exclaims, reaching for her bag.

Bradley twists away from her grasp. "Will you stop taking offense to everything?" he says.

She lifts her eyebrows. "Excuse me?"

Bradley watches her impassively. "I know you can carry your own bag, Sydney," he says. "I'm just trying to lighten your load a bit. You've got a lot going on right now."

"What are you talking about?"

Bradley sighs, his eyes skimming her face. He's not overly pleased that he's been forced to look at her despite his attempts to avoid it. As he's predicted, Sydney's fuming face, framed by the radiance of sunset in behind, is likely the most beautiful thing he's ever seen and, as such, will be plaguing his thoughts for weeks to come. He tears his eyes away from her and says, "It's my fault you're in a shitty mood. I brought up your parents" –

"They have nothing to do with my shitty mood."

"Right," he says. "You just happened to snap at poor Hangman over a stupid joke right after seeing your parents walk out together."

Sydney sighs forcefully, staring at the ground. "What did he even say?"

Bradley chuckles. "You don't remember?"

Sydney shakes her head.

Bradley presses his lips together in a smile. "Let's keep it that way, then," he says and, bringing his hand up to her shoulder, he leads her across the patio toward the parking lot.

...

A/N: It took me a minute to get into Rooster's head for some reason, but I think I'm on my way to understanding him now XD He's definitely risk-averse as opposed to Maverick, which explains his propensity to second guess himself. Let me know if you liked his POV :D

Thank you so much to everybody reading this story! I truly appreciate your support and reviews 3