AN: I know there is something fundamentally wrong with missing people that don't actually exist, but I was missing Hector and Zip like crazy so here is a little "Glimpse". :)
"I can't believe we're doing this." Hector lifted an eyebrow and sipped his vodka rocks with lime
"It was your idea," he thought he should remind me.
"You didn't try very hard to talk me out of it," I countered and that drew a full smile.
"That's because you begged me not to. You know how I am when you're on your knees and begging." Hector smiled again, but it was that tiny one, where just the corners tilt. The one that makes me want to drag him from the room and have my way with him.
And I had begged. It was the only way I thought he would agree. But now that it was actually happening I wished I'd kept my mouth shut.
"If you keep looking at me like that, I'm gonna be on my knees again later too."
"Of that I have no doubt, mi amor." He leaned in and kissed me, right there in the middle of the restaurant. I remember a time when he wouldn't get within ten feet of me if there were any people around, and he still prefers to keep our private life private, so it surprises me on the rare occasions when he does show a public display of affection.
When he pulled away I couldn't stop my thumb from brushing the spot under his eye where the teardrop tattoo had been. It was so small I didn't think I'd notice much after it was gone but it had apparently been a defining feature because the absence caught me off guard.
"You're still not used to it," he commented, recognizing my expression.
I traced over the now lighter skin. "Not really, it changed your face."
"In a good way?"
I understood why he wanted to do it and why he was going through the sessions to have the one on his neck banished as well but his outer shell was never much of a concern for me.
"The only thing I care about is what's in here." I let my palm drift down to his chest and pressed it directly over his heart.
Hector covered my hand with his and then brought it to his mouth, pressing a kiss to the center of my palm before murmuring, "Te amo."
"When the hell did you two get so sappy?"
Hector's eyes closed briefly and he shook his head before we both turned to the familiar voice.
My sister was standing beside the table, grinning at us, and being the big brother that I am, I had to give her shit. "That was so romantic, Zy. You should write a book of poetry or sonnets, maybe."
A tight grip squeezed my thigh under the table in a silent warning to play nice.
"Actually, I think I'm more the erotica type," she shot back instantly and Zero, who had been quietly standing next to her, nervously cleared his throat.
Hector laughed, always amused by her smart mouth. "Hola Zyla," he greeted her after standing to give her a hug and then shook Zero's hand, which I found awkward, since we'd just seen him at work three hours ago. Everything with Zero was awkward since he'd started seeing my little sister and that was part of the reason for this ill-conceived double date. Hector was the one that pointed out I was making him nervous with all the death threats I issued whenever I heard him talking about Zy so I decided to try and interact with them more often and in a friendlier manner.
Although she had threatened Hector the second she met him but he said it wasn't the same thing when I brought it up.
Zero stretched his arm out to shake my hand too and I took it reluctantly. His palm was clammy so I guessed I was making him nervous already. I cut my eyes to his hairline and noticed the beads of sweat there too. I told Hector once that Zero would be the result if Ranger and Lester ever had a baby. He was taller than both of them but had the same body type, long and lean and well-muscled in all the right places. His eyes were a hazel brown, a combo of Ranger's dark chocolate and Lester's emerald green. He had Lester's aquiline nose and Ranger's chiseled jaw and hair a shade lighter than both of them.
Hector said I was crazy, but I caught him pondering it more than once when the three men were in the same room together.
"What are you drinking?" Zyla asked Hector. "And why do I get the feeling I'm going to need two? You've never invited us on a double date before."
I felt Hector's eyes on me. It was definitely my show. "Get the drink," I said, and asked Zero if he wanted anything. He shook his head and I almost sighed. Between him and the usually always silent Hector, it was going to be up to me and my sister to keep the conversation going. She signaled the waiter and ordered.
"Spill it, Zip. You obviously have something to say."
I looked from her to Zero and back again. Hector squeezed my thigh once more and I started my rehearsed speech.
"Okay, well I just wanted to say that I know I've been giving you both a hard time about your relationship, mostly you, Zero, but I really am okay with it." I focused on Zero for the last part. "I'm a little protective of my sister but as long as you don't hurt her and you continue to make her happy, we won't have any issues." I said we so he'd know Hector would slit his throat probably faster than I would if he wronged Zy in anyway.
Zero opened his mouth but Zyla beat him to it. "How many times did you practice that little speech?" She quipped.
"I few," I admitted.
She laughed loudly at my confession and I did not miss the way Zero looked at her in that moment. It was very much the way Ranger looks at Stephanie and definitely the way Hector looks at me.
He was in love with my sister.
"Well, I'm happy you took the time to get it just right because we have some news." She glanced briefly at Zero and took his hand before bringing her other one up from under the table. On the third finger of her left hand was a shiny diamond ring.
What the hell?
"What? No, I don't think so." I glared at Zero like he'd somehow betrayed me by proposing to my sister. "You're too young and he's not...no."
Angry tears filled her eyes and I got a pissed off look from Zero. "It's a good thing you don't have a say then, isn't it?" She spit out. "So what was that stupid speech you just gave? A big fucking lie, right to our faces?"
"All due respect," Zero said with anger threading through his voice, "you're being a dick." Not bad for his first words of the night.
He was right and I wasn't sure why. "I need some air," I announced to no one in particular and left the room abruptly.
It was only a few minutes before Hector found me out in the parking lot, leaning up against his truck. I was twisting my wedding ring around and around and trying to figure out why I had such a strong reaction to their announcement.
He stood beside me and took my hand. Bringing it too his lips, he kissed my ring and then laced our fingers together. "Zy gave me a five minute head start before she comes out here to kick your ass so you better talk fast. That wasn't you back there, Zip."
I squeezed his hand and let his warmth seep into my bones."I know...I just...she's my little sister and want what's best for her."
"And Zero isn't it?"
It sounded ridiculous when he said it out loud. Of the myriad of men that had worshiped at the altar of Zyla, Zero was the best of the lot. I really didn't think they came much better.
I sighed and pushed my hair off my forehead."Zero is fine, he's better than fine."
"But even though you know she's an adult, you still see her as the little kid you need to protect."
I nodded and squeezed his hand again. "When our Dad died, Ziggy and I took on the responsibility of looking out for her and then when Zig was gone too...it was just me watching out for her and making sure she was always okay."
"I know," Hector said. "It was the same for me with Elena, but she's not a little girl any more. You will always look after her, except now you'll have to take a back seat to Zero."
He was right, of course, and now I had to go and grovel at her feet. At both of their feet. "Yes, I will and that sucks, but I know you're right."
"Go tell her that before she ruins her Manolo Blahnik's by putting one up your ass."
He kissed me once before tugging me back toward the restaurant. "Oh shit," I said when a realization dawned, making me stop in my tracks. Hector eyed me curiously. "This is what it's gonna be like when Gracie is old enough to date, isn't it?"
No," Hector disagreed, surprising me. "Gracie will not be allowed to date. Ever."
I laughed but was in total agreement with him. "Maybe when she's thirty."
"Thirty-five," he countered.
My sister wasn't at the table when we got back inside but there was an angry Zero. "She's in the restroom," he informed us at my questioning look, "but only because I asked her to let me talk to you." He crossed his arms over his chest. "Do we need to take this outside?"
"No," Hector answered for me with a pointed look. "I'll give you a minute." He disappeared, probably to the bar, and I sat down across from my sister's very tense fiancé.
"I've put up with your subtle digs since I started dating Zy because I know you're just trying to protect her but enough is enough. You disrespected her tonight and I won't tolerate anyone hurting her in any way, even her brother. I don't know if it's because you don't think I'm good enough for her or what, but I love her and I'm gonna marry her whether you like it or not."
It was probably the wrong reaction, but I smiled at him. I think that's what I'd been hoping would happen. He's seemed so quiet and...meek around me since he started seeing her and I needed to know he had the balls to be the kind of man Zy needed. That he would love her and protect her at all costs.
"Good," told him with a nod. "I needed to know that. I needed to know you'll put her before everything else. I'm sorry I was a dick tonight...and probably some other nights too. It won't happen again...you're a good guy Zero, and I'm happy for you. Congratulations and welcome to the family." I lifted my glass to him in a toast and knocked back the rest of my drink.
The poor guy was looking a little stunned at my complete one eighty. He probably thought he was going to have to fight me and now didn't know what to do with all the pent up energy. "Oh...okay. I..."
"I'm going to go find my sister and apologize before she goes nuclear on my ass." I clapped him on the shoulder and headed toward the lobby where I saw Zyla hovering near the entrance.
"You're being a jerk," she started right away but I cut her off by pulling her into a hug.
"I know and I'm sorry. I love you and I'm happy for you. Congratulations, kid. Zero is good for you and I won't give him a hard time any more...as long as he continues to treat you like you deserve to be treated."
"I knew there would be a qualifier," she said as she pulled out of my arms but there was a smile on her face.
"You're my little sister, Zy. I'm not gonna stop looking out for you."
"I know," she said and squeezed my bicep. "But that's Zero's job now."
"Hector said that too."
"That's because Hector is very smart. You, on the other hand, are an idiot. And just for the record," she planted her hands on her hips in a very defiant posture, "I don't need either of you to protect me. I can take care of myself."
"Yes, you can. Forgive me?"
She rolled her eyes but agreed and swore not to put her foot up my bum so that was progress. "So did you tell Mom yet?" I asked as we headed back to our table. We hadn't even ordered yet and I was starving.
"God no," she said. "Can you imagine? She'll immediately start naming our future children and scare Zero off faster than you ever could."
I had to laugh. "True and she's probably already got a list of names saved on her computer."
"Yeah and I bet they all start with a Z."
After I quit being a tool, the evening turned out to be pretty great. Zero finally relaxed in our presence, I think for the first time in months, and Hector actually contributed to the conversation a few times. We said our goodbyes after dinner with a promise to do it again (but not too soon, Hector whispered in my ear) and watched them drive off.
I pulled Hector into my arms before he could climb into the truck. "Thank you for reining me in tonight," I said and brushed my lips over his mouth.
"It's what we do."
Yes it was. As Stephanie liked to say, we balanced each other, and that was very apparent tonight.
"Are you ready to go get the munchkin?"
"Nope. We're going to the Manor."
"We are? Since when?"
"Since I called your Mom while you were having a heart-to-heart with Zero and asked her if she would mind keeping Gracie tonight."
"And I'm sure she let you know what a hardship that would be before agreeing." Hector let out a chuckle. We were pretty sure my Mom would keep Gracie indefinitely if we let her.
"Of course, she has to keep up appearances. She did ask about the party again."
Grace was about to turn two and everyone was insisting we throw her a birthday party. "Did you make a decision about that yet?"
Hector wasn't the biggest fan of parties in general, but I was sure between Steph and my Mom they would wear him down, or more than likely, just throw her a party whether we wanted one or not.
"No and I don't want to tonight either."
"What do you want to do?"
"I wanna dance with you. Let's go." He kissed me long and hard and deep and then we went to the club.
