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As we dry our hands, she confesses, avoiding my gaze, “Damien is the only male figure who is a constant in my life, and even if I might never say it to him, I need him.” I nod and hope my expression confirms I’m okay with it.
“And he needs his friend. You’re important to him, and I would never take that away from him. Plus, I have Alex.” She throws the napkin in the trash, and we leave the private bathroom.
“God, he hated him. Every time he’d return from seeing you two, he drank, shattering every glass he could find and ask me, ‘Why him? What does he have that I don’t? She was mine, and no one should ever dare to touch her.’” She pauses, a shiver rocking her frame, and my heart squeezes at her confession. “It was painful to see this brilliant, beautiful, and successful man cry over a woman. I hated you for hurting him. I was unaware you had your own painful road to walk down. What I want to say is, I’m happy for you.”
It still hurts when I’m reminded of how he and I suffered, but grateful we found our way back to each other. We return to the table, and Damien pulls me in for a tight embrace.
“I hate it when you’re not around,” he says as I get lost in two pools of love. My heart can’t possibly stop because he will always get it to leap in my chest.
“Damien,” I whisper, just his name, a hundred love declarations rolling out of my soul, and his fingers dig into my waist. He flips my hair to the side and presses a kiss on the vein pulsating in my neck. I close my eyes, sensations spilling over, but mostly with life, him, and love.
When the moment ends, I step out of the trance and add, my voice a bit raspy, the only remnant of how he affects me, “I invited her tomorrow for my bridal shopping.”
“Have I told you lately how amazing you are?”
“I’d rather you show me how amazing you think I am.”
“Life with you will never be boring, of this, I’m sure.”
“It better not be. I want to see if you keep loving me when my wrinkles will be deeper than a crater.” He burst into laughter, but I’m dead serious.
“I will still love you even then, Bria, especially then. There’s no greater gift you could give me.”
There is one that pops in my head, but I remain silent and enjoy his warm gaze trailing over my body, letting his words caress my love-hungry soul.
“Plus, there’s plastic surgery.” I smack him on the chest, and he chuckles.
“I saw you talking to Filip. Is he all right?”
“No man would drink that amount of alcohol in that short of time if it weren’t to forget something.”
He speaks from experience. I believe him. I peck his lips, and they taste like rich whiskey. I get drunk on the combination of his natural taste mixed with the alcohol. I lick my lips and the vision goes straight to his pants as he pokes me with his hard-on as I suppress a smile.
“I’m worse than a fucking teenager because of you.”
“But what did I do now?” I ask, feigning innocence.
“Your simple presence, baby. It’s all I need. Fuck, you truly are my undoing.”
His eyes follow me as I take a seat next to my brother. He wraps an arm over my shoulder, and I wonder if it is to shelter me or protect himself.
“I hate to play the big sister card, but you have had enough.”
“You never played it before,” he slurs, his eyes glassy. I push down the guilt as it’s something I will always carry with me. I missed the years of him growing from a boy to a man, but I can’t change the past anymore. I can only assure him I’m here and intend to stay.
“But we both know it’s not the reason you drink.” He shuts his eyes.
“Two fucking emerald green eyes.”
“She told me you cheated with her best friend, Filip. I’m angry at you, but you do a good job of punishing yourself.”
“Every time I see her, I battle with myself, and then like a sucker for pain, I want to kiss her. I drink because I’m tired of wanting her,” he confesses, and I place my hand over his thigh.
“Why, then?” He laughs, a low and deprecating one, and takes a generous sip.
“She cheated on me first. Did she tell you that too?” I shake my head, eye her, and then him. Chloe’s hurt is too genuine to be fake.
“No, she said she came home and found you with Annabelle.”
