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Madoc takes his drink. “You had that cap. That’s Quinn, dude.”
Lucas’s face falls, Madoc hooks an arm around my neck and plants a kiss on the side of my head, and I can’t seem to remember my own language, all of a sudden.
“Hey, guys,” Madoc calls to Jared and Jax, leaving to go talk to them.
I stand there, managing a small smile.
Lucas blinks, and here—now—I know that nothing was better in my memory. I loved his longer hair as a young guy, and his lazy clothes when he loved rock climbing and being a lake bum, but I can see his blue eyes better now, striking with his hard jaw and sun-kissed skin. I drop my gaze to the crisp white shirt and tie wrapped tightly around his neck.
“I can’t believe I didn’t recognize you,” he says.
I swallow. “It’s been a…long time.”
He breaks into a grin, shaking his head as he comes in. “My big brother’s little sister.” He hugs me. “How are you doing?”
I almost let my eyes fall closed. He smells like one of the stores my mom takes me to that has a dress code.
But I quickly pull away. “I’m...sweaty. Sorry.”
I lick my lips, hearing my brothers chat, and I know he can see how nervous I am.
I clear my throat. “So, how long are you around?”
I know the answer. I heard him tell Madoc and someone on the phone.
But his smile drops, and he thins his eyes a little, gazing at me. “I don’t know...”
The vein in his neck throbs steadily, and I take it back. I don’t really like his suit. I liked him with messy hair and no shirt.
“Uh, how old are you now?” he asks. “Twenty-ish?”
“Twenty-one.”
“In college then?” he presses.
I open my mouth, but then Madoc is there, with his arm around me.
“Our little Quinn finished at Notre Dame in three years,” he says proudly. “Runs Frosted over on High Street.”
Lucas looks from my brother to me. “The bakery.”
“Yeah,” I reply.
He smiles again. “I remember your pizza.”
My whole body warms. It warms too much, and I’m boiling.
“You okay?” Madoc asks me.
“Yes,” I say, but it comes out as more of a pant. “I need a ride home. Since I’m not allowed to ride my bike or run in the dark.”
Madoc laughs and Jared and Jax walk up.
“We got you,” Jax says.
Yes, I know.
I always know that. I love it, but I kind of hate it sometimes.
