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I stare at the screen. Whiskey-brown eyes bore into mine.

I blink, and they vanish.

“Goddammit.”

I bite my lip and look out the window at the grounds below.

Normally, this is why I love working remotely. I can sit here and watch autumn slowly surrender to winter while I work.

Today, I barely notice the view. All I see is him.

The worst part isn’t that I haven’t found him. It’s the thought that maybe Roman doesn’t want me to find him.

My fingers still over the keyboard.

What if he was just passing through and has already left town?

My chest aches at the thought.

No. Absolutely not.

We aren’t doing sad Callie today.

I sit at the restaurant table with Violet, Drew, Ivy, and Sebastian.

Sebastian and Drew couldn’t be more different. But the brothers have one thing in common. They absolutely fucking adore the women they love.

Drew’s hand settles on Violet’s knee beneath the table. She doesn’t even look at him. Just covers his hand with hers, like it’s automatic.

Across from them, Sebastian slides Ivy’s drink closer as she reaches for it.

Something twists inside me. Something I’ve never felt before.

Envy.

I love my sister, but I’ve never wanted her life. I have my own, and I love it.

But for the first time, I wonder what it would feel like to have this part, too.

Suddenly, I imagine a large hand resting on my thigh. A pair of whiskey-brown eyes looking into mine. A grumpy man pretending he doesn’t enjoy listening to everyone talk.

I slip my hand into his just to see if he’ll let me.

Roman would. He’d probably scowl while doing it, but he would.

Goddammit.

I pick at my food listlessly, only half-listening to the conversation around me.

“Are you okay?” Violet asks.

“Perfect. Why?”

“You’ve been staring at Sebastian’s hand for thirty seconds.”

I blink.

“Oh. Just admiring his ring.”