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Tilly’s eyebrows lifted. Slightly. Bria respected the hell out of her for that.
“But then,” she went on, letting her mind flip through all the incredible minutes she’d shared with Owen since finding him at the party in his dead Steve Irwin costume, “as we spent time together, not just fucking, but talking and laughing, I realized I could genuinely see myself…”
She stopped. Would his sister think she sounded crazy if she said what was in her heart?
“Falling in love with him?” Tilly finished.
“Yes.” Bria let out a ragged breath, nodding. “Very much yes.”
“Yeah, he’s a really nice, genuine guy.” Tilly smiled, her love for her brother obvious. “Anyone would be lucky to be loved by him. To have him in their life.” She paused for a beat, her eyes holding Bria’s. “No matter for how long.”
Bria didn’t miss the subtle message. And she agreed with it one hundred percent. Any time spent with Owen was precious and wonderful, and she’d be damned if she was going to lose her chance. Besides, she was worried sick about him. If she didn’t go after him now to find out if he was okay, she’d take out her frustration on Simon, and the last thing she needed was to end up in jail for the rest of the night after kneeing her ex in the balls again for being such a fuckwit.
“What’s your apartment number?” she asked Tilly.
“165C.” Tilly snagged her wrist. “C’mon. I’ll take you to him.”
“Hey?” Zeta called as Tilly began hurrying away. “Keep us in the loop.”
Bria flashed a smile at her sisters and then let Tilly pull her through the crowd.
Waiting for the elevator doors to open, Tilly threw her a look. “Things you need to know about my brother,” she suddenly said without preamble. “He yells at the TV when his favorite soccer team—the Newcastle Jets—are losing. And also when they’re winning. He spreads way too much Vegemite on his toast, can quote whole scenes from Star Wars, snores, and is really bad at playing poker.”
“What’s Vegemite?”
Tilly’s eyes widened and she laughed. “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. Oh, and you should know he was a stripper for a while during uni.”
“He told me that. And showed off his dance moves.”
Tilly pulled a face. “The sod can dance. Did he also tell you I’ll unmake you on a microbiological level if you hurt him? I’m a scientist, in case the costume didn’t give it away.”
Bria laughed. “No, he didn’t.”
Tilly grinned. “I will. So don’t. Okay?”
“I won’t.”
The elevator doors slid open, and they both hurried inside.
“Good,” Tilly said, hitting the button for her floor, her gaze steady on Bria.
Silence stretched between them for a few seconds before Tilly let out a ragged breath. “Who’s the guy that punched him? I should probably tell you I’m going to try to convince Owen to press charges.”
Bria’s stomach clenched. “My ex. And I understand that. And Owen is entitled to.”
“Your ex?” Tilly’s jaw bunched. “Hmm. Can I assume Owen protected your honor in some way during the party, and that’s why your ex, what was his name, Simon, did what he did?”
“Yeah. I kneed Simon in the nuts earlier because he slept with my physiotherapist, and then Simon pushed me in the pool a little bit after that, and then Owen pushed Simon in the pool immediately after.”
Tilly blinked. Frowned. And then burst out laughing. “I don’t even know where to go with that.”
“Your brother is incredible,” Bria stated, “and as insane as it sounds, since I’ve met him, I’ve felt more alive and energized than I ever have. And I’m a sky-diving instructor.”
“You’re a what?” Tilly laughed again. “You really are crazy.”
Bria grinned. “Life’s about living to its fullest, right?”
“Yes,” Tilly said. “It is.” She studied Bria for a few seconds and then gave her a quick hug. “I think I’m going to like you.”
