AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Sonia gave him a nod. Her lips twitched. “Are you going to tell me that I was incredible?”
“Yeah, you were incredible,” he said softly. “Literally. I never would have believed this.”
Sonia let out a brief laugh. Her glazed eyes were smudged with mascara, her left cheek streaked with sunset colors. Suddenly, her shoulders were shaking, and more laughter spilled out.
“You’relaughing?”Brendan asked incredulously. He thought it might be at him, but Sonia’s laughter was infectious, inviting him to join in. He grinned at her. “What’s so funny?”
“You asked—” She wheezed for breath, leaning against the dressing table. “You asked if I wantedIan.Do you have any idea how ridiculous that is? I mean, come on. It’s Ian! I love the boy, but he’s the annoying brother I never had. Not sexy. At all. He used to leave his sweaty socks around my and Diana’s apartments and challenge me to burping contests.”
“Who won?” Brendan asked with interest.
“I did,” Sonia said matter-of-factly. “But you know all this. He’s your brother. Why would I want him?”
“Uh—” Brendan gestured to himself, then the mirror, at a loss to explain. “We look alike. And Diana’s definitely into him.”
“I’m not Diana.” Sonia gave him a pointed stare, and Brendan wondered how much, if anything, she knew.
“I can see that.”
She came close, and the scent of her spicy perfume, mixed with sex and sweat, made him feel warm inside.
“Areyouokay?” With surprising gentleness, she stroked his jaw, then the hollow under his left eye that probably betrayed his lack of sleep.
Hell yes,he almost said.Never better.But what came out was, “I don’t feel like myself.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Brendan exhaled. He’d already said more than he meant to. But Sonia, quietly waiting with no trace of hatred on her face, was enough to make him go on.
“This — you — fuck, I guess I needed this more than I thought.” He tried to chuckle. “I’ve been so nervous about Ian’s wedding, and I’m not even the one getting married.”
He waited for her to bolt. To be completely turned off by his admission of anxiety and doubt.
Instead, Sonia brushed a lock of hair off his forehead. To his amazement, she nestled close and rested her cheek against his chest, looking up at him with those black-rimmed eyes. Relaxed in the afterglow of fucking, she was gorgeous.
Slowly, disbelievingly, his arms came up to enfold her.
“Maybe you need…”
“Therapy?” Brendan offered, flashing his dimples.
She studied him with a slight smile. “Attention. But not the kind you’re used to, all that empty worship and ‘golden boy’ bullshit. No, I mean real attention. From someone you can be honest with.”
He felt exposed, like Sonia had peeled back another layer of his without permission. “And who do you think should give me thisattention?”
She raised an eyebrow and said nothing.
“I didn’t ask for your advice.” His words came out more blunt than he’d intended. Before he could backtrack with a smooth comment, Sonia blinked and slid away from him.
She scooped up her dance clothes, the lilies, the lucky lipstick, and a bag that hung from a hook, then patted his shoulder. “Have a nice life.”
What?
Turning on her heel, Sonia exited the dressing room. Naked.
“Wait.” Brendan rubbed his forehead.
“You can let yourself out,” she called from the hall, her voice growing fainter.
