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The food was plentiful, the toasts flowed, and a million conversations overlapped. Brendan’s phone only buzzed once, and when it did, he turned off the ringer and tucked it in his pocket next to Sonia’s room key.
By the time dessert arrived, the crowd was warm with drink and spirits. Brendan noted the weight of Ian’s arm slung across his shoulders, the blissful haze in his brother’s eyes. Brendan had had some good wine, and he was feeling pretty close to blissful himself.
Leaning forward, he peered past his brother, past Diana, landing on Sonia's face. Her cheeks were rosy, her eyes lit with laughter at something Di had just said. Brendan had expected Sonia to cover her discomfort with iciness, but as dinner unfolded, she’d thawed out. He’d even noticed her teaching dance moves to the flower girls outside, which was basically the cutest thing he’d ever witnessed.
He traced the outline of the keycard in his pocket. Later. There’d be time for everything between them later.
Draping his arm across Ian’s back, he offered wine around, then poured the last of it into his glass, soaking up the closeness with his brother.
Across from him, Hunter picked up the empty wine bottle and shook it. Marissa, sitting beside him, laughed. Hunter whispered in her ear, and Brendan noticed the gleam of his flask as he passed it over.
Trust a wedding to bring people together who hadn’t exchanged a word in high school. Hunter and Marissa had overlapped by two years, like the twins had with Diana, but he was the jockiest of jocks who had nothing to do with Marissa’s studious circle. Brendan wondered idly if anything would come of it.
As he relaxed, his arm still stretched across his brother’s shoulders, softness tickled his wrist — an invisible caress behind Ian’s back. A tingle shot through Brendan, and he couldn’t keep from grinning at Sonia’s touch.
Then he realized that it was Diana.
She looked completely innocent, chatting with the bridesmaids about plans for the next day. But the twitch of her mouth told the truth.
She stroked his wrist again. Sucking in a breath, Brendan moved his hand away to rest on the back of Ian’s chair. He didn’t want to hurt Di’s feelings. Until now, he’d enjoyed these naughty little moments.
But Sonia was in the picture now.
Diana persisted, her pinky sneaking up and twining with his. As their joined hands brushed Ian’s back, Brendan caught his brother’s dimpled grin. Hidden by the napkin on Diana’s lap, Ian’s hand disappeared under her dress. Pink washed over Di’s cheeks, and she bit her lip.
It was hot, no denying that. Yet the feelings from the winter visit came rushing back. Brendan felt like a pawn in their love life, no more than a tool to fuel their excitement.
He tugged lightly, trying to free his hand without being obvious, but Di hung on.
Of course, he’d never pulled away before.
And Diana wasn’t being subtle. Almost like…she wanted the world to know.
“Hey, Brendan!” Uncle Andy called from down the table. “Senator Wilson says he’s all for improving transportation in Connecticut, but the trains never seem to run on time. Can you talk to him about that?”
Brendan laughed. “I’ll see what I can do.”
He glanced at Diana’s lap. Based on the clench of her thighs, his brother was playing with her pussy. Brendan shifted in his seat.
When his gaze flicked to Sonia, she was looking down at Di’s lap with a little smirk. To his surprise, she gently squeezed Di’s knee. Di’s lashes fluttered.
What the hell was between them?
Suddenly, an awareness washed over him. All those years Sonia and Di spent together in college, all the visits Ian made without him — it could have been more. If he had just opened up to Sonia, been honest with her with no games, no charm, and no holding back, things might be different. There would be no need for secrets, and maybe Sonia would be sitting beside him right now. It wouldn't be Di’s fingers locked onto his, it would be hers.
Tell them,a voice urged inside him.Tell Sonia the truth. Tell Ian and Diana the truth. Tell them everything.
He must be crazy. They’d sworn a pact years ago, him and Ian and Di, never to tell anyone about the threesome.
Disguising the motion as a stretch, Brendan freed his hand from Di’s. Quickly, he forked up his molten chocolate cake, fielding questions about his political ambitions from the family. Mid-conversation, he spotted a vaguely familiar face across the restaurant.
It was the mayor of the town they were in. Brendan had met him in college while campaigning for Senator Wilson.
“Excuse me, everyone,” he said with a charming smile, pushing back his plate. “I need to go say hello to someone.”
As he passed behind their table, Ian made a remark about Brendan always being on-duty. Di’s hand trailed behind her chair, whispering against his pants. Sonia didn’t bat an eyelash.
The conversation went off like magic. The mayor remembered him from all those years ago and was happy to chat. He gave Brendan the names of several people he recommended getting in touch with.
