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He leans in to kiss my cheek, and I close my eyes briefly as I melt into his hold. I place a gentle hand on his shoulder to keep myself upright, my fingers flexing into the rigid muscle beneath his black shirt. It’s the same story. Me and him, a year later, dancing around one another as if we’re mere strangers.
Imagine the shock our friends—Mase—would have if they knew the truth.
I step back and turn to greet Elliot, needing to pull away before questions are asked.
Because what would be the answers?
“Why do I feel like it’s been a million years?” I hold on to Elliot tight, welcoming his warm embrace as he spins me around.
“You could come and see me, you know,” I tell him, chuckling as he sets me down.
“You’re a doctor now. You don’t have time for me.” He smirks at me, giving me a wink.
“Not a doctor.” I shake my head. “And happy birthday.”
“Thanks, Scar.”
He moves to let Charlie hug me. The familiar face smiles and he pulls me into his chest, his lips settling on the crown of my head. “Not a doctor,” he whispers. “But you will be.”
I smile. “Hello, Charles.”
“You okay?”
Pulling back, I look up at him and nod.
He acknowledges it with a small nod of his own. “Good.”
The woman Charlie Aldridge falls in love with will be the luckiest woman in the world. I’m not sure I’ve ever met a man like him. The way he can be so gentle and kind, terrifyingly smart to the point he gives off that lethal calm he wears like sin. Beautiful. Because he simply is. No matter how much I see him like a big brother, I can still appreciate how insanely gorgeous he is. He’s checked on me week after week. Texts I’ve missed—forgotten after shifts or classes… or those days I forget I even have a phone and don’t charge it. He still sends the texts, usually waiting a couple of days before he makes the trip out to the estate. I love the man, scars and all.
“Scarlet.” I turn at the sound of my brother’s voice, and his lips graze my cheek a second later. I love him, too. So much. But I can already feel his energy shifting. I know it’s because of Nina. That even being in the same room as her makes him something else entirely. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but for the likes of his friends and me… we don’t get a look in when Nina’s in the room.
“Hey, big brother,” I tell him, easing out of the embrace.
He clears his throat, standing off to the side and waiting for Nina to be done greeting Elliot so that he can.
I watch him, the way his hands run through his hair, his jaw tight.
Nina turns to him, a small smile pulling at her lips.
I frown.Should I slap her?
I look across at Megan, and she shakes her head, a smile stretching her face as if she knew where my mind had gone.
“Hey, Mase.”
I wait for my brother to move, but he takes his sweet-ass time, just staring at the poor girl as if he’s stuck somewhere between awe and stupid. Slowly, he leans in, dragging his lips up to her ear. We all turn away in unison as he starts to whisper in her ear.
Someone’sgetting slapped tonight.
“I need a drink.” Nina turns toward us, clearly ruffled. “Ell, what do you want to drink?”
She walks off to the bar, not even waiting to get Elliot’s order.
She’s panicking, but before Megan or I can follow, Mason is hot on her heels.
“Do we?” I ask Megan.
“He beelined for her so….”
