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“Yeah?” I pop a brow, challenging him.
His eyes roam my face, wanting to say something. I’d give anything to know what he’s thinking. He knew he was rude before. The cosmo and pet name are damage control because he likely doesn’t want to upset my brother by upsetting me. Not that Mason cares.
Something flashes in his eyes, and then the elevator pings. Mason strolls out, his head down as he walks toward the entertainment room. Lance leans back an inch, casting another fleeting glance at me before shaking his head and stepping away.
If I had to guess, I’d say that Lance Sullivanisa dick, and the guy I met at the gala was on something.
When Mason arrived home and told us he didn’t want to drink, I knew my dad’s appointment hadn’t gone as he’d have liked. Instead of asking questions—something I was desperate to do, I didn’t say anything, taking a leaf out of his book and pretending our dad wasn’t sick.
I texted Dad and then Vinny to check what Mason had told me was true—that he wanted to have an early night and was headed to bed. I decided to make the most of my evening after that. If I could remember the last time I went out drinking with friends, it would be a miracle.
Dinner last night, having the guys all here now, and also having the opportunity to meet Nina, Lucy, and Megan makes today feel special.
It feels like an actual birthday for once.
My brother is sitting on the opposite side of the firepit to me, his arms wrapped around Nina as she lies between his legs. “He’s different with her,” I say to Elliot, my eyes not leaving the loved-up couple.
“He is,” Elliot agrees. “We have wagers on how long it will take him to propose.”
I snap my head toward him. “He’sthatserious?”
“I don’t know a woman he’s ever been like this with. He’s obsessed.”
Nina’s a dream. Yeah, I’ve only known her for two days, but I can already see that she’s a good person. The idea that my brother might be serious about her after so many years of giving us nothing but rumoured flings and a reputation that’s nothing to be proud of shocks me as much as it makes me happy.
“How long?”
“You want in?” Elliot asks me.
I shake my head. “No. I won’t bet on them, but I want to know what you idiots predicted.”
Elliot takes a swig of his beer. “I gave them six months. Charles said two months—not sure if there’s something I don’t know going on with that, and Sullivan doesn’t think it will happen.”
I frown, then look at where Lance is sitting next to Charlie.
“You don’t think he’ll propose?” I ask him.
Lance eyes me for a moment before he looks at Lucy and Megan, who seem to be waiting eagerly on the next word out of his mouth. “Who fucking knows. Maybe I’m wrong.”
Lucy huffs, and everyone’s eyes draw to her instead. “I give them a year. I don’t think Mason will rush into it. He’s starting to see what Nina’s like—what she needs.”
“I don’t know. He bulldozed her lunch with Joey the other week. He seems like the type to act first, think later.” Megan shrugs, putting her two cents in.
I look to Lucy on my right. “Who’s Joey?”
“He’s Nina’s friend. He tries hitting on her every time we go out, and the last time it happened, the night we met these heroes”—Lucy looks between Charlie and Elliot sarcastically—“they scared the poor boy away.”
“Nina wasn’t interested. It was obvious. If she was, I would have helped him with his chat.”
“He didn’t have the best chat,” Charlie confirms.
“Nina said you called him soft cock,” Lucy accuses Elliot.
I fight to hide my smile as Elliot shrugs and changes the subject back to my brother’s impending nuptials. “What are you saying then, Megs?”
“Two weeks.”
Everyone sniggers, but Megan sits with a smile, confident.
