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“I’ll, uh, show you where to put your coat.” She started to lead him down the hall.
“Please,” her brother scoffed, appearing at the top of the half flight of stairs. “It’s just Devin. He knows.” Han smiled at Devin. “What’s up, man?”
“Nothing,” Devin replied.
“Was starting to think you’d gotten lost out there.”
“Nah.” Devin brushed past her. Out of her brother’s sight line, he gave her fingers a reassuring squeeze before continuing on. He held up the six-pack. “Almost forgot these in the truck and had to run back for them.”
“Nice.” Han accepted the beers.
But as Zoe followed Han and Devin into the kitchen, she caught June gazing at her appraisingly. Crap—she’d checked Devin for lipstick smudges but she hadn’t checked herself. She casually glanced at her reflection in the hallway mirror. Nope—she was basically okay.
Well, whatever. June could give her weird looks if she wanted to. Zoe wasn’t going to act like she had anything to hide.
To prove it, she snagged a fried wonton strip off one of the appetizer plates. She dragged it through the plum sauce dip and popped it in her mouth. She really didn’t know what that was supposed to prove, but it was freaking delicious, so it didn’t matter.
Around her, all signs showed this to be a successful dinner party. Han was doing his thing, cooking and putting on a show. If it weren’t so clichéd—and if they were Japanese instead of Chinese—he could’ve had a heck of a career at one of those hibachi places.
Zoe shook her head, trying not to stare at Devin, who had joined the loose cluster hanging out over by her brother. Han’s parties were never formal or anything, but people usually put in a little effort. Devin had traded in his work clothes for a sharp blue button-down that made his eyes look even brighter.
She wanted to peel it off him.
“So, you wanna talk about it?”
Zoe tried not to jump when June spoke from right beside her. “Talk about what?”
June’s friend Bobbi snickered.
Zoe’s face went warm. Crap. She was really bad at this secretly banging her brother’s friend thing, huh?
“There’s nothing to talk about,” she said, more firmly this time.
June didn’t seem convinced. “Uh-huh.”
“He’s one of Han’s friends.” Zoe swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Gross.”
“Gross? I mean—” Bobbi gestured with her wineglass at the guys. Her girlfriend, Caitlin, stood over beside them. “I don’t even like dudes, and I can admit he’s hot.”
“They’re all hot,” June said.
Zoe recoiled. “Ew. My brother is not hot.”
Shrugging, June took a sip of her wine. “May would kill me for saying it, but it’s true.”
“Seriously, though,” Bobbi said, leaning in. “Devin’s been sneaking looks at you almost as much as you’ve been sneaking looks at him.”
“Really?” Her voice came out too high. She retreated to the side a bit to reclaim her wineglass and took a gulp.
“Really,” June confirmed.
Zoe had to stop herself from glancing over at him to verify. “It doesn’t matter. Even if he weren’t gross.” He was so, so not gross. “It’s like I said—he’s my brother’s best friend, and you know how Han is.” Her mouth felt dry despite the wine. “If either of us made a move, he’d flip his lid.”
“I don’t know…” June mused.
“Well, believe me, I do.”
Devin and Han had both been plenty clear. A bitter taste formed at the back of her mouth.
