I don’t wait for my brother to speak before bolting past her and jumping into the elevator. Scanning the lobby, I find him sitting on a black leather armchair and I beam. “Aoi!”
He gasps when I launch myself in his arms and bury my face in the crook of his neck. I expect him to push me away because we’re in public but instead he wraps his arms around my back and laughs.
“Seems you’re happy to see me,” he teases as he leans back and cups my cheeks, smiling adorably at me. “You’re like a huge puppy.”
I kiss his cheek and grin. “I missed you.”
“You saw me this morning,” he retorts, detaching himself from me and poking my chest. “Shouldn’t you be working?”
“I could askyouthe same question. I might get the wrong idea, you know? Why were you at Amira’s place when you said you’d work in your room?” I ask and my smile falters when he looks away. “Did something happen?”
He shakes his head, but as our eyes meet, he sighs. “Remember the ex I told you about?”
I frown. “Yeah? What about him?”
“Because of him, I decided to move out of my hotel room since he’s been ratherpersistentabout us getting back together.” He chuckles but it’s a hollow sound as he rakes his finger through his hair. “He’s been sneaking into my room and waiting for me inside. So, I decided to get my stuff out of there and find my own place.”
“Just come stay with me,” I say, kissing his nose. “That way I can see you all the time. Matter of fact, move in with me.”
He snorts and slaps my arm. “Are you nuts? You’re going too far now. I don’t want to move in with you. We’ve been together for barely a day.”
Wrapping my arms around his waist, I murmur into his ear, “Then just until you find an apartment.”
“I don’t know if that’s appropriate,” he mutters, melting into my embrace. “What if you get sick of seeing me every day? Living together is a big step, even if it’s just temporary.”
I groan in frustration, but I understand his point. I’ve been coming onto him pretty strongly since reconnecting with him. From his perspective, we’ve only known each other for less than two weeks, when in reality, it’s been eleven years.
“I know it’s a big step, but I can assure you seeing you every second of my day would only make me thank the gods for having put you on my path.”
He rolls his eyes and chuckles. “Don’t regret it later on.”
As if I could ever regret getting him all for myself.
“Now back to your creepy ex,” I say smiling, but I’m quite sure he can tell I’m feeling murderous. “I want his full name and current address.”
Aoi gawks at me like I’ve grown a second head. “What for?”
“To break his legs maybe.”
“Absolutely not.”
“He broke into your room. Breaking his legs is a clement punishment for what he did. He’s lucky I can’t kill him for it.”
He narrows his gaze on my face as if to decipher whether I’m joking or not. “Stay out of it. I mean it, Andrew. If I find out you got yourself involved in my business, I’ll get really mad at you.”
“But your business is my business,” I pout, tilting my head and as expected he softens.
“I don’t want you to get involved, so please, don’t.”
I raise my hands in defeat and smile. “Fine, let’s go grab your things and move them to my penthouse then. I’ll call movers to make it easier and faster.”
“I already asked Dixon to help me out,” he says casually as if I have any idea who that is. “My manager. Remember the Black man who came to pick me up the morning after Mr. Williams' party?”
“Oh, the really well dressed guy with the afro? Are you two close?”
“Are you jealous?”
“Yes. Very.”
