“No,” he scoffed, like the idea was absurd. His mouth was dry, he needed a drink but knew Noah would clock his trembling fingers.
“What are you talking about?” It was Ren, Noah’s girlfriend. One of Brodie’s new favorite people, he admired anyone who could keep his monosyllabic brother on his toes. She looked adorable in cream hotpants and a lacy vest.
“Maeve,” Noah said.
“Maeve and Zoey, Maeve?” Ren clarified.
“Know any others?” Noah replied dryly.
Ren whacked him affectionately on the stomach. “I was just checking!”
Willow appeared from the dance floor, guzzling down a glass of water. “I’m boiling!”
So was Brodie.
“Why were you talking about Maeve?” Ren asked.
“Brodie likes her,” Noah replied as if it were fact, grabbing an OJ from a passing waiter and thanking him.
Willow took a glass of champagne. “You know she’s got a kid?”
“I don’t need to know!” Brodie said, exasperated. “I don’t even know why we’re talking about Maeve!”
“Ooh, defensive.” Willow sniggered.
Noah raised a brow, clearly enjoying himself. “Youdidget the brush-off.”
Bella came over to join them. Draping her arm round Brodie’s shoulder, she said, “Who? Maeve?”
Brodie tipped his head back. “I hate you all!”
Noah laughed out loud.
Ren crossed her arms and, looking thoughtful, said, “Who’s Zoey’s dad?”
Bella shook her head. “Don’t know.”
“No one talks about it,” Willow added, sipping her champagne.
I’m eight.
“I never knew you lot were such gossips!” It was probably the first time in his life Brodie had ever taken the moral high ground. Noah spluttered into his drink in surprise, but Brodie didn’t care, he needed to shut this down or his heart was going to fail. “You should be ashamed of yourselves.”
ChapterFour
When Brodie rang on the bell of the small cream wooden house with the green awning and gable and the squeaky metal front gate, he heard the kid shout, “I’ll get it!”
He had to hold onto one of the struts of the porch to stop himself turning away as she appeared behind the glass and grinned when she saw him. “It’s the blue suit guy!” she yelled behind her.
There was a clatter from the kitchen as Zoey opened the door, her hat discarded now, her long fringe half over her eyes. “You’re back.”
“I am,” he said, wondering if his heart had ever beaten so fast. He felt like he’d made a mistake.
“You forget something?”
He shook his head.
Maeve appeared at the end of the hall. She looked at him like perhaps she’d known he would come. Her face, however, didn’t give anything away.
