“Connor!” Her whole demeanor changes when she notices him. She runs full speed towards her brother with a giant smile and arms wide open. She crashes into him, giving him a tight hug.
“Hey, Auds. You good?” I hear him mumble into her hair as he gives Paul the side-eye.
She nods, straightening up as she pulls back from him, trying to compose herself. “Yup, I just missed you more than I realized.” Her tone is light but her eyes look watery.
I hate seeing her get emotional.
Audrey blinks rapidly when she turns to face me, her big brown eyes sending a shock right to my core, especiallywhen she steps towards me and wraps me into a tight hug. “Hi,No.”
I try to keep my emotions in check when she calls me by her special nickname. One that she hasn't called me since the night of her high school graduation, but as we stand here, it feels like it was only yesterday.
My arms wrap around her quickly, and I try to savor the smell of her lavender perfume as I cling to her, hoping she can’t feel how fast my heart is beating with her head resting against my chest.
A lifetime of memories come flashing back to me.
“YOU CAN’T CATCH ME, NOAH!” A wide smile crosses her face.
“Hey, I wanted the red popsicle! No fair!” Smack to my arm.
“Don’t fall, Noah.” Giggles fill the space.
“There’s a spider. Ew! No, get it! Noooaaah!” She hides behind my back, hands clinging to my shirt.
“Noah, look at all the fireflies, aren’t they pretty?” Twinkling eyes meet mine.
“Happy eighteenth birthday, No.” Soft lips land on my cheek.
As I focus back on reality, I say, “Hi, Auddie, long time, no see. You’ve gotten taller.”
Ignore the sparks. Ignore the way she smells.
Ignore it all, dammit.
“It’s the heels …” She pulls back from me, giving me a playful smile, and I catch a glint in her eye. “You’ve gotten taller, too.”
I look down at my own feet briefly before looking back at her with a smirk. “It’s the heels.”
Without fail, her gaze slips downwards, as if she was expecting to see heels, and a soft giggle follows. “Still a comedian, I see.”
God, I’ve missed her.
But the sight of Paul reminds me to compose myself. I step back from her to shake Paul's hand, hoping I’m not wearing a guilty expression.
The four of us head inside to claim our table.
“How’s work been going, Paul?” Connor asks, barely letting any of us sit down.
Paul finally puts his phone away as I snag the chair across from Audrey.
I force myself to focus on Paul’s face, knowing that if I stare too long at Audrey, my heart will explode or I’ll say something I probably shouldn’t.
“Not bad, keeps me busy.” He shrugs, pulling out the drink menu, clearly disinterested.
He couldn’t even ask about Connor or maintain eye contact?
Connor rolls his eyes before turning his attention to his sister. “How about you? Everything good with you?” He raises an eyebrow at her.
Again, his words are full of hidden meaning.
