“Twenty-five,” I say softly.
His eyes rake over my shirt. I know that my nipples have hardened beneath the thin fabric. He’s looking at me in a waythat makes me want to race to my room, climb in bed, and bring myself to orgasm.
I’ve never seen desire this intense in a man’s gaze before.
“You don’t need me to tell you this,” he pauses for a beat. “But, you were engaged to the biggest dumbass on this planet.”
Laughter escapes me.
Case’s voice lowers. “Bonehead’s loss is my…”
My eyes widen as his voice trails.
Finish it, Case. Please say it. Tell me that Beau’s loss is your gain.
The words stall inside of me. I don’t say them. Instead, I bite back a curse word when Case’s phone starts up on a ring.
“For fuck’s sake,” he mutters as he darts to his feet and races toward the foyer table.
“It’s Drake,” he announces. “He wants to video chat. What the hell time is it in Ireland?”
My mind is so consumed by what Case almost confessed that I go blank. I can’t do quick math in my head right now, even though it’s a skill that I use to semi-impress my students back home.
“It’s tomorrow.” I wrinkle my nose embarrassed that I can’t be more specific. “It’s already tomorrow in Ireland.”
Case glances at me before his finger swipes the screen of his phone.
“Cason!” Drake’s voice booms through the living room. “Guess what today is, buddy?”
Crossing the floor toward me, Case smiles. “Happy Birthday to you!”
“And Happy Wedding Day!” I call from where I’m sitting.
“Is that Em?” Drake’s voice takes on a higher pitch. “Let me see her.”
Case plops himself down on the couch next to me with his left arm extended and his phone in hand. His thigh is pressedagainst mine; his right elbow jammed into my side. My breath catches as he leans in until his cheek almost brushes against the side of my face. “Here she is.”
I glance down at the front of my shirt, grateful that it’s not in Drake’s view.
“Up here, Emma.” Drake laughs. “Look at me.”
I do.
I smile at my older brother. Pure happiness is radiating from him.
“Happy Birthday, Drake,” I whisper. “You’re officially old.”
Case playfully jabs his elbow deeper into my side. “I’m right on his tail. My thirtieth isn’t that far away.”
We lock eyes for a second before I shift my gaze back to the screen of Case’s phone. “Are you nervous about the wedding?”
“Not nervous.” Drake pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “I’m fucking excited.”
“Is Jane there?” I ask, hopefully.
This isn’t how I anticipated meeting my brother’s future wife, but I’ll take it. I want to congratulate the woman who has made him this happy.
“She’s asleep.” He rakes a hand through his brown hair. “A few hours from now, I’m going to tell her that we’re getting married.”
