“Yes,” I bite out, annoyed that he’s interrogating me like he’s our father.
Evan crosses his arms. “Because from where I was standing, you were about two seconds from kissing her.”
“I wasn’t going to kiss her.”
“Bullshit.”
I don’t deny it again because he’s right. Iwasgoing to kiss her. And she was going to let me.
Evan exhales, frustration leaking through his easy exterior. “We promised Ben we’d take care of her. Not take advantage of her.”
The words hit like cold water.We promised Ben.
Ben, who trusted us. Ben, who allowed his sister into this arrangement with us, because he believed we wouldn’t cross that line. Ben, who would kill me if he knew how close I just came to touching his sister in ways that are miles past appropriate.
Guilt sinks into my core, and I scrub a hand over my face. “You’re right.”
“I know I’m right.”
“It won’t happen again.” And I mean it.
Evan’s expression softens. “It’s not just you. She’s—” He stops talking and thinks about his next words. “She’s easy to want. All three of us feel it, but we can’t act on it. Not like that.”
“I know.”
He studies me for another few seconds, then nods. “Good. Let’s get a drink and reset.”
We order at the bar—whiskey for me and something clear for Evan. I down mine in two swallows and order another.
Tania appears beside us, hair tousled, breathing still uneven. “Everything okay?”
“Perfect,” Evan lies smoothly. “Just needed a drink. You want another?”
“Sure.”
The bartender pours champagne, and Tania accepts it without looking at me.
Her nervous energy is back. She knows I almost kissed her, and she knows Evan pulled me away. She knows it got too real.
We head back to our table. Tania sits between us this time.
Evan keeps the conversation light and easy, defusing the tension with jokes and observations about the crowd below.
I don’t talk much. I’m too busy processing what just happened.
The guilt sits heavy in my chest, mixing with frustration and something darker I don’t want to name.
I wanted to kiss her. I wanted more than that. And the only reason I didn’t was that Evan stopped me.
An hour later, we’re back in the car. Tania sits between us, her thigh brushing mine every time the driver turns a corner.
I don’t move away. Neither does she.
Evan talks about the night as if it were exactly what we planned. Fun. Easy. Successful.
Tania nods along, laughing at the right moments, but her attention keeps drifting to the window.
When the car pulls up to our building, the driver opens Tania’s door, and she steps out without waiting for me to follow.
