Nik slips off her shoe and throws it at his big dumb head. “I’ll remember that the next time you climb through my window in the middle of the night.”
He laughs, leaning back in his chair and taking a drag. “Oh yeah? What are you gonna do?”
She quirks a brow, and the weirdest thing happens.
My brother, the smartass, pain in my side that’s a prick to literally everyone, says, “I was teasing. I’m sorry.”
And winks at her, actually winks. I about fall out of my chair.
Nik lifts her chin. “You’re gonna have to do better than that.”
A dimple appears on Shane’s face, and his lips purse to hold back a smile. “I take it back. You aren’t clingy.”
“And?”
“And I am in fact not excited to have a minute away.”
“And?” she asks, lifting a brow and crossing her arms.
“What the fuck? I don’t know?” He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “What else do you want from me?”
Pointing a finger at him, she says, “Admit thatyou’rethe clingy one.”
Gabe pulls up in hisclassic carand honks. His eyes meet mine and linger for a beat too long.
Shane’s brows crease, and his lip curls as he stands. “Oh, fuck right off!”
Nik howls withlaughter.
Putting out the cigarette, he jogs down the porch to jump in the car.
“See you later, loser!” she shouts after him, waving a hand in the air. He flips her off with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on his face. The whole thing is equal parts confusing, nauseating, and adorable.
He smacks Gabe upside the head before saying, “Stop staring at my sister, dumbass.”
Nik convinces me to spend our girls’ night at the clubhouse. I’m not sure you can still call it girls’ night if Shane’s there, but I’m just happy to spend the evening with her.
When we pull into the parking lot, there are people everywhere. We get out and walk up to the door, finding Gabriel standing outside with a group of people. He glances in my direction, giving me a tight-lipped smile, but doesn’t say anything.
I don’t know what I was expecting. After digging through my closet for thirty minutes, I decided on a white floral-embroidered dress. I put my hair up and took it back down a dozen times until finally throwing it into a bun and saying forget it. The whole time I pictured Gabriel getting one glance and whisking me into his arms.
Stupid, right?
I smile back, pretending I’m not disappointed and walk into the building.
Inside, the music is deafening, and it smells like alcohol.It’s just like I remember it the night I was drugged. Mystomach clenches. I hadn’t really thought about how I’d feel coming back here for the first time.
“Hey, baby,” Shane says, grabbing Nik around the waist and pulling her to him. When he releases her, he pulls me into a hug next.
“Hey, shithead.”
“Hi.” I wave awkwardly.
“I’m in the middle of a game, but I’ll come find you when I’m done,” he says to Nik before heading back to the pool table.
“I’m gonna get a drink. Want one?” she asks.
“No. I think I’ll drink water tonight.”
