“You’re friends with Madden, aren’t you? I think I’ve seen you around.”
“We’re on friendly terms.” Nate handed her the last two menus, still smiling. “Oh, can we also get four bubble brews?”
“Of course. Coming right up.” She left their table having completely forgotten all about the awkwardness.
“You’re such a flirt,” Neve teased.
“It’s called being nice,” Nate corrected. “You should try it sometime.”
She stuck her tongue out at him.
“I’m serious. I’m not always going to be around to fill your boring Friday nights.”
“Wow.” She rolled her eyes. “I have friends, you dick.”
“Language,” Nuri chided out of habit, but she merely laughed. He turned to Nate. “Who’s Madden?”
“Nobody,” he was quick to make light of it. “Just a guy I know.” His eyes flicked to Silver and quickly away.
Nuri frowned. “Is that so?”
“Seriously.” He pointed to Neve. “Why are you looking at me like that? You think I have time to get into trouble while taking care of this one? Brother, you left me with such a handful. In fact, here,” he grabbed onto her shoulders and jokingly pushed her closer to the table, “take her back. She’s your mess now. I quit.”
“Ha ha.” Neve shook herself free and crossed her arms. “You’re both di—”
“Language,” Nuri and Nate said at the same time.
* * *
“You’re going to be late for the staff meeting,” Nate warned the next day. They’d met up at a sandwich shop in town, the four of them squeezing in lunch during the measly hour that Neve got before she had to return to the hospital.
“I don’t want to go.” She rested her head on Nuri’s shoulder and clung to him.
Across the room, Silver was busy ordering another brownie, which was the only reason she’d been able to snag his seat and steal a moment of skinship with her oldest brother.
“I’m not leaving for another day,” Nuri reminded, patting her head. “We’ll see each other tonight. I’m coming over to watch a movie, remember? Plus breakfast in the morning, and then later, you wanted to bring me to your favorite bookshop, didn’t you?”
“Too bad you won’t have any money to buy books,” Nate chimed in, “since you’re about to be fired from your brand-new job.”
“Swear you aren’t going to disappear on me,” she turned to Nuri, ignoring Nate’s comment. “I don’t care if HQ suddenly catches fire, you aren’t allowed to go back to Ignite early. Promise.”
“I promise,” Nuri reassured, but that wasn’t good enough. After years of disappointment, he couldn’t really blame her.
“You could just stay, you know,” she at least had the sense to lower her voice, though Silver was still far out of earshot. “We could finally live together again like a family.”
“Neve.” Nate gave her a stern look.
“You want him back every bit as much as I do.”
“Nuri loves his job. It isn’t right for us to pressure him like this. We’re being selfish.”
“Whatever.” She stood with a flourish. “I’m going so you’ll stop yelling at me. But I’m not happy about it.”
“Noted.”
After giving Nuri one last tight hug, she exited the sandwich shop.
“She just misses you,” Nate said once they were relatively alone. “Don’t take anything she says to heart. Besides, she doesn’t know about the two of you.” He motioned toward Silver. “How’s that going anyway?”
