“I just found out that I have a brother.”
Eyes narrowed, I glance at Cam, but he’s staring at his buddy.
“He didn’t know that my father is also his father until recently. His mom died and, well, my dad, Rob, is the only family he has now. And me, I guess.”
My heart pangs at the thought of a kid losing his mom. “Oh, I’m so sorry.” Lips pressed together, I study him. “But what’s that have to do with?—”
“My dad’s a dick,” he interrupts. “He cheated on my mom when she was pregnant.”
There’s no stopping my grimace.
“Yeah. Kane—that’s my, uh, brother—found me on Instagram. We got to talking, and he wants to meet me.”
I turn to my cousin, then back to Ezra. “Okay. Again, what does that have to do with me?”
He takes a swig of his drink, his eyes darting back and forth. “I may have let it slip to Rob that I’m married now.”
“I’m still not following.”
“My whole life, my dad has tried to convince me that I’m just like him. But he’s a misogynistic, cheating womanizer and I…” He huffs, falling against the back of his seat, his brows furrowed. “I’m nothing like him. But he continues to make comments about me being a ‘chronic bachelor’ and how it’s my ‘destiny to be single’ like him. I’m just so fucking sick of it.”
“I’m so?—”
“So.” He cuts off my apology. “I panicked and told him I eloped last month. I figured it would get him to shut up and drop the topic. Instead, he asked me to bringmy wifewhen I meet Kane this summer.”
I nod slowly. His reason for lying makes sense, but?—
Gasping, I slap a hand to my chest. Shit. I know exactly what’s coming next.
“No.” I shake my head. “No, no, no.”
“Millie,” Joey hedges. “You just said you need a vacation.”
“I didn’t mean like this.” I push off the table, the chair screeching against the sticky floor, and turn to Cam and Joey. “I can’t believe you set me up.”
I’m out of the restaurant and striding down the city sidewalk faster than a bullet train. I’m halfway down the block, moving as quickly as my stilettos will allow, when I hear my name.
“Millie.”
Click-clack.
Hands balled into fists and vision tunneled, I continue on.
Click-clack.
“Millie.”
Click-clack.
“Amelia.” Ezra darts in front of me, blocking the path.
I have no choice but to come to an abrupt halt. The sudden stop causes a pedestrian to bump into me, which, in turn, forces me to fall like a domino into Ezra’s chest.
Hands splayed across his shirt, I steady myself.Damn, his muscles are hard.
“What?” Without making eye contact, I sidestep him.
He grasps my wrist and leads me under an awning. “Can we talk?”
