Page 55 of Stolen Moments

“Yeah. Tell us about her.” Cameron props his head on his big hands and bats his lashes. “Then we can have a slumber party, braid each other’s hair, and paint each other’s toes.”

Eli barks a laugh. “You’re such an asshole, Cam.” He throws a napkin at Cameron, who beats it away with a laugh. Turning back to me, Eli says, “But seriously. Tell us about her.”

I glance at Eli, and he seems genuinely interested.

“I met her at the airport, back in December. We were on the same flight. I thought we hit it off, but when we got off the plane, she walked away. I didn’t see her again until the weekend I went up to watch Rhys while Jay and Ry went on their babymoon.”

“Remember? I texted everyone about his hot date,” Cam tells Eli, who nods in understanding. “Don’t leave out how you were mysteriously in Portland back in February.” There goes that big mouth of his again.

I throw Cameron an evil glare, but instead of taking it as a threat, he smiles. He’s been piecing all this together for weeks, trying to get me to spill. Now, I don’t have a choice.

“She lives in Portland?” Eli asks.

I nod, not wanting to divulge the fact that Emery lives in the same town as Jace, which was quite a shock.

“Interesting. Continue.” Eli waves his hand at me and takes another sip of his beer, all while Cameron sits there with a smug look on his face.

Bastard.

“We’ve been talking, and she’s in town this weekend. I’m supposed to meet her after her brother’s event. He has some art premiere at LACU film school.”

“You mean, the Experimental Short Film Screening that’s happening all weekend?” It figures Eli would know about this.

He’s a talent manager at Blaze Talent Agency. When Eli’s best friend broke away from his father’s agency, he convinced Eli to leave with him. Since then, the two have made quite a namefor themselves. Especially Eli, who manages a few household names—including one TV sweetheart turned pop princess.

“You would know.” I shrug, even though my chest tightens.

Why didn’t I ask her about the event?

Because I’m an idiot. Here I am, thinking about what a great job I’m doing keeping her a priority, and I didn’t bother to ask her about her brother.

“Dude.” Cameron looks at me and shakes his head in disappointment. “You aren’t going?”

“She didn’t invite me.” Fuck, I sound like a dickhead.

Honestly, I didn’t even think anything of it. Her brother is all she has, and I didn’t want to intrude. When we talk, she doesn’t mention her parents. From what I remember of our conversation on the plane, she and her parents have a tumultuous relationship because of their lack of acceptance of Chris’s sexuality.

“You like this girl, right?” Cameron asks.

“Yeah.” I more than like Emery. I can see her being the one. I just don’t want to jinx it. I haven’t had much luck in the relationship department in the past.

“Then you show up, idiot. And take her some flowers, for fuck’s sake,” Cameron grumbles.

Mr. Doesn’t Do Repeats is over here giving me dating advice. I think hell froze over.

“I don’t even have a ticket,” I grumble.

Cameron looks at me like the dumbass I am. “Hello, have you met our brother? I’m sure he can get you a ticket. Right, E?”

Eli leans back with an air of superiority and rests his arm on the chair beside him. He might be an inch shorter than me, but he looks ten feet tall right now. His creepy half-brown eye twinkles, and I know this is going to cost me.

“For a price.” He runs his tongue over his teeth, sucking them, knowing my inevitable answer.

“And that is?” I already know the damage. Eli loves collecting things. And when I say “things”, I mean “favors”.

“A favor—to be determined—when the time comes, with no questions asked.”

Of course.

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