Page 105 of Emerald

“Kind of …” Elena shrugs. She looks up at me through those thick lashes, and I hate that she has her contacts in, but you can never be too careful when leaving the house. “All I know is I like him, he makes me feel good about myself, and I’ve never had that before. I’ve never really dated before, so this is all new to me. And I won’t let anyone fuck with what is happening between us, do you understand?” she warns them both, “Because I’m happy to go full-blown Persephone on anyone who wants to.” The chill that she says those words with is all killer. I’m a little scared, if I’m being honest, I’ve never seen her switch like that. It’s also hot.

“Heard loud and clear,” Sophie answers. Brooks glares at me but nods in agreement with her.

“Right, let’s go then,” I suggest awkwardly as we pile into my Jeep.

The ride is tense and silent the entire way until we arrive. “Welcome to my home.”

“Nice place, Nash,” Sophie says, hopping out of the Jeep.

“I’ll grab your bag, meet you inside, I want to talk to Nash,” Brooks says as we all get out. Sophie and Elena look at each other for a moment and then head inside, leaving me outside with my oldest friend who promptly punches me in the stomach. “You motherfucking asshole what the hell do you think you’re doing,” he yells at me.

“It wasn’t planned.” I groan, holding my stomach.

“I told you not to fuck with her,” he says, pointing at me.

“And I wasn’t going to, believe me, she was annoying as fuck when she arrived, but fuck she’s phenomenal.” Brooks stares at me as if I’ve lost my mind and maybe I have. “I’ve never met a woman like her before. She’s intelligent, funny, she’s beautiful, the fact that she could kill me in my sleep, and I would never know is hot.”

“Who the hell are you?” Brooks questions me.

“Man, I like her, a lot.”

Brooks frowns at me. “She’s too young for you.”

“Just like Sophie is too young for you,” I quip back.

He narrows his eyes on me. “Exactly, she is too young for me,” Brooks says through gritted teeth.

I shake my head at him. “Brother, you have been in love with Sophie for years, and yet you continue to deny yourself a chance at happiness.”

“I am happy.”

“Being her friend?” I push.

“That’s all she sees me as,” he states.

“Really? Nothing’s happened between the two of you since the Middle East, all those years ago?” I ask.

“It’s none of your fucking business,” he replies angrily, grabbing the bags from the back of the Jeep.

“Um, yeah it is, especially if you’re going to come after me about Elena. At least I’m man enough to take a chance on love.”I still. Brooks’ eyes flare with surprise at my slip. “Not love, you know what I mean, companionship.”

“Are you in love with Elena?”

“No,” I answer quickly.

“Oh, my fucking god, you’ve fallen for her. You old fuckin’ romantic,” he teases.

“No, I haven’t. It’s complicated,” I try to argue with him.

“Nothing complicated about falling for a honey trap.”

I still. “Are you saying she’s playing me?”

Brooks realizes what he says and quickly tries to reassure me that he doesn’t think that’s what’s happening. “No. I was joking.”

“You think I’m an idiot for falling for her, don’t you?”

“I’m worried for you, that’s all. I wouldn’t be a good friend if I wasn’t,” he says.

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