Page 22 of Chandelier Enthralled
“Did Hugo…hurt you?”
Swallowing hard, I felt too embarrassed to admit I’d clearly not been enough for someone.
“Do I need to book a flight?” he said.
I gave him a thin smile. “What are you going to do, beat him up?”
“Nothing as banal. But I will psychologically obliterate him.”
I tried not to laugh at his ridiculousness comment.
Even though Hugo had torn my heart apart, unleashing my brother felt like an unfair advantage. Hugo was an economics major and was in no way in the same intellectual league.
Cameron shook his head, annoyed. “Hugo forced you out of your favorite city.”
I stepped closer. “I’m trusting the universe. Maybe it was meant to happen.”
“Any synchronicities?”
“How do you mean?”
“Any signs you’re meant to be here and not there?”
I broke his gaze and looked toward the house. The mysterious man was in there now, and I hoped he might still be there when I got back. “Maybe.”
Cameron frowned at me. “Greyson moves in different circles.”
I shrugged, not wanting to reveal my fascination.
“Dangerous circles,” he added.
“How dangerous?”
He shook his head, dismissing the subject. “Good luck with your interview. They’ll be lucky to have you. Gonna tell me who it’s with?”
“Don’t want to jinx it.”
He tapped the car’s roof. “Bring it back in one piece.”
“Which pedal is the brake?”
He smiled, ignoring my question. “You know you’re close to perfect, right?” he said. “You’re one of the kindest women I know. I’m proud you’re my sister. If you hurt, I hurt.”
“I don’t want to be a burden.”
“I’m your knight in shining armor. Let me do my job.”
“I don’t need protecting.”
Cameron merely nodded, but I caught it, that swift glance toward the front gate, which Greyson had walked through minutes before. It seemed he would like to turn back time and un-introduce us.
I got Cameron’s attention. “Don’t call Hugo.”
“You’re the one who decided to be born into the Cole family,” he quipped.
Like a person had a say.
“Don’t unleash the Coles,” I said. “He’d never survive.”
