Page 39 of Heist

Patrick laughed. “You know that’s not how this will go, Holls.”

“Hey, let me have my optimism, OK?”

Patrick slung an arm around her. “Fine. I’ll be a pessimist for both of us. We still have a few hours before dinner. Want to go be tourists for a little while?”

Holly’s eyes lit up, so Patrick directed the driver to Time’s Square where they donned hats and sunglasses and blended in with the rest of the New York City crowd. When they were tired of walking, they ducked into a small pizzeria for pizza and beer.

“I’m sorry,” Patrick said as he watched his sister happily eating her slice.

“For what?” she asked, cheese stringing from her lips.

“For leaving you with dad when I left. I missed out on so much of your life. I’m glad we get a second chance.”

Holly gave him a sympathetic smile. “You’re sweet, but it’s not like you had much of a choice and you didn’t abandon me entirely. We got together when we could.”

“Still, I plan to spend the rest of my life making it up to you. You’re stuck with me now.”

Holly reached across the table and squeezed his hand. “Thanks, big brother. Just please don’t tell me you’re going to follow me on my honeymoon.”

Patrick grimaced. “Absolutely not. You’re still a virgin in my head.”

Holly laughed. “I wasn’t a virgin before I met Elijah.”

Patrick put his hands over his ears. “Blah, blah, blah. I can’t hear you.”

As he picked up his pizza, he felt his phone buzz.

Got done a little early. Want to meet me at my apartment and bang me before dinner?

Patrick felt his cock twitch. He wanted to say yes, but he wasn’t going to ditch Holly for a quick lay.

Sorry. I want to but Holly and I are playing tourist in Times Square. Come meet up with us. We’ll have pre-dinner drinks.

She sent a frowny face emoji and he took the opportunity to have a little fun with her.

Since there’s no paddle emoji, I’ll just tell you no pouting unless you want me to spank you in a New York alley.

He wouldn’t of course, but she didn’t need to know that. She sent back the heart eyes emoji and he just shook his head.

“I feel like a third wheel now,” Holly teased.

“Speaking of extra wheels, how does Elijah feel about Grant joining us for dinner?”

Holly glanced at her phone. “Um… his plan landed an hour ago?”

Patrick threw his head back and laughed. “Of course it did.”

“The fun news is he brought Hunter and we’re going to a soft opening of one of his night clubs. It’s kind of a test run before the big weekend opening.”

“Why am I just now hearing about this?”

Holly giggled. “Because we knew you would say no. Don’t worry, Austin already knows.”

“And the little minx didn’t tell me? I am so punishing her later. Speaking of, she got off early and wants to meet up with us somewhere.”

An hour later, they met Austin, Elijah, Hunter, and Grant for dinner. Grant seemed surprised by the appearance of Elijah and Hunter, but he recovered quickly.

“I hope the restaurant can seat us,” he said. “I only reserved a table for four.”

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