Page 74 of Midnight Wishes

A soft pink blush stained her friend’s cheeks. ‘You two haven’t exactly been subtle. You wore his jumper for like three days solid, in decidedly non-jumper-worthy weather. And there were other tells.’ She shrugged. ‘Tell me how you fucked things up.’

Sarah steeled herself. ‘I was offered a job. In Barcelona. I’mnottaking it,’ she said quickly, noting Abby’s already widening eyes. ‘But I was considering it, and Alex found out, and I think he thought I was running away from him. Which,’ she continued sheepishly, ‘I guess I was.’

Abby’s mouth twisted, discomfort flashing across her face.

‘What?’

‘Alex doesn’t let a lot of peopleseehim. That he’s so much more than that ridiculous image he projects. He barely shows me that side of him, at least not intentionally. I’ve just known him long enough to call bullshit. You once said you couldn’t believe Alex and Erik are related, because they’re so different. But really, I think they’re each other’s perfect inverse. Erik wears his softness like armour, so it can’t be used against him. He’s gentle and kind and loving, but he’s also a little shit when he’s comfortable with you. And Alex… The charm, the flirting, the dimple—it’s all to hide every bit of vulnerability he feels. So if he let you in, if he let you see that softness he guards so much—tries to hide from us, even—it means hecares. And if Alex cares about you, he’s not going to let you go. That’s another way he’s like his brother.’ A gentle smile pulled at her lips.

‘I think he does. Care, I mean. He looks at me like…like he never wants to look anywhere else.’ She hadn’t let herself notice until Saturday night. There’d been glances before, moments when she would catch him looking. But they’d been fleeting. He’d always looked away. Until that dinner. She’d looked up from her phone after checking a text from her mum and seen him staring unabashedly, hunger in his eyes. Not lustful—well, maybe alittlelustful—but mostly like he wanted more of every part of her, including all the bits that weren’t physical. ‘At least—’ Sarah’s next words didn’t come out, halted in her throat by the sound of their front door clicking open.

Abby had her back to the entryway, so she didn’t see it happen. And Sarah wondered if she had any idea how her fiancé transformed when he saw her. Because Erik’s shoulders, slumped with exhaustion when he walked through the door, straightened the second he laid eyes on his girl. His flattened mouth lifted on both sides, and his face softened with longing.

‘Hello, Sunshine,’ he murmured into her neck when he reached her, arms sliding around her waist.

For her part, Abby’s head fell back against his shoulder, a content smile spreading across her face.

‘Have you eaten?’ His eyes flicked to Sarah, an apologetic smile following the movement as he realised he hadn’t greeted her. He did that sometimes, too consumed by the person in his arms to fully take in his surroundings. He was trying to work on it, at least.

Sarah let them talk while she cleared away the remnants of their food and refilled their wine, taking out a fresh glass forErik, although he’d already started sipping from her friend’s drink.

For months, Sarah had shared their space with ease, telling herself she didn’t mind the longing looks and softly spoken words and displays of affection that were occasionally inappropriate for company. They were deeply, deeply in love, and it was a beautiful thing to witness, even if occasionally she found their relationship cloying.

But now, thoughts of Alex pervading her mind, it was easy to admit she wanted what they had. That envy clawed at her from the inside when she witnessed the casual intimacy they shared. The simple devotion. The peace and quiet joy that wrapped closely around them. She wanted to walk into a room and not see half its occupants because she was too captivated by her partner.

Sarah had never had a relationship that looked anything like theirs. But Alex… He made the world feel alive with possibility.

If she could only convince him to take the leap with her.

Erik continued standing while he tapped at his phone, ordering food from a nearby Italian place. His usual choice of lasagne and a pizza he’d thrown in for the two of them because‘a charcuterie board isn’t a meal.’When he was done, Erik took another large sip of Abby’s wine—he hadn’t touched his own glass yet—grasped her firmly by the chin and kissed her, smiling through it. ‘I’m going to shower, then hole up in our room. Bring my food through when it gets here?’

Abby nodded, her face utterly love-struck. Another painfully sweet smile passed between them before Erik pressed a kiss to the top of her head, then disappeared into the bathroom.

‘Is he okay?’ Sarah asked, thinking on his posture when he’d walked in. He always looked tired, but worse tonight than usual.

‘He had a fight with Alex last night. Just brother stuff,’ Abby added, when Sarah’s eyes flared in panic. ‘I think there are some…unresolved issues from when we were kids, and they got into it at the gym of all places.’ Abby looked down at her fingers, and Sarah placed a hand over hers just in time to stop her picking at a nail, freshly manicured and wedding-ready. ‘Alex isn’t wrong. Erik and I… I know we can be selfish.Wereselfish, as kids. It was the two of us against the world, when really, it should have been us three. And it wouldn’t surprise me if…’ Abby sighed. Twisted the end of her ponytail. Picked at the sleeve of her t-shirt. ‘It wouldn’t surprise me if that’s where some of his relationship resistance comes from. I know he felt unwanted and unwelcome, and I can’t help worrying that he’s carried that with him his whole life, and that’s why he’s so…him. But based on the timeline you gave me, based on the way he’s been different these past few weeks, being with you was making himsohappy, Sarah.’

‘He makes me happy too.’ It was impossible to forget the ball of warmth that had ignited in her chest the first time she heard their laughs mingle together. The way her body called out for his if he was close but not touching her.

‘What was holding you back?’ Abby shifted her hand, bringing it to rest on top of Sarah’s now. Throughout their uni years, they’d had a million 2 a.m. conversations positioned exactly the same way.

‘When I realised I had feelings for him, I got really scared, really fast. We’re so different—I’mso different from the womenhe usually goes for—I couldn’t imagine it working out. Add the possibility of losing you if things went south and you had to choose—I wasn’t prepared to even consider that. Plus, after Gregg…’ She looked down, ashamed even to suggest that Alex could be lumped in with him. ‘I didn’t want to get hurt again.’

‘But now?’ Abby asked.

‘Now I’ve decided it’s worth it—he’s worth it. Being with him, even if it’s not forever, is worth not playing it safe.’

‘I think,’ Abby said slowly, ‘that all these years, all the women, that’s all he’s been looking for. Someone who thinks he’s worth all of it. Also, you know you’re stuck with me forever, right? If the worst happens, I guess we can rotate custody. Alternate which events you and Alex attend. But you’re my soulmate as much as Erik is.’ Her eyes flicked to the bathroom door. ‘I was so scared of things not working out that I almost fucked up my own happiness. And now I get to marry my favourite person in two days. But…’ She bit her lips, even white teeth sinking into red lipstick. ‘If Alex thinks you gave up on the two of you, you’re going to have to show him you really want it. Want him. I think he’s going to need to feel loved and secure and know you’re in this for the long haul before he’s willing to risk it.’

Loved.

It didn’t seem that far from what she felt.

‘I know I could make him believe I want this. But I texted him two hours ago, and he still hasn’t responded.’ Another glance at her phone confirmed this was still the case. ‘Even when we’ve gone days without seeing each other, he’s never taken this long to reply. He once sexted me from a meeting with half his company around him.’

‘That bastard took two days to reply to my text asking what he hadalready boughthis mum for her birthday,’ Abby muttered, shaking her head.

‘I had an idea. Something I could give him to show him how I feel. But if he won’t even talk to me…’

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