Page 28 of Along Came Summer

“We hope you had a great flight, Mr King,” the youthful attendant says with an amiable smile as I step off the plane. I utter thanks and wish her a pleasant evening before taking in that first deep breath of delightfully polluted British air.

Ah, London, how I have missed you.

The drive to the city took much longer than I would have liked. Something I absolutely haven't missed about London—the horrendous traffic. All it takes is one accident, and that’s it; it’s absolute carnage, and you’re sitting in traffic for at least an hour. I drifted off to sleep and woke twice before the car pulled up outside a lavish apartment building.

The driver jumps out of the car to open my door, but I don’t wait for him and by the time he makes it around, I’m already out of the car, so he moves to retrieve my suitcase from the boot instead while I lift my gaze to inspect the twenty-story luxury apartment building before me.

Trust Devin to rent an apartment in the most uppity county of the city. Shit, sorry, not an apartment—apenthouse, because a smaller, more modest two-bedroom apartment couldn’t possibly accommodate his enormous ego. No, he had to go and rent a four-bedroom penthouse in the most affluent part of town just forhimself.

Devin wasn’t like this. He was down-to-earth and humble… until he met Megan. Don’t get me wrong, I adore her, but her presence has turned him into a pretentious elitist with an arrogant swagger to match his Brioni suits. I’m all for comfort and wanting nice things, but his lifestyle isn’t one I envy one bit.

I find it crazy that we’re brothers, yet we couldn’t be more different. Where Devin craves the big life with money and success, I crave peace and simplicity. I choose to work hard in silence and let my success make the noise. And no, I’m not the broke brother. I have all the money I need, plenty of it, but I don’t need the flashiest cars or expensive penthouses. I don’t want to bathe in milk and sip champagne. I don’t have a damn thing to prove to anyone because I know what makes me happy, and it’s not something money can buy.

I drag my suitcase into the elevator when the door parts and enter the code my mum gave me earlier into the keypad inside. I slump against the mirrored wall and shut my eyes while the elevator ascends to Devin’s penthouse.

My stomach does a low grumble, politely reminding me that it’s time to eat. I’m famished and praying Devin has his fridge stocked up. I’m so hungry I’ll even settle for fish eggs. Actually, nah, ugh fuck that, I won’t. I can’t think of anything worse. I’d rather eat my own nail clippings.

Screwing my face in disgust, I immediately swat away that grim thought.

The elevator stops, and the doors swing open into the penthouse.

Snazzy.

Oh, fucking brilliant, it’s about as dark as a bat cave in here, and I have no idea how to turn the bloody lights on. At least leave a fucking lamp on or something, Dev. Jeez. With a sigh, I resign myself to using my phone as a flashlight and make my way through the living room. I leave my suitcase by the large L-shaped sofa, pull my black t-shirt off, and toss it over the back of the sofa as I dial Devin’s number.

“Hi, you’ve reached Devin King—”I roll my eyes and end the call, not bothering with leaving him a voicemail.

“Of course, your phone is still off.” I gripe irritably. Megan has already called me seven times since I've landed. She’s freaking out because Devin's phone has been off for hours, and she hasn’t been able to get a hold of him.

He's likely somewhere having a grand old time with Mira. Shit, I can't even blame the kid. If I were with her, I sure as shit wouldn't want to be disturbed, either.

I'm aware that I sound like a man who has swallowed a handful of bitter pills, and I fucking hate it because it’s not me. But Mira and I had something. It may have been short-lived, but we shared something real, and those feelings don’t just go away. So, I’m within my right to be a little bothered, right? The fact I am bothered means I still care about her.

The thought alone of what they might be doing together is enough to kill my appetite, so I close the fridge, grab a green apple from the bowl on the kitchen island and wander over to the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the River Thames and London Skyline. The night sky is clear and dark. The moon is full as it sits high in the sky, with the city spread out beneath it like a shimmering blanket, each light glowing with a magical beauty.

While I’m consumed deep in my thoughts, the elevator reaching the penthouse echoes throughout the apartment, bringing me back to reality. Straightening, I look over at the elevator, and when the doors open, I take the opportunity of the elevator’s light streaming in to walk over and make sure it is Devin and not some intruder. When you have an elevator as a front door, any fucker can walk in if they punch in the right code.

“Devin?”

There’s an uncertain pause before I hear Devin's hesitant response. “Levi?” My eyes only just manage to adjust to the dark when the lights suddenly come on, blinding me. Wincing, I blink several times, waiting for my eyes to adjust to the light while Devin fires question after question at me. “What the hell are you doing here? How did you get into my penthouse?”

My heart thunders inside my chest when I notice Mira standing behind Devin. “Hello to you too, little brother.” I drawl, cocking my head to the side, trying to see around Devin. “Mira? Didn’t expect to see you here.”

Liar.

Of course you did.

Mira’s amber eyes are wide and full of surprise while she stands still behind my brother as though he’s some kind of defensive shield between us.

Oh Mira, if only you knew how many nights I spent being haunted by your gorgeous eyes, that luscious mouth and your angelic face.

A wave of memories floods my mind's eye, taking me back to Thailand. I can taste every kiss, feel every one of those hours we spent making love and staying up until sunrise talking and laughing until we couldn't breathe. And judging by the look on Mira's face, I'm not the only one reminiscing. It seems she's surfing the same emotional tide as I am. The moment I saw her, my first instinct was to walk over, pull her into my arms and kiss her until I deplete every drop of oxygen in my lungs, and she fathoms just how much I've missed her.

Everything, including Devin throwing question after question at me fades into a blur while I lose myself in her stunned gaze; the way she's looking back at me affixes me into a trance, and I can't seem to steal my eyes away from hers long enough to remember Devin is in the room.

“Could say the same about you? Didn’t you say you were flying out at the end of the month when we spoke last week?” Devin questions, stealing my attention from Mira. I smile and take a bite out of the apple I’m holding as a means of distraction.

“I wrapped up early and jumped on the jet straight here, little bro. Did you forget that I’m staying here with you? I did call you a couple of times, but your phone is off.” I reply, my eyes veering to Mira again. “Now I see why,” I add, smirking at her. “I hope I’m not interrupting something?” My question is loaded with insinuation—one Mira catches and narrows her beautiful eyes at me.

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