Page 101 of Baby Surprise for my Brother's Best Friend

“Alessio,” one of them sings behind me. Cassie? Cara?

I don’t know. And honestly, I don’t care. Never did. Not until Sophie.

They press against me like we have done this wild night after wild night.

Jenna, Jessica, or whatever her name is, hooks her fingers into my belt like it’s hers to tug. Her breath burns against my throat. “No more hiding from us, baby.”

The other woman trails her manicured nails over my shoulder.

“We miss how you taste.”

Cassie, let’s go with that for her name, grins as she presses a kiss just behind my ear. Her eyes flick to Nikolai, who watches with an unreadable expression. “Join us. We’ll make it a party.”

For a second, just one, it hits me. That old instinct. The ego. The heat. The memory of tangled limbs, sweat, and zero consequences.

This used to be my life.

This used to be enough.

And then I think of Sophie.

How her mouth tastes in the morning, how she curls into my side like she belongs there, how just the sight of her in one of my T-shirts can ruin me.

Yeah.

This? It’s not even close.

I don’t play along.

I don’t even smirk.

Instead, I gently take Jenna’s hand, or whatever her name is, from my chest and lower it.

“Not tonight. Not anymore.”

They blink. Once. Twice.

The irritation sets in fast.

“Seriously?” Cassie scoffs, her voice dripping with mockery. “What, you’re in love now? That your new thing?”

“Something like that.”

They huff, roll their eyes, and storm off with all the drama of girls who aren’t used to being told no.

Nikolai lifts his glass in a mock toast. “You’ve changed.”

I exhale through my nose, leaning back against the bar again.

“I used to think that was a bad thing.”

But now?

Now I know better.

Nikolai tops off his glass and leans forward, his gaze sharper now. “So, you really are in love with this girl?”

There’s no hesitation. “Yeah. Sophie’s… she’s everything. Smart, fiery. She sees right through my bullshit and still gives me a chance. Even when I don’t deserve it.”

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