Page 44 of My Brother's Best Men
“Night, boys,” she says. She looks at Sophie as if she wants to say something, but thinks better of it. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.”
Eli sits up straighter. “Absolutely.”
When she and Mr. Martin are gone, Sophie lets out a heavy sigh. “Finally.”
“Aren’t you guys ready to turn in? It’s been a long day,” Eli says as Tiffany comes up, plopping herself between me and Matthew.
“Hey, Matty,” she says, drunkenly leaning into him.
Seriously, does she really think that’s going to work? Matt’s a man with a cock, but he’s not into sloppy drunks. And Tiffany is definitely a sloppy drunk. I know, I’ve been there. With my cock down her throat.
Wasn’t as good as it should have been, all things considered, because all I could think about was Sophie in her teeny little pink polka-dot bikini splashing in the pool at her grad party. All I could do was hope she’d walk in and see me, and maybe then she’d seeme.
Not as her brother’s best friend, but as something more…
Though at the time, I didn’t know what more was. I’m still not sure what more is, or if I’m even capable of it, but when I look at Sophie—even now—I want to know.
Maybe she could show me…
“I’ll buy you another one,” I say, shooting another shot.
“Maybe you should lay off the shots,” Eli says carefully.
“Who are you, my daddy?” I snap.
“Just saying, we do have breakfast tomorrow and it’s getting late. We’ve been up a long time and?—”
Matthew groans. “I hate to say it, but he’s right, bro. I’m fucking beat…”
Tiffany squirms next to me as Matthew gets up and stretches, and I don’t miss the way both Tiffany and Sophie look at him. It pisses me off.
Because she bites her lip, staring athim.
Matthew fucking Peters.
Someone kill me.
I wish she’d look at me like that.
“Yeah, maybe I should head in too,” Tiffany says, but it’s not genuine.
I roll my eyes. “Fine, losers. Go to bed. Leave the partying to the real animals,” I say as I wrap my arm around Sophie, pulling her closer.
She falls into my embrace easily. Too easily, as she almost falls over, which elicits a laugh from her that soon turns almost maniacal. I can’t help but laugh too as Natalie and Lucy giggle.
Sam and Raegan stop kissing each other for five seconds to announce they’re heading in, and from the looks on their faces, we all know exactly what they plan on doing and I would wager it has nothing to do with sleep.
I order another round of drinks for the girls, including Sophie. It’s nearing eleven thirty by the time Lucy and Natalie leave, but Sophie is still dancing in her bare feet on the deck to the live band, her heels in a pile by the outdoor couch in the VIP area we’ve been hanging out in all night.
The singer drones on about having summertime sadness or blues or something and Sophie sways back and forth, oblivious to the world. She’s so fucking beautiful. Not just in herlooks, but in how she moves. Her presence is like the moon. Always changing, yet always bright and lighting up everything it touches.
“Dancing?” I say, my words getting stuck in my throat. “Alone?”
“I’m not alone,” she says, but her voice is far away. She turns to look at me, casting me a rueful smile. “You’re here, so I can’t be alone.”
I know she doesn’t say the words the way I hear them. My brain’s hazy with the filter of jet lag, alcohol, and the most beautiful creature on the planet who’s looking at me right now. Her hair spills over her back, making my gaze drift to where it ends, just above the small of her back. Above her plump, juicy ass.
“You should be careful,” I say. “Some creepy old man might try to hit on you.”
