Page 49 of Lovestruck at Sundown
“You don’t say.” I rolled my eyes and drank a longer sip of my wine.
“Shoo!” Lily brushed a hand at William and Tobias, who were hovering too close to us. “Go set the table or something. This place is too big for you to stand here and eavesdrop on our conversation.”
They laughed.
The doorbell rang, and Nathalie yelled from the kitchen, “Food has arrived! Could someone get that?”
“On it!” William shouted back, pulling out his wallet. He winked at me and tapped Tobias’s shoulder with the back of his hand so he would follow him.
That little wink made my knees weak.
Lily bumped her shoulder against mine with a laugh. “You’re so enamored.”
“You think?” I giggled, looking at William as he walked away.
“I’ll be right back.” Lily stood and bent over to set her glass on the coffee table. “Bathroom.”
“Eric!” William shouted. “Get in here.” Eric rose from his seat to help them carry the bags of food back to the kitchen. Zara was showing Joel something on her phone, and they were both laughing.
“You guys need any help?” I asked as they passed next to me.
“Thanks. We’re good,” William replied, and I nodded.
Lily’s phone rang under a throw pillow, so I slid my hand underneath it to see who it was. The caller ID read:Nathan,and reading his name made me drop the phone on the couch as if it were scalding to the touch. He was Joel’s best friend, and he loved Lily. So, him calling her wasn’t abnormal, but it took me by surprise. And being reminded of how close they were and the fact that he was Zara’s brother too felt like a cold slap in the face.
I was the reason why Zara couldn’t spend time with all her brothers at once during events like these anymore.
“Joel?” He looked at me, and I said, “It’s Lily’s phone.” I tilted my head at the ringing phone next to me. He walked over to where I sat and picked up the phone to see who it was.
“Oh, shiiiiiit.” He took the phone to his ear. “Hey, bro.” He ran a hand across his forehead while Zara studied him. “Yeah, I left my phone at my apartment.” He shook his head. “I know, I forgot we’d agreed to watch that game tonight. It’s my mom’s birthday, and we’re at her place for dinner.” He kept nodding as he listened to whatever Nathan had to say. “Shit, yeah, I’m so sorry, Nate.”
Zara’s gaze jerked my way when Joel said:Nate.
“Why don’t you invite him to come?” Zara suggested using a naïve tone. But she was anything but.
How about … no?
Joel closed his left eye and lifted his index finger at Zara, asking her to give him a second.
“I’ll see you on Tuesday, then,” Joel said. “Okay. Talk soon.”
“Why didn’t you invite him over?” Zara insisted as Lily walked back to the living room. Joel gave Lily her phone back and retook his seat next to Zara.
“Invite who?” Lily asked. “Who was that?”
“That was Nathan.” Joel sipped his beer. “We were planningon watching a soccer match tonight, but that was weeks before my mom confirmed she’d be coming home for her birthday, so …”
“Oh, I’m sure he’ll understand.” Lily grabbed a carrot and dipped it in the blue cheese dressing like it was no big deal. And I agreed, it wasn’t a big deal.
Zara and Joel started arguing in hushed voices, and I stared at Lily wide-eyed.
“He’s your best friend, Joel!” Zara exclaimed, not worried about keeping her voice down. “Are you going to push him away now?”
Joel replied to her, but we couldn’t listen to what he was saying.
“Billie, you don’t mind if Nathan comes, do you?” Zara asked.
I looked around for William, but he was still in the kitchen helping his mother with getting things ready for dinner.
