Craving The Wrong Brother

*

LOA

*

friend, Finn Hartley, since w

ings for him. I know he doesn't see me that

room, and I'm holding him to

has broken his heart again

he did this to me,

h his hair, trying to i

e do?" I ask. "You s

know how

rt from so

een here for hours, sacrificing my

n he'll be back in her bed by next wee

years of watching him chase after the same t

, Slaone," he says. "She l

w that's

ital wedding invitation, and I've been thinking

es me. Engaged? Delil

m me, and I can fin

er. His white t-shirt is rumpled and stained with what might be yesterda

e, fingers trembling as

gold invitation with flowing script announcing the union of Del

s, a fluttering sensation s

This is the best news I've heard in years. The witch

sound sympathetic. "Did you kn

lah. When has she

got a

im back

He collapses back into the sofa, staring at the c

d to believe m

ried tears. I've memorized every inch of his face over the years, c

him so broken, but all I can

s life. Sometimes I wonder if that's the key to her hold on him-she

e back for another round. The thought that she's finally cut hi

out her, Sloan

'll be alright." I reach

alright wi

people in this world, statisti

ly? You're s

g about my cybersecurity analyst job, my love for random facts, and m

I am to him. Not a

jeans and adjusting my glasses. I'

ay. "Let's go to a c

suggested we rob a bank.

es

r been to a c

as he takes me in-plain Sloane in her weekend uniform of jea

onfident than I feel. The truth is, clubs are my personal hell-loud music, sweaty strange

on." He stands up, suddenly energized. "I'll go put on something appropriate, and then w

denly self-conscious. "What's

He disappears into his bedroom, calling back, "Trust

ady regretting my impulsive idea

~

erything I fea

lic from a cousin's wedding three years ago-is too tight, too short, a

here for fo

nsform into someone I barely recog

willowy blonde in a dress that looks spray-p

wn vodka soda, watching Finn and Amber grind against each

d, fingers tangled in his hair. His hands are on her hi

stupid. I feel painf

out. "You can't jus

w how to," I

t me. "Then wh

eye on my

a chap

you try to slip him a

," he says to Amber, his arm tightening

s. "More li

be more appropriat

es my skin prickle. "She's hot though, with

hat's not a very

Don't yo

e w

her nerdish vi

iding my eyes. "More d

even a little tempted