The Rivals - Dylan Allen Page 0,354

mirror but drop it. He’s always been a private person and I know that pushing him is the surest way to shut him up.

I turn back to the mirror, but I feel him watching me and dart an inquisitive glance in his direction.

“I can hear you thinking....” I draw.

“How do you know, Hayes?”

“Know what?” I run my fingers through my hair one last time and turn to face him. He looks uncharacteristically unsure of himself.

“That you want to spend the rest of your life with her.”

“Because in general, I’m a selfish asshole. But I’d rather swallow hot lead than see disappointment in her eyes.”

Stone laughs, and I freeze.

“I haven’t heard you laugh out loud in at least three years,” I say.

“That’s not true,” he scoffs, and a smile plays on his lips.

“Has there been an invasion of body snatchers? Who the hell are you?”

“Fuck off, Hayes.”

“I saw you two weeks ago on FaceTime, and you looked like the same miserable fucker you’ve always been. Last time you looked like this you were eating one of those lemon scone things you used to be obsessed with.”

He purses his lips in a self-satisfied smile and nods. “You don’t say…”

“Are you two peacocks done hogging the mirror?” Beau shouts and I stick my head out of the bathroom. He’s lounging on the bed, and Dare is nowhere in sight.

“Where’d he go?” I ask and eye Dare’s bed. It’s strewn with more clothes than he could possibly need for a weekend, hair products, his laptop, two cell phones, and several wads of cash. I push away the unfair flare of suspicion as I take in his things. Dare has been home from rehab for two months. He’s doing well. I can see the change in him. I just need to accept that his lifestyle is less traditional than mine.

I clap my hands together both to refocus my thoughts and to get my brother’s attention. “Listen, whatever C is up to, I want you guys to promise me you didn’t let her rope you into anything crazy.”

“Too late. That little blonde Napoleon you’re engaged to can’t be reined in,” Beau says cryptically and grins. He hops up and saunters to the small bar by our balcony door.

He hands me a glass and another to Stone and raises his in a toast.

He makes a lewd joke about marriage and balls in vices. I laugh even though it’s not really that funny. I’m happy. I’ve missed my brothers.

We’re scattered all over the place, and it’s been too long since we got together outside of the holidays.

Confidence never ceases to amaze me. They told me she made it clear that she wouldn’t take no for an answer when she called them to plan this get away. Even though I’ve missed her this afternoon, it’s been nice to spend the afternoon with them. I feel bad that I didn’t thank her before she went off on her mysterious errands.

A simple and easy day is the best gift anyone has ever given me.

In my family, those kinds of words—simple and easy—were met with suspicion.

“Okay, let’s go. Everything is ready.”

Beau’s abrupt declaration startles me. “Ready for what?” I ask.

“For you, dumbass. That’s all I’m allowed to say,” he adds when I start to press him for more.

I turn to Stone, who is distracted by whatever he’s looking at on his phone.

He’s smiling again.

This time, with teeth.

My curiosity about the evening is forgotten. I give him a suspicious once-over. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad to see it. But why the fuck are you smiling so much?”

He flushes, and his eyes get an almost dreamy look, one I’ve never seen.

“I think… I’m falling in love.” He sounds like he can’t believe it himself.

“Wow.” I can’t hide my surprise.

He smiles wryly. “I know. It’s a little complicated, though.”

“How so?”

“She’s married. Don’t say a fucking word. Not to anyone,” he whispers.

Then, he claps me on the shoulder and follows Beau out the door. I put my shoes on, grab my wallet and hurry after them.

The elevator doors open on our floor, just as I’m catching up with them.

“Good timing,” Beau mutters, as we step onto the crowded car.

Conversation is impossible, but I catch Stone's eye and give him a look that he knows means I’m not done with him.

He smirks and shrugs.

I smirk back and plan my attack as we descend.

When we step off the elevator, I pounce.

“I forgot my phone upstairs,” I lie.

“Aww, shit. Hayes. If you’re late, Confidence will fucking kill me,”