to risk her work landing at one of those after dark New York galleries. As much as she enjoys getting edgy, she enjoys having her socialite friends imbibe champagne while spending an evening at the gallery. Her friends have their sexual limits and she made sure to push them to the brink.” I glance down at his hand just inches from my left boob—and in a moment that I’m not too proud of, I actually move over a notch just to feel his fingers grazing my flesh—oh my God, Knox is touching my boob. My eyes close as I absorb the soft dancing of his fingertips across my nipple. Then it hits me. I am officially a pervert. I’ve essentially manipulated a boy’s hand so that he could cop a feel. I’ve stolen second base. Is that even a thing? I think I just made it a thing—a thing that no self-respecting girl should ever, ever try.
“Whoa, sorry.” He pulls back and offers an amicable smile.
“Right.” He’s sorry.
And sadly, so am I.
Just as we’re about to head on out, I see a welcome sight that sends my mood skyrocketing through the stratosphere.
“Harley? Henry?” I scream so loud as I rush them, and I catch a tiny glint of fear in my brother’s eyes before he warms to me.
I wrap my arms around the two of them at once, and we spin in an awkward circle with Henry’s oxygen tank whacking me in the leg the entire time.
Henry makes a face as if holding back his enthusiasm. “I was starting to forget what you”—he pauses to take a breath—“looked like.”
I belt out a laugh and so does Harley.
“Then look in the mirror!” I turn to Knox with a laugh caught in my throat. “This is my big brother, Henry. He’s essentially my twin.”
Knox steps in with that killer grin and a part of me wishes I were introducing him as much more than a friend. “Nice to meet you.” He gives a quick glance to the oxygen tank. It’s okay. Most people need to get used to it.
Henry holds up the slender green monster. “This is”—he takes a quick breath—“what keeps me in step with my sisters. One day”—he gasps for air—“I’m going to run a marathon with this one.” He points to me.
“I haven’t hit the track in weeks,” I’m quick to confess and both Harley and Henry loosen their jaws. “I’ve sort of been contending with a bad breakup.” I give a quick rundown on how both Knox and I were lucky enough to have a set of cheating exes all on the same night with essentially the same person.
Harley gets that wild look in her eyes—she’s a lot like my mother in many ways, her wild streak being the most prominent. “I will scratch that douche canoe’s eyes out the next time I see him and shove them down his throat so when he craps them out he can see exactly what he’s full of.”
“And on that note.” I look to poor Knox whose face just went white. “I think maybe we should take off. I sort of kidnapped Knox and gave him the tour of the dark side of our mother’s gray matter. I’m pretty sure a family reunion is more than he bargained for.”
“No way.” Knox holds his hands up. “I’m in. In fact, if you two haven’t eaten, I’d love to take you to lunch.”
“There’s a Thai place next door with drunken noodles to die for,” Harley offers.
And just like that, we’re off. The four of us talk for three hours straight. Knox genuinely seems to get along well with Henry. He’s talking to him like one of the guys and not like someone with a severe life-threatening illness. Knox even offered to take him to the Black Bear so he could meet with his friends and threatened him with hot chicks as if he’s genuinely interested in getting him into the dating scene. Just the sight of their budding bromance has me melting in a puddle.
I’m melting in a puddle for Knox Toberman and I kind of like it.
And I kind of hate myself for it at the very same time.
After spending a zillion blissful hours with Knox, I jettison myself back to the black hole of Kappa G. Thankfully, when I get inside, my roommate is nowhere to be found, so I flop on the bottom bunk in hopes of sneaking in some quick shut-eye. I don’t know how much longer I can