I cut my eyes at him. “Me being single doesn’t mean I like men now Brandon.”
He stopped walking and took a dramatic step back, arms out wide, letting me take in the full view like he was presenting himself as evidence.
“Come on now,” he grinned, teeth bright against the tropical dusk. “Not even a little bit?”
A giggle escaped before I could catch it. He was too fine to be humble and he knew it.
“You look good Brandon,” I admitted as we resumed walking. “But appreciating a view and needing to own it are two different things.”
“Fair enough,” he laughed, the challenge still sitting in his eyes. “I like a woman who makes me work for it. Makes the win feel that much better.”
I smiled but didn’t take the bait. I just kept walking.
As we rounded the final corner toward the private dining wing the ocean sounds gave way to clinking glasses and low laughter. I caught the scent of grilled seafood and butter and as soon as we crossed the threshold my skin prickled.
I didn’t have to look to know Dex was already in the room. I definitely didn’t have to look to know he was watching me walk in beside another man.
Before we made it three steps in Nel materialized out of nowhere, leaning against a carved limestone pillar with that signatureI’m about to be messy grin on his face.
“Well well, big sis. I see you’ve reunited with a friend. Brandon, right?”
Brandon extended his hand with a confident smile. “Yeah. You’re Nel?”
“That’s me,” my brother said, shaking his hand while his eyes moved between us like he was already writing the story.
“Good seeing you again man,” Brandon said.
“Likewise,” Nel replied, his smile widening. He looked like he’d just won something.
I cleared my throat. “Nel, stop being weird and show me where we’re sitting.”
“Right over here,” he said, gesturing toward the long candlelit table. “Didn’t know you were bringing a plus one though.”
Brandon laughed, reading the sibling energy immediately. “It’s all good. I’ll find a spot.”
He turned back to me, dropping his voice just enough to make it personal. “I’ll catch up with you later, beautiful.”
He gave my arm a lingering squeeze before heading toward the frat brothers congregated on the other side of the room.
I blew out a breath and followed Nel to our seats, feeling Dex’s eyes on my back the whole way.
“You keep some fine shit sniffing after you,” Nel whispered as we sat down.
“Shut up Nel,” I muttered, my heart hammering.
I let my gaze drift down the table. Dex was sitting there, a glass of dark liquor in his hand, looking like he was pissed at the world. He wasn’t smiling. He wasn’t even pretending to listen to whatever his mother was saying beside him. His jaw was set so tight I thought his glass might crack.
“You look beautiful Niecey Pooh,” a warm familiar voice said behind me.
I turned and felt the tension drain out of my shoulders. Aunt Michelle was sweeping in, her eyes bright with that maternal pride she had always saved for me. I stood immediately and wrapped my arms around the woman who had spent my entire life standing in the gap.
Growing up Michelle never let me feel like the extra child. If London and Paris got new dresses I got one too. If they were celebrated I was celebrated. I owed her and Uncle Tevin everything, which was exactly why the secret of my arrest felt like a sin I couldn’t confess. I couldn’t stand the thought of watching that pride turn into pity.
“Thank you Auntie,” I whispered, holding on a beat longer than necessary.
Uncle Tevin found us through the crowd and pulled me into a hug, but his eyes were already scanning the room with that old school protective heat.
“Baby girl, do you need my sports coat?” he asked, brow furrowed. “Eli’s friends keep staring at your backside.”