Page 122 of Awakening

“Oh, okay. Well, good,” Chloe says.

Vanessa seems to have stopped in her tracks between us and the doors to the store as she stands and stares at Anthony. “Vanessa? Are you okay?” I ask with a light laugh. She looks at me, blinking, like I’ve just broken her trance. “Come here, and I’ll introduce you.” Vanessa takes a deep breath and throws her shoulders back as she approaches us, but I see her breathing visibly quicken and her cheeks blush as she stands in front of Anthony. “Vanessa, this is Anthony Moretti.” It doesn’t seem to register on her face that this is the Anthony who helped me after Ian nearly killed me, the man who tried to steal me from her brother. She stares at him, seemingly mesmerized by his presence. There’s no doubt Anthony could stop traffic with his looks, but Vanessa doesn’t usually show her interest quite so easily. I’ve seen her make some really gorgeous men practically grovel for her attention.

He gives her his big, charming smile and extends his hand. “Hi, there.” She reaches out to shake his hand and gasps, widening her eyes when his hand closes around hers. Frowning, he looks at her with concern. “Are you okay?”

“Anthony, this is Vanessa, Ethan’s sister,” I say, gesturing to Vanessa.

“Oh,” he says with a chuckle. “I’m sure you’ve heard a few choice things about me then. Well, it’s still nice to meet you, Vanessa.”

“It’s so nice to meet you too,” she says, smiling. “Finally.”

Chloe and I look at each other in realization. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” I whisper as Anthony and Vanessa continue to smile at one another.

Chloe nods. “Yep.”

“You think they’re?—”

“Yep, but he doesn’t know,” Chloe says.

“How does he not know?”

“I’ll tell you later,” Chloe whispers.

“Well, I should, uh…I should go,” Anthony says, practically having to twist his hand out of Vanessa’s grip.

Vanessa frowns, tilting her head. “You have to go? I just…I thought we could get to know each other.”

Anthony narrows his eyes, looking at Vanessa, and then looks back and forth between Chloe and me. “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea, to be honest. I don’t think your brother would approve,” he says, backing away from her. “Anyway,” he says, “Olivia, it was good to see you, and I really am happy for you. I need to get to the hospital for my shift. Bye, ladies.” He turns and walks away, leaving Vanessa standing with her mouth wide open in shock.

“Vanessa,” Chloe says, touching her arm. “Are you okay, sweetie?”

Vanessa turns to us, looking a combination of confused and pissed off. “He left. He just turned and walked away from me?” She puts her hands on her hips and shakes her head. “I don’t fucking think so,” she says as she starts to charge down the sidewalk.

“No. Vanessa, stop,” Chloe says, catching up to her and grabbing her arm.

“Why?” Vanessa says, looking desperately in Anthony’s direction. “I need to talk to him.”

“Do you understand who he is?” Chloe asks.

“Do you?” Vanessa says in return.

Chloe nods. “That’s Anthony, as in Anthony, Olivia’s old boyfriend who tried who steal her away from your brother. Your hot-tempered, jealous, Alpha brother. Vanessa, Ethan hates Anthony.”

Vanessa turns to me and I see the realization wash over her. “You don’t have feelings for him anymore, right?”

“No, of course not,” I say. “I love your brother.”

“Good,” she says, nodding, “because he’s mine now.”

THE END

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