Page 10 of Covetous

She is? “You are?” My wide eyes are a dead giveaway of my surprise.

“Only until she finds a place of her own,” Victor clarifies.

“Wouldn’t want to get in the way of your sexy time with Skylar’s best friend.” Isabella purses her lips, narrowing her eyes ever so slightly at her seemingly oblivious brother.

Why the emphasis on best friend? Why not refer to her as Esme? Does she know? Has she always known?

Oh, God, does he know?

Esme was the only person who knew about my feelings for Victor. Back in high school, I thought I was in love. But now I know better. It wasn’t love. It was pure infatuation with a guy I knew I would never have.

Needing a distraction, I pretend to check my watch but don’t register the time. “I should probably get going.”

Isabella’s face lights up as if an idea sparks to mind. “Hey, you wanna go grab something to eat with us?”

I can read a room, and judging by the look Victor gives Isabella, he prefers I don’t tag along, which is fine. It was the same back in high school, for the most part. We stayed out of each other’s way as I watched him from the sidelines, wondering what it would be like to kiss him, to have him touch me in a way that would set my skin on fire.

“I can’t tonight,” I say apologetically. “I have plans with my sister. But I’ll see you in a few weeks for our sleepover.”

She nudges Victor. “That’s at your place, by the way. Make yourself scarce that night.”

Victor’s blue eyes snap to mine before returning to his sister. “Yeah. All right.”

“Or we can just stay at my place,” I offer. I’ve never been to Victor’s, but it’s all Esme talks about. He lives in a warehouse-converted loft that most twenty-two-year-olds can’t afford.

“It’s fine,” he says. The lies.

“See.” Isabella grins. “He can stay with Esme. Correct me if I’m wrong. You and Esme are roommates, right?” Her words are directed toward me, but her eyes are focused on her brother, who meets her stare head-on. Are they having a nonverbal conversation? Geez. They really are like twins.

“Right,” I finally say.

She nods slowly. “That is…interesting.” She knows. She has to. Which means Victor knows too. Esme must’ve told him. But why would she do that? The entire interaction is strange, and I’m tempted to ask Esme about it later and find out if she told Victor that I used to have a thing for him. If Victor weren’t here, I’d ask Isabella straight out, essentially outing myself anyway. However, something tells me to let this go.

Chapter Four

The frantic wailing of my nephew reaches me on the porch, and when I press the doorbell, his cries only intensify, bouncing off the walls with every latch being undone. The door finally swings open, revealing Hunter holding a tear-stained and red-faced Liam in his arms. My heart lurches as I take in the sight.

“Come in, check out the madness,” Hunter says, the edges of his voice laced with a sarcastic twang as he beckons me inside. There’s a twinkle of joy and a shadow of fatigue in his eyes, the kind you spot in new dads. His once meticulous grooming is now a memory, with shadows under his eyes and overgrown stubble creeping over his jawline, but it doesn’t hide his rugged charm.

I step in, asking, “How long has he been crying?” while already moving to take Liam into my arms.

“Going on two hours,” he answers, the weight of those hours heavy in his voice.

“Hand him here,” I offer with a smile, holding out my arms. “Germ-free, I promise—did a thorough scrub with hand sanitizer in the car.”

With a look that’s half-grateful, half-relieved, he passes Liam to me and then shuts the door. “Thanks.” Even with that single word, I hear him breathe a little easier.

“Auntie Sky is here now.” I inhale Liam’s sweet baby smell. God, I love this kid. I smother his tear-soaked face with kisses, having not seen him in a couple of weeks. He’s already changed so much. There’s a new roundness to his face, and even through his tears, there’s a spark of recognition in his wide eyes that wasn’t there before. “Oh. I almost forgot. I left the dessert in the car.”

“I’ll grab it for you,” Hunter says.

“Thanks.” I hand him my car keys and let my eyes wander over their new home. It’s a stunning display of modern elegance and warmth, every corner echoing with a feminine touch—my sister’s unmistakable influence.

“Yasmine’s upstairs changing her clothes. She knows you’re here,” he informs me, his voice bouncing off the high ceilings.

I pause at that, my gaze drifting toward the grand staircase leading to the upper floor. A soft sigh escapes me; she didn’t have to go through all that trouble on my account. “She didn’t have to do that.”

“No, she did,” Hunter insists with a wry smile playing on his lips. “Liam had an accident on her.”

---