Page 79 of Swim To Me

When I tell him as such, Grey’s answering grin matches mine.

We talk about a little of everything while we eat; how strange it feels for me not to be in the office right now, how Grey’s Sunday family dinner went, what time he starts work on this fine Wednesday.

I’m about to ask him if he’s gotten to my favourite scene in the book I saw him reading last night while I slept, but then his phone is chiming and Grey is swiping to read his incoming text message.

“Who is it?”

The question slips from me, hitting the atmosphere and splitting into a million tiny shards.

“Sorry, that was personal, you don’t have to—”

“It’s just Hudson.” Grey turns his phone around so I can see the thread of messages between two of the Millen brothers. “He says we’re out of milk…Well, go buy some then.”

I snort into the rim of my tea, wondering if Hudson looks anything like his older brother because he certainly doesn’t act like him.

“Do you look alike?”

“Who? Me and Hudson?”

I nod.

A quick swipe of his thumb and then Grey is handing me his phone, a high-definition photo lit up on the screen.

Christ.

The Millen brothers are an attractive bunch.

I spot Grey instantly wearing a simple pair of denim jeans and a long-sleeved green t-shirt; with dimpled cheeks, a beaming smile and his arms slung around the two men on either side of him.

“That’s Blake.” Grey points out the brother on his left. The two men are around about the same height, both lean and trim, while the other two brothers are more muscular.

In the photo, Blake smiles too, with a matching dimple in one of his cheeks and straight white teeth. His hair appears long than Grey’s, curling behind his ears, but with his friendly, approachable look there’s no denying the blood bond between him and Grey.

“And that’s Noah.” The oldest Millen brother, and the shortest – although how can you call someone who’s still a solid six foot, short – stands in the front, smiling close mouthed, a gold wedding band glinting from his ring finger.

“He’s married?”

“Yeah. Him and Faith have been married for four or five years now.”

“So, I’m guessing this is Hudson.”

Grey bobs his head. “Yep.”

Hudson stands taller than his other three brothers, his tattooed, muscular arms crossed and practically bursting from the sleeves of his black t-shirt. He’s unsmiling, but the flash from the camera has managed to pick up the silent twinkling in his eyes, highlighting his happiness at being surrounded by the ones he loves the most.

He’s not my type, a bit too big and burly for me, but he’s still attractive. With a swoop of chocolate brunette hair, a slightly crooked nose and a beard coating his lower jaw.

I can see how he’d be a hit with the ladies.

Blake too, although there’s something a little bit quieter about him.

“Think we look alike?”

“Yeah, there’s definitely a family resemblance. Something… striking about you all.”

“You mean handsome?”

I swat at Grey’s upper arm, his loud ribbon of laughter wrapping itself comfortably around my heart.

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