Page 48 of Consume Me

Abi places her palms on my shoulders. “Tough love time. Go for what you want.”

“He won’t even stay.”

“Because we pushed him away,” Abi sighs and adds, “But everyone stays for a good reason.”

“You could be his,” Bailey says.

This talk went in a direction I didn’t see coming. I wanted them to help me clear my mind and focus on finding a solution for my unrequited feelings, not stoke the embers of hope.

“I don’t want to be that pushy, clingy girl. He would have made it clear if he were interested in me like that.”

“We’re talking about Blake here. I don’t know what happened to him and that’s on me, but that never stopped you before,” Abi says.

If his best friends don’t know, I doubt he’ll confide in me.

Kaden and Dane walk toward us from the parking lot, and I smile when they both sneak their arms around Celine and Abigail’s waists.

What would it feel like to live a love story like theirs?It must be amazing. For now, I guess I have to remain content reading about them.

The couples leave, lost in their own world.

My brother leans against the side of his car, watching Bailey.

“Would you miss him terribly if I made him disappear?” she asks, scowling at Hunter.

“What did he do now?”

“He’s driving me insane.”

I want to say, “I feel you,” but Bailey marches away to catch up with the others.

I walk toward my brother and lean into his side.

“So?”

“Don’t even start. Someone has to look after the girl with her face constantly looking at a device. She’s driving me fucking crazy.”

I press my lips together and rest my head against his shoulder. “Missing your life back in London where no one drove you crazy?”

He stiffens, and his eyes take on a haunted expression. He’s my twin, and I feel something else bothering him.

“What is it?”

“Nothing. Dad is acting strange.”

“How strange?” I talked to him yesterday, and he seemed okay.

“He made jokes and started reminiscing about our childhood, reminding me that I am his favorite son.”

He gives me a knowing look, and I giggle.

“That asshole Blake was gone for two months, now he’s everywhere.”

I don’t have to tilt my head to know Blake’s somewhere, always watching over me but never making a move.

“I can deal with him.”

“Sis, you’ve been drooling after the bastard since the moment you saw him.”

---