Page 75 of Bound to You

I look over my shoulder at him. He organized this. He got my busy brother to take time off to visit me on my birthday.

There goes another piece of my heart.

“Not my friend,” I say, my eyes still on Caio. “I don’t know what exactly, but definitely not my friend.”

“Well, that’s a new development,” Miles says.

“Miles?!” May comes running from across the room.

“What’s up, munchkin?” Miles opens his arms for her, and she nearly knocks him over when she comes barreling into his arms.

May is like a second sister to Miles, and he’s the brother she never had. Whenever Miles would come into town May would always be invited, he looks after her the same way he does to me. Making sure she paid as much attention in self-defense that I did.

Again, very serious about that.

It feels surreal having him here. It doesn’t feel the same as when Brandon was here. This feels right.

I’ve missed Miles with my whole heart and can’t help but wrap him in another hug, just to make sure he’s really here.

“You need to meet everyone,” I say, looking around the room and I wave the boys over from their spot at the bar. “Guys, this is my brother Miles.”

“What’s up man,” Miles shakes Rafael’s hand in greeting.

“Miles, this is Rafael, Heath and Leo.”

They exchange hello’s as I look around for Marina, she’s not behind the bar like she was when I last saw her.

“Hey,” I grab Leo aside. “Where’s Marina?”

“I don’t know where she went, but all of a sudden, she looked like she’d seen a ghost and bolted faster than I’ve ever seen. All she said was to tell you happy birthday before she disappeared.”

Hm.

“Well, is this a party or what?” Miles says.

“Tequila shots?” May points at him.

Oh god, I haven’t had tequila since Miles’s graduation party, I haven’t dared to touch them since that god awful night over the toilet bowl. May was holding my hair back, until it got too muchfor her and she had to go to the sink herself. My stomach churns at the thought.

“Load ‘em up,” Miles fires back.

I give him a look, but he doesn’t give a damn. “Hey, we have to celebrate. You only turn twenty-four once.” I roll my eyes, but he just pulls me into his side. “I’ve missed you Isla.”

“Why didn’t you come home more then?” The question falls off my tongue after years of wondering.

“You answer me that when you eventually leave this place to go back.” I don’t miss his meaning as we walk over to the bar.

“To Isla.” May brings her shot glass up in the air.

I look over my shoulder where Caio is with the others. He stands against the wall, his arms crossed as he watches me with a smirk teasing the corner of his lip. And I can’t ignore the fact that he’s made me the happiest girl in the world tonight. I don’t know how anything could top this feeling.

“To Caio,” I say, clinking my glass against hers and Miles’s before licking the salt off my hand and gulping back the revolting liquid. It burns the back of my throat as I reach for the lime, sucking the sour taste into my mouth.

May laughs as I pull a face. The whole taking shots thing has never been my favorite.

That’s generous. I hate it, it’s fucking disgusting, but with these two egging me on I knock them back like nobody’s business before they drag me out to the dance floor.

A euphoric level of happiness carries me through the night, dancing with my best friend and my brother like the old days in my new favorite place feels special. Leo joined us, showing Miles his terrible dance moves and spinning May around the dance floor until she was dizzy.

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