Page 4 of Beautiful Thing

What the ever loving…?

Y’know what? Some things are just not worth this level of pain.

I turn, ready to dash out the door and run for the hills. I appreciate the effort that went into planning this—but damn—this overstimulation is the very definition of hell. Especially for a self-professed hermit like me.

But I don’t even make it past the threshold before my one and only little sister is pulling me back inside.

“Karli…” I growl under my breath as she directs me to the center of the crowded bar, holding my arm hostage as snow melts under my boots.

“Happy birthday to my favorite brother,” she says sweetly, kissing me on the cheek. Then her voice goes low and threatening in my ear. “I love you, Archer. But if you blow off this party I planned, I’ll break into your house and suffocate you with sparkle ribbon in your sleep.”

“Yeah, love you too,” I grumble.

Then I’m surrounded by the guys.

“So, how’s it feel to be an old man?” Karli’s husband, Mason, asks, shuffling forward to clap me on the shoulder.

“Yeah, man. How’s your back feeling? According to the medical journals, that’s the first to go when you hit thirty-seven,” Felix adds.

“Shut up,” I mutter. “I’m notthatmuch older than you losers. Especially you, Felix.” I may be the oldest but Felix is Brighton brother number two. He and Mason took over the family medical clinic when Dad retired.

“Nah.” Ronan wags his head. “I don’t know about the rest of you but me and Noles are practically still babies.” The family goofball pinches his twin’s bearded cheek. That earns him a well-deserved elbow to the ribs from Nolan.

Those two are the youngest of my brothers and they couldn’t be more different. While Ronan is the annoying but lovable hockey team captain, Nolan is the growly bartender who gave up his hockey dreams to raise his daughter and run this bar our grandpa handed off to him.

Darius—a.k.a number three in the Brighton sibling line-up—leans in then. I’m pretty sure he’s going to hug me or something. But then he’s inspecting my head like a damn weirdo.

“What are you doing?” I shove him off of me and he laughs.

“Is that a bald spot I see in there?” He calls out to Felix. “Hey bro—you have any doctor friends who specialize in hair transplants? Or should I start making a few calls?”

They all laugh. They think they’re so funny.Whatever.

As much as I don’t want to be here, I know I look good tonight and I’m feeling confident about that. I combed my hair and I even put on a nice shirt. A black one with buttons up the front.

“My hair is thicker than ever—thank you very much. I could be in a freaking shampoo commercial if I wanted to.” Eyeballing Darius, I proudly rake my fingers through the healthy waves on my head. “But you should maybe get yourself some sort of treatment for that scraggly beard of yours, D.”

Darius is a big shot billionaire with all sorts of connections and he’s never afraid to use them. He might as well use them for a worthy cause.

“I hate you,” he deadpans, self-consciously stroking his jaw.

“Whatever.Youstarted it.” I quirk a shoulder.

My brothers continue taking turns giving me shit. What’s new? Just another day in paradise.

I shake my head at them. “Aren’t you supposed to be nice or something on my birthday?”

I shouldn’t have to be subjected to this treatment today of all days. I really,reallywant to go home where there’s a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle I’ve been working on and a good bottle of whiskey waiting for me.

I’m scanning the room, searching for an escape route when my eyes catch on Layla’s.

She’s at the back of the bar, looking cute and biting down on the straw in her colorful drink in order to hide her grin. I just stare.

As usual, she looks at me and I’m freaking hypnotized.

It’s only been an hour or so since I saw her at work. Still, my eyes thirstily drink her in. Something about Layla just pulls me in every time.

I try to wade through the crowd and get to her, but I’m stopped again and again by locals who want to wish me a happy birthday. And ask me how the hardware store is going. And talk about how cold it is these days and how quickly the Holidays flew by.

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