Page 7 of From Us, Forever

My eyes instantly went to the man standing next to her with a faint smile dancing on his face.

Lily stepped back, gesturing to him. “This is Jack, my date. Jack, this is my brother’s girlfriend, Evy.”

Confusion swept through me. I didn’t realize Lily was dating someone. He was charming, with warm brown eyes, dark hair, and a welcoming presence. “It’s so nice to meet you, Jack,” I said softly.

“Likewise, Evy.” A warm smile spread across his lips. “I didn’t know J.J. had a girlfriend.”

My feet rooted to the spot, and my heart picked up a beat. There it was, my stupid anxiety about people knowing about us.

“It’s kind of a secret,” Lily chimed, giving him a knowing look. Understanding flashed in his eyes. “Or not. I saw you two out there getting photographed.”

I shrugged, flushing as some of the apprehension faded away. Why the hell did it feel like ripping open a wound whenever people found out about us?

“Lily, when did you get yourself this handsome hunk of a man? And how did I not know about any of this?” Gabe’s narrowed eyes met Lily, who just rolled her eyes.

Jack laughed. “Hey, man, I’m Jack.”

I didn’t catch what Gabe said because the air sizzled with electricity as low whispers hushed through the walls, and I knew exactly why.

My spine tingled with awareness, and it felt like my heart jumped at my throat. It wasn’t long before a pair of strong arms circled my waist, pulling me so close to him—too intimate for the public eye.

I swallowed a breath. “Jay, stop. Everyone’s looking,” I mumbled. My cheeks flushed as I felt all the curious eyes burning a hole through my skin.

“Let them look.” He tightened his grip.

“Jay,” I chided.

He grinned, catching me off guard with a deep kiss that intensified the burn in my cheeks.

I was in a complete daze as we parted.

A knowing smile danced on Jay’s face while I burrowed closer to his side.

His eyes left mine, snapping straight to the newcomer and holding him in place. “Lily, who’s this?” he asked, raising a brow. “I thought you said you were coming in with a friend.”

Lily forced a tight smile. “Yes, Emmie. Jack is my friend, but who knows…” She shrugged, and I believe that little insight was for the person who graced us with his presence, a stunning model hanging onto him.

Though Mikey’s entire attention was fixed on her, the glint in his eyes glowed with jealousy as his eyes trained on Jack’s hand draped loosely around her waist. The grim line in his lips and the white of his knuckles suggested that he was ready to clock Jack square in his face. But Michael had to realize that Lily wasn’t going to wait around for him forever.

Jack’s excited eyes met Jay’s. “Nice to meet you, J.J. I’m not much for rock music, but you guys are amazing.”

Jay gave him a firm nod. “Jack, huh? What do you do, and how do you know my sister?” He shot off in an icy tone.

“Jay,” I whispered as the expression on Jack’s face faltered. There he goes, being an overbearing brother. Lily was old enough to decide who she wanted to date without her brother interfering.

His eyes snapped to mine, and I gave him a look. “Fine,” he mumbled.

Jack cleared his throat. “My cousin Riana works with her, and I’m an architect,” Jack replied to Jay’s unwarranted questions without skipping a beat.

The awkward conversation halted as Katy breezed in and gathered Lily and me in a warm hug. She was dressed in a gorgeous flowy red dress, with her trademark crimson lips smelling like sweet roses. I was happy to see her come out of whatever had been bothering her recently.

“Guys.” Matt’s grim voice interrupted my thoughts, and we all turned to him to see a tall boy with shaggy black hair and agirl about his age with similar hazel eyes, wearing a soft gold dress standing next to him. “This is Raphael and his sister, Sierra.”

“Fuck me.” Raphael’s bored expression morphed into excitement as he zeroed his eyes on me, and before I could take the next breath, he was right in my face.

I gasped when his hand curled around my free wrist. “I’ve never seen anyone more beautiful in my life,” Raphael said, his brown eyes wide with awe as they swept over me. “Please, do me the honor of being my girlfriend.”

I gaped at his brazen words.

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