Page 62 of Beautiful Broken Love

“You look good too,” I said, doing my best to keep my heart from racing. Impossible. My heart always sped up around him. He made me so damn nervous, which was crazy, because I had no reason to be.

Deke finally took his eyes off me to gesture inside. “Want a drink?”

I nodded. “Was just about to grab one.”

I entered the condo, with Deke close behind me—so close I could feel the heat of his body on my backside. I made a beeline for the bar where Octavia had ordered herself a cocktail. It was a signature drink for the night, called the Hey, Miami. I found it on the short menu and ordered one for myself.

Octavia moved away from the bar but only to stand next to Deke. He turned a fraction to face her, a slow smile materializing.

“Octavia, right?” he asked.

She provided a little curtsy. “That’s me.”

I collected my drink, when it was ready, and stood next to her.

“What’s up with your friend Javier? Is he always an asshole?” she probed.

“When it comes to looking out for his daughter, yeah,” Deke answered with a chuckle. “Why? What’d he say?”

“I was giving Aleesa a little tickle, and he was all ‘Oh, do not tickle her right now. She is very tired and needs a nap.’” Octavia frowned while taking a sip of her drink. “He’s a helicopter parent. Those are the worst.”

“Are they?” a voice asked behind us. Octavia whirled around, only to find Javier standing a few steps away with Aleesa in his arms.

“Oh—Javier! Hey!” Octavia chimed, but he wasn’t having it. He looked my sister up and down in her beige jumper and heels with a deep frown.

“Aleesa could not sleep. Probably because she had way too muchcandytoday.” He shot a pointed look at Deke, who twisted his lips like he was innocent. “So I figured I would bring her to the party tonight to burn some energy and so she can get to know you a little more. Chester said it was okay to bring her, so I figured it could not hurt. But since I am the worst and too much of a helicopter, as you put it, maybe this was the wrong decision.”

“Oop,” I quipped, then hid a smile behind my drink.

Octavia hit me with her elbow and caused some of my drink to spill. “I didn’t mean it like that, Javier. I just meant—I mean, I get whyyou’re so protective of her.” Octavia looked from me to Deke, searching for an out.

Deke provided one by capping Javier’s shoulder and saying, “She didn’t mean it like that. But you gotta admit, youarean asshole sometimes, man.”

Javier didn’t smile, but his shoulders did drop a notch. He returned his attention to Octavia, then lifted a mini pink backpack, offering it to her. “Let’s see if you can do better.”

Octavia’s eyes widened, and she immediately set down her drink and took the backpack, sliding it onto her shoulder.

Javier placed Aleesa on her feet, and Octavia smiled as she lowered to one knee. “You wanna go see the city lights?” my sister asked.

“Lice! Yes!” Aleesa clapped her hands.

“Yeah? Come on.” Octavia scooped Aleesa up and headed for the balcony. Javier followed right after.

“You might want to tell your sister that working for Javier will be the worst decision of her life.” Deke laughed, standing next to me.

“Meh.” I shrugged. “I think she can handle him.”

“Good luck to her, then.” Deke’s body moved a bit, and he stood so close to me I could feel the heat of it again. “Will you walk with me? I wanna show you something.”

THIRTY-FOUR

DAVINA

I followed Deke out of Chester’s condo, and he led the way to the elevators.

“Where are you going?” I asked, glancing back at the door before looking at him.

“You’ll see.” The elevator chimed, the doors parted, and Deke disappeared inside.

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