Page 19 of My Brother's Best Friends

“Oh God,” I gasp.

I want this moment to linger; I’m not about to rush it for lunch with my brother.

“See?” Oscar says, pointing at me. “She doesn’t think it’s enough time.”

Heat floods my cheeks. “I wasn’t objecting, either,” I mumble.

Kellan huffs. “I think you’re selling us short.”

“So, we’re agreed,” Oscar concludes, voice firm but polite. “All three of you are getting dressed, and we’re meeting Bryan and Callie in the lobby.”

Neither brother pushes back, exposing their intriguing hierarchy. Honestly, it tracks—Oscar stepped into this cold, while the rest of us had time to ignite, and he’s nothing if not loyal to my brother.

“Makayla, do you mind if I talk to my brothers alone for a moment?” he asks, giving me a soft, pleading look. Beneath it, I notice the same spark from earlier. The desire. The curiosity. It’s all there, but he is holding back.

I nod. “Of course.” The champagne-bubbly dizziness drains away, and I know the magic is gone. “This is my fault. I should apologize.”

“You will do no such thing. It’s not your fault,” Oscar says.

“No, no!” Alex quickly agrees, shaking his head.

Kellan adds, “There’s nothing to apologize for.”

“My brothers—and, by extension, you—got carried away. Our reunion should have happened differently, and I don’t want anyone doing something they’ll regret,” Oscar says gently. “After all, you’re still Bryan’s sister…”

I cut in. “That’s not fair. I’m in complete control and perfectly capable of deciding for myself.”

“I know it might seem like a good idea in the moment,” Oscar objects, doing his best not to be sidetracked by Kellan and Alex’s obvious nakedness. “But you really need to think about this.”

“When the three of you do this…” I falter, frustrated that I can’t articulate what I feel. “I thought it was all of you—together…”

“You thought right,” Alex says, kissing my hand.

Kellan lets out a rueful laugh, his gaze dropping. “Oscar playing voice of reason was not on my morning agenda.”

Suddenly the air thickens, a different kind of tension stealing over the room.

Oscar flushes and looks away. We’re at an impasse. The mood evaporates, and suddenly I need space. They aren’t rejecting me, but that’s exactly how it feels.

I step back, untangling our bodies. “I’d better get dressed.”

“Stay,” Kellan pleads. “We can start over—bring Oscar into the loop.”

“We can do that over lunch with Bryan and Callie,” Oscar bites back. God, he’s handsome. His confidence and stern edge send a whole new shiver down my spine.

“I’ll leave you gentlemen to talk,” I say, still smarting from the abrupt shutdown—and determined not to let Oscar off the hook.

This isn’t how I pictured reconnecting with him—or any of them. Instead of living my fantasy, I’m afraid I’ve wrecked it for good.

I retreat to my room, shut the door, and sag against it. Muffled voices seep through the wood. I pretend I can’t make them out—though I know exactly what they’re saying. Everyone’s angry at Oscar, and Oscar’s furious with everyone. If only he shared Kellan’s carefree streak—we could be tangled together right now, basking in the salt-licked heat of a mind-numbing afterglow.

8

OSCAR

“What the hell were you thinking?” I ask, my blood boiling.

I was already nervous about seeing her again after all these years, and this certainly wasn’t the reunion I had in mind. My brothers should’ve known better, too. Then again, in their defense, Makayla has grown into something breathtaking.

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