Page 15 of Last One Standing
“Huh, yes. Sorry, I just recognized someone is all.”
Pika scanned the room, but I could tell he had no idea. He’d gone home before I’d met Angel.
“Who?”
“Oh, no one important. Go on.” I waved him on, and he fell right back into the conversation.
Over Pika’s shoulder I saw the men approach the counter, appearing as though they were picking up an order. As the waitress walked away, the Viking guy checked his phone and Angel looked in our direction.
The way I was timidly peeking at them, it really just seemed as if I were facing Pika, and he couldn’t tell that I was watching them.
“So, it’s interesting,” Pika finished, and guilt hit me as I realized I’d pretty much tuned out. He smirked. “You totally weren’t listening.”
“Ugh. I’m a terrible big brother; I’m sorry.” I covered my face with my hand.
“What has you so distracted?”
I didn’t want to draw attention to us, and I could see that Angel kept glancing my way. He probably remembered me or was trying to place where he’d seen me.
“These two guys who entered, they were Leo’s friends. You know, the ones he asked if I could get tickets for?”
“Oh!” And to my horror, Pika turned his head to look.
“What are you doing?”
He faced me again eyes wide. “What? You are allowed to say hello to people in this town, you know.”
“Maybe.” It felt like Brick had eyes and ears everywhere, and there had been times I’d said hello to someone innocently and the next day I’d discovered Brick had broken their arm or leg, or had done something else to them.
I sat back, and Angel whispered something to the big guy and started over to me.
“Oh, my God. He’s coming here,” I whispered, and Pika chuckled.
“Kona, right?” His expression was serious, almost like smiling wasn’t a thing he did.
“That’s right. And you’re Angel, do I have that right?”
Oh, there was a small curve at the corner of his mouth. “Yeah.” He regarded my brother. “I don’t think we’ve met.”
Pika held his hand out because he was sweet like that. “I’m Pika, Kona’s brother.”
His eyes moved between us. “Yeah, I can totally see the resemblance.”
Pika giggled. “We both look like our mother.”
Angel nodded; then his attention was on me. “It’s funny—I haven’t seen you here, and now I see you twice within two weeks.”
Tilting my head, I regarded Angel. He really was a gorgeous man. Flawless brown skin, his eyes were like pools of obsidian, but there was a spark there that told me he wasn’t heartless; there was light in his soul.
“They say we don’t realize how often we cross people’s paths until we meet them.”
He hummed. “Makes sense. How long have the two of you lived around here?”
“A year?” I asked Pika, who nodded. “Yeah, but I’m usually at the club rehearsing. It keeps me busy.”
“I have no doubt. It’s gotta be hard.”
“It is, but I love it.”
