Page 21 of Spotlight
“Speaking of Sabrina.” He gives me a sideways glance that makes me want to squirm in my seat. It’s the classic big brother look, the one that saysI’m about to get up in your personal business whether you like it or not. “You didn’t tell me that you saw Olivia in New York.”
There’s no question in his statement, but I know at least a dozen are swimming in his head.
“I didn’t know it was her,” I say.
He gives me the same disbelieving look she had. Am I absolutely kicking myself that I didn’t take one look at her and instantly place her? One thousand percent. But two months and thousands of miles separated the first time I saw her to the second. I wasn’t expecting her.
“I’m serious.”
“All right.” His voice lifts an octave.
“How does Sabrina know her?”
“They worked together at Lilac Lounge when Sabrina danced there,” Archer says.
I’m still filing away that information when my brother bumps my knee with his.
“So, what happened?” he asks.
“Eh…” I run one hand over my jaw.
Archer groans. “Please tell me you didn’t hook up with her.”
“What if I had?”
“She’s Sabrina’s best friend.”
“O-kay.” I don’t see how that changes anything.
“I love you like a brother, but?—”
“Iamyour brother,” I interject.
Grinning, he continues, “You’re young and having fun and I totally get it, no judgment here, but she isn’t the kind of girl you hook up with and then ghost.”
“First of all, ouch.” I level him with a glare. “I don’t do that.”
That disbelieving stare is back again.
“And second, I would never ghost Olivia. She’s…” My words trail off as I try to come up with an adjective to describe her. Stunning. Feisty. She doesn’t hold back her emotions or thoughts, and I find that incredibly sexy.
My brother is still looking at me like he thinks I’m full of shit.
“Fine, yes, I’ve hooked up with women and never texted them back for a repeat, but I never make promises that it’s anything more than a one-night thing. I don’t know where I’m going to be in six months or a year, so it’s nicer than stringing them along for months and then hopping town.”
“Yeah? Is that how you’re selling it?” He arches a brow. “Howniceof you.”
“Fuck off.” I laugh, relaxing into the couch and feeling lighter than I have in weeks. “It doesn’t matter. That isn’t what happened with Olivia. I met her by chance at the hotel and we stayed up all night talking.”
“Justtalking?”
“Mostly talking.”
He groans again. I could put him out of his misery and tell him I didn’t hook up with her, but this is more fun.
“Lighten up.” I elbow him.
“Just promise me you won’t do anything that I’m going to have to apologize for later. Sabrina likes you, but she will still plot your death if you hurt her best friend.”
