Page 92 of Cru's Crush
The idea of spending time with a female other than Daphne—even as friends—still turned my stomach. When I wasn’t feeling nauseated, I ached. I left the bathroom and sat on the end of the bed. I pulled the tie from around my neck and tossed it on the floor. Was it really necessary I wear one? I wouldn’t be getting up on stage.
It had occurred to me that, once I was at the venue, Alex might attempt to call me up anyway. I’d already decided that if she did, I’d get up, push my chair in, and leave. If she thought she could trick me by putting me on the spot, she’d have a hefty dose of humiliation headedher way.
“Cru?” I heard my brother call my name from the other room.
“I’m here, Bit,” I said, joining him in the living room.
He held up his tie. “Can you help me with this damned thing?” What I noticed more than his frustration over an article of clothing no one liked wearing was his underlying happiness. It wasn’t something I saw or felt from him that often.
“Looking forward to tonight?” I asked.
He shrugged. “I hope someone bids on me.”
“You’re kidding, right?” I thought back to Daphne saying that, of all the Avila brothers, he was the most “muscular.” I knew she meant more than that. He was also the best looking. “Your bid might be the highest of the night.”
“You think so?” he asked as I finished tying the bow, then straightened.
“I sure do,” I said, resting my hands on his shoulders. “I’m proud of you, and I love you, Bit.”
“I love you too, Cru.”
I turned around and went into the kitchen to pour myself a glass of wine but also to hide the tears in my eyes. I hated how fucking emotional I was lately almost as much as I hated the pain in my heart whenever Ithought about Daph, which was pretty much every waking hour.
“You ready to go?” he asked.
“Sure—” I stopped myself from saying I wanted to get this night over with. It wasn’t fair for my depression to affect my brother. He’d battled enough of it on his own through the years. After he was attacked, it seemed worse.
When we walkedin and made our way to our table that was always positioned in the center of the room, I was stunned to see Beau there with Sam. Press was in attendance too, with his wife, Luisa.
“I didn’t expect you guys tonight,” I said, walking up to embrace them one by one.
“The gang is all here, from what I’ve heard,” said Beau, motioning behind me.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw my oldest brother walking toward me with his hand on his wife’s back. “Brix,” I said, meeting them halfway. “Hey, Addy.”
“Hi, Cru.”
“How are you feeling?” I asked.
“Hopeful there’s something spicy enough on the menu tonight that this little nugget decides it’s finally time to make an appearance.” She patted her stomach, which looked like it was about to burst.
“If not, we can always get my ma to make you something afterwards. I hear she’s got a recipe that guarantees to induce labor.” A couple of months after they moved to Mexico, Brix called with the news that Addy was pregnant. It seemed hard to believe that enough time had passed and she was about to give birth.
She smacked Brix’s arm. “Why am I hearing this now and from your brother? My due date was a week ago.”
“Sorry, honey,” he said, looking sheepish and rubbing her shoulders.
“You’re not forgiven.”
I raised a brow at him, then laughed when she brushed past me to say hello to Sam. “You’re whipped, man.”
“I hear it gets worse during labor. I’ve been building up to it.”
“I didn’t know you’d be in town.”
He nodded. “Thought it best that the baby be delivered here, with Ma and Addy’s mother. The hospital in Álamos is nice, but with all the money Alex raisesfor the local ones, we both decided we’d be more comfortable here.”
“Wait. How long have you been in town?”
