Page 18 of Plays Well With Others

While he’s talking to Drew.

While he’s grabbing a drink with Gabe at the bar.

And now, while I’m standing near the piano, drinking champagne and catching up with Ellie on her life in Los Angeles writing a popular TV series, Carter istalking to Gabe—and they’re four feet away from us.

“Gigi and I miss you so much,” Ellie says to me with a playful pout.

“I miss you too.” Leaving the new friends I made in Venice over the last few years was the hardest part of taking off. “How is the little darling?”

“My mother is obsessed with hergranddog. Yes, she’s actually started calling her that,” Ellie says.

“Well, obviously.”

“Which also means I have the world’s best dog sitter right in the family. And I’m trying not to miss Gigi too much while we’re gone.”

Gabe leans into the conversation, clearing his throat. “Sweetheart, you called the dog sitter four times today.”

I crack up. “I’m not surprised.”

Ellie snaps her gaze to Gabe. “You’re one to talk. You made Mom put Gigi on FaceTime.”

“Busted,” Carter says, with the glee of catching a friend in the act. “You’re like a helicopter dog dad.”

Gabe snarls at Carter then grumbles something about playing poker with Drew.

When Gabe leaves, Ellie waves Carter closer, and he joins our circle, making me even more aware of him and…wait…What is that yummy smell? Is that his bodywash? And has the ocean always been so smoking hot?

No time to linger, though, since Ellie’s steering the convo, and she looks like she’s ready to issue a declaration as she sets a hand on my arm. “I’m glad you’re remaking yourself here with friends and family, Rachel. San Francisco looks good on you.” She turns to Carter, her boss mode activated. “And you’re looking out for my girl?”

Carter’s all resolute as he nods. “Absolutely.”

“Good. You’d better be my eyes and ears. I want you bringing her soup if she gets sick. I want you to binge-watch TV shows with her at least once a week,” she says, and I roll my eyes. I simultaneously love Ellie looking out for me and want to tell her to stop. I’m notthatbroken. Except, soup and TV does sound nice, even when I’m not sick. Maybe especially when I’m not sick. “And I definitely want you to do that nerdy thing you two always did,” Ellie adds.

“Puzzles,” I say in unison with Carter, then I continue, “Don’t worry. We’re on that.”

Ellie smiles at us like we’re adorable. “Seriously. You two are like brother and sister,” she says with a smile.

I cough-laugh while Carter snorts.

Did he catch me staring at him salaciously earlier? Does he know I had very un-brotherly thoughts about him?

Oh, shit.

Oh, hell.

He was so gracious about the incident. I should be the same.

After Ellie rejoins Gabe, it’s just Carter and me again, hanging out by the piano. I sip champagne. He takes a pull of his beer. For a few seconds, we’re just quiet, listening together as the woman at the keys taps out a tune that sounds vaguely romantic. I look into Carter’s warm brown eyes, and I feel a little fizzy.

Not at all how I feel when I look at my brother.

But Carterismy friend, so I swallow past the awkwardness, and say, “Thanks again for offering to take me home later. But it turns out I’m being girl-napped for a pajama party at Elodie’s.”

“Juliet mentioned that earlier. She marched over to me pretty much right after the toast.”

That’s so Juliet. “She likes to be in charge. Of everything.”

“She picked the right profession then,” he says, giving me a secret little smile. “Now, this pajama party—will there be a pillow fight?”

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