Page 1 of Just Friends

“Don’tmove,”someonesaysfrom behind me where I’ve been checking my phone in the corner, his voice deep and smooth. “There’s a butterfly on your shoulder.”

I freeze at his words and slowly, so slowly, turn my head to see the tiny butterfly perched on my shoulder. Its wings are a vibrant, almost transparent orange, so thin I can see the glint of the sun shining through them.

A large veined hand brushes against my bare shoulder, and a long finger hovers in front of the butterfly, waiting. A heartbeat later, the butterfly flutters from my shoulder and onto the finger. I spin around and finally glance at the man.

He’s tall, much taller than me, with rich brown hair, the color so dark it’s almost black. It’s slightly wavy and slicked back with some kind of matte pomade that must have been applied much earlier in the day, because pieces are rebelling and falling across his strong forehead.

His eyes meet mine, almost as dark as his hair and flecked with bits of green and gold. One corner of his mouth kicks up before the other in the kind of smile you only see in good movies, where the men are British and afraid of their feelings.

The butterfly’s wings flap, carrying it away from us, and his smile dims. “I didn’t get to make a wish.”

“That’s a shame, because I hear butterfly wishes are even more powerful than shooting stars or birthday candles.”

He crosses his arms over his chest, and I can’t help but notice the way his muscles ripple at the movement.

“Is that so?” he asks, eyebrows lifting.

I nod seriously. “Oh yeah. It’s quantifiable. Scientific.”

“That’s too bad,” he says, his tone matching mine, although his smile does melt away in the harsh sunlight.

“I—”

My words are cut off by an excited yell from Ellie, my brother’s girlfriend, who’s making a beeline toward me. Her grin is bright as she nears.

“You met Alex,” she says immediately, and I glance back at the man in front of me. A muscle in his darkly stubbled cheek flickers as he smiles at Ellie.

“I did?” I say, although it comes out more like a question.

The man extends his hand, and when I shake it, it’s warm and a little rough against my own. “I’m Alex. Ellie’s older brother.”

Everything clicks into place, and I can see the resemblance between them now. Same pale skin and dark features. Same smile and that energy that feels electric, alive.

“Ah,” I say with a nod of my head. “I’m Cam’s sister, Hazel.”

“I’ve heard so much about you.”

“That’s funny,” I say, a smile creeping across my lips, “because I’ve heard almost nothing about you.”

A deep chuckle rumbles from his chest, mingling with Ellie’s musical laughter. She elbows her brother in the ribs, and he pretends to hiss, grabbing his side. She ignores him and says, “He’s the one who’s always getting me out of sticky situations with my mom.”

My head tilts back in recognition. I only met Ellie in person for the first time two days ago, but we’ve become easy friends since she started dating Cam last year, and I’ve heard all about her difficult relationship with her parents.

“Speaking of,” I say, daring a look around the bright, green expanse of the country club. “I still feel weird that I’m at their anniversary party since I wasn’t invited. I haven’t even met them.”

Ellie waves me off like she has every time I’ve mentioned this since she and Cam told me that this party would be smack dab in the middle of my visit to Nashville. I tried to suggest a different week, but except for the party, this week worked best for everyone.

“I told you—they’re not even going to notice you’re here. Plus, I’m the host, so I can invite whoever I want. And if they do notice, they still won’t care.”

“I could have just gone exploring by myself,” I say.

“They won’t notice, I promise,” Alex interjects. “They’re too busy acting like they’re still in love in front of all of their friends.”

“Itistheir forty-year anniversary party,” I say, catching my bottom lip between my teeth and willing myself not to try to blend into the shadows of the shrubs like I was before he found me.

“Forty years of eating souls,” Alex says and places a hand over his heart. “Together.”

Ellie elbows him again, but she’s holding back a smile. Her gaze darts around us, fixing on my brother, who has a camera pressed to his face on the other side of the area sectioned off for the party. I know for a fact that he would have come with Ellie no matter what, but that he was endlessly relieved when Ellie’s parents took him up on his offer to professionally photograph the event free of charge. My brother is always more comfortable with a camera between him and the rest of the world.

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