"Liam? Is that who you were thinking of?" Surprisingly, it no longer hurt to say his name. That chapter of my life was closed. I'd been in an abusive relationship. I deserved to try again, to love again, to trust again.
Fuck you, Liam, you piece of shit.
"Not him but someone-"
"Like him?" I chuckled, resting my arms on the table. "You know he wanted a Stepford wife, right? A pretty woman to show off, pop out the prerequisite two point five kids then tuck away somewhere while he had affairs with his secretary." I shook my head. "I should have known it would never have worked even before he revealed himself to be an ass."
"But a man like him is what you need."
"No, Pete. A man like him is what everyone thinks I need." I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "And it hurts that you and everyone like you expects me to need a man. I don't. And I don't want someone who wants to mold me into something I'm not. I want someone who looks at me the way you look at Bess."
He blinked. Once again, I was struck by the differences between the two brothers. One blonde, the other ebony. One light and joy, the other dark and sarcastic. I found myself smiling, remembering Josh's golden skin, his whispered words, his cock as he drove me wild.
"That," Pete's hand came up, pointing accusingly at me. "That smile is why I'm worried."
I touched my lips. "What?"
"You're my oldest friend, Molly. You're like my sister. And it freaks me out that you and Josh are together. He could hurt you. You're already smitten."
"And? He's smitten too." I remembered his confession, warmth settling in my belly.
"Is he, really?"
"Oh yeah."
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm worried."
"Why?"
"You haven't exactly had the best taste in men."
I jerked back, feeling like I'd been slapped. "Excuse me?"
He grimaced, "I didn't mean it like-"
"Then tell me what you mean."
He paused, appearing to search for the words. "Josh isn't a settler. He always wants more. I tell you this because I love you. I always assumed you'd settle down. Josh will never give you that."
I thought of the townhouse he'd just purchased. The discussion we'd had on the plane down about his plans to settle in New York, to commute only as required.
"He may have been like that once, but we all change. I know I have." I shrugged. "Maybe you don’t know your brother as well as you thought you did."
He scoffed. "Please, you're still the optimistic thirteen-year-old trying to save the world one penny at a time."
"Ah, but I'm not. That thirteen-year-old had a crush the size of Texas on you." I shook my head. "You and I were never meant to be and I've long since left that foolishness behind."
"You had a crush on…?" He pointed to his chest.
"Yep." I lifted my beer bottle in salute. "And you stomped all over my poor teenage heart."
"Jesus, Molly." He looked shocked. "I never knew."
"Good. I'd have been mortified if you had.'"
"You know I've always been in love with Bess, right?"
"Oh," I chuckled. "I know."
