“I’m begging you not to finish that sentence,” I cut her off, plugging my ears with a wince.
“Oh come on. Aren’t you happy for him?”
“I think the problem is not so much as being happy for him, but more so the fact that it’s herbrother, Evie…” Nate says, pulling my fingers out of my ears with a playful smile.
“What are you guys talking about?” Jack asks cheerfully from behind us, walking towards the bench Evie’s sitting on. “I can’t tell between all your different facial expressions.”
“I’m reading moderate amusement, absolute glee, and horror,” Ikram steps in. “It’s strangely confusing.”
“Nothing!” I say, stepping towards them to hold Jack in my arms. “How are you feeling? Ready to fly back this afternoon?”
“I’m fine, Sunshine.” He gives me a lopsided smile, but narrows his eyes, scanning me. “You’re glowing. It’s hard to see behind the slight horror in your wide eyes, but it’s there.”
“I slept well,” I answer quickly—too quickly, shit, it might be suspicious. “Let’s go and eat! Claudio and Scarlett are dying to see you again.”
“Are they relatives of yours? I mean, non-shitty ones?” Evie asks, standing up with a smile.
Jack narrows his eyes and looks between Nate and Is. Shit.
“Where is your chair?” I ask, trying for a diversion.
He frowns slightly before shaking his head. “In the hotel lobby, with our luggages. The car is picking everything up before getting us for the airport.” I nod vigorously. Has the distraction worked? Fuck, I should have briefed Evie before he got here…
“I’m starving,” Ikram says, taking my brother’s hand in his. “Should we go in?”
“Yep. Definitely. I’m starving too.” From all the sex Nate and I had, I’m surprised I haven’t passed out yet.
The second we step inside, we’re welcomed by two anxiously waiting familiar faces. They don’t discriminate, taking all five of us in their arms for warm hugs, giving a slightly harder squeeze to Jack and I.
“It’s so good to see you,” Scarlett says, cupping Jack’s face affectionately. “We think about you two everyday, you know? We miss you so much.”
“We miss you too. All the time,” he answers kindly, leaning so he’s not towering over her small frame.
She wipes a tear off her eyes before it has the chance to roll down her face, and give his shoulders a squeeze.
“And who are your friends?” She asks, turning towards the rest of us. “We’ve had the pleasure to meet Nate, as the two lovebirds came by yesterday, but what about you two?”
She turns towards Evie and Ikram, and the atmosphere tenses. My heart stops and refuses to start beating again.
Oh god, I fucked up. I should have known, should haveguessedit would happen. Of course they would say it, as in my own bubble I forgot to mention that Jackdidn’tknow about Nate and I yet. My lungs feel too tight in my chest as I risk a glance at Jack who’s carefully avoiding looking in my direction.
“Ikram here is my boyfriend,” Jack says with a smile that looks forced but also natural. “And Evie is our friend. We’re here because—”
“Oh yes, we know why you’re back in town,” Claudio says with a stern nod. “Yourfatheris an important man in town, his stroke made the local news.”
I feel a hand grab mine to give it a reassuring squeeze and I release a long but silent breath. I’ll have to come clean. I have to tell Jack. Because I was absolutely reckless.
How I could think that I’d be able to hide it from him a little longer is beyond me. Of course I’d fuck up some way or the other.
And now, Nate might pay the price because I was foolish enough to—
“Alright, let’s get you seated. We’ve put you at the round table by the window. It’s notyourtable, but I hope—”
“It’s perfect,” Jack interrupts her kindly, starting to walk towards the table reserved for us.
We all follow. Evie and Ikram with enthusiasm, but Nate literally has to pull me to make me move forward.
We sit. I’m sandwiched between Evie and Nate, Jack between Nate and Ikram.
