Brennan stretched his sly smile into his signature devilishly-handsome grin as he hovered his index finger over her picture, paused dramatically, and then swiped. Her own phone buzzed on the desk as she got a notification that she and Brennan had matched, and she dismissed it as she cast him an exasperated look.
“Very funny, B.”
“Well, thanks for getting my hopes up only to dash them, L.”
He maintained his devilish grin, but she couldn’t help wondering if he was partially serious.
She squinted at him. “You’re still giving me crap, right?”
He laughed. “Of course I am. There’s about ten thousand reasons why you’re off-limits to me, one of which is the real reason you were snooping around on there.”
Liza crossed her arms over her chest, challenging him.
He jerked his chin in the direction of the studio, and she rolled her eyes.
“He’s not on there, L. He doesn’t do that sort of thing. I’m sure you realize that about him. Not to mention, you could’ve just asked me.”
She turned her chin up and away in a put-on snooty manner. “How do you know any of this is about him?”
“Because.” Brennan shrugged. “You’ve been dressing up a little, and you take on an entirely different posture when he steps into the room. If you’re doing that, I know you’re curious about whether or not he’s seeing people.” He cupped one side of his mouth and whispered loudly. “He’s not.”
Her shoulders sank. “So it’s that obvious.”
“Not to everyone. Just to people who are paying attention, such as yours truly.” He leaned forward to hover his lips close enough to her ear that it shot a thoroughly out-of-place chill down her spine when he spoke quietly. “And he’s totally paying attention, too.”
She smiled candidly for a moment before wiping the grin off her face. “It’s a terrible idea, B. I don’t know why I’m torturing myself like this.”
“Aww, honey.” He paused for a moment, sighed, and then he lifted his finger in the air as if posturing to make a grand declaration. “Well, for what it’s worth and now that I actually know the real you and not just the nameless, faceless version of you from Connor’s stories, I think he’s an idiot for breaking things off back then.”
Liza’s attention focused on Brennan like a laser. That sounded like he was about to tell her what had happened to Connorback then, and she wasn’t about to stop him. “Really?”
“Yeah.” Brennan slipped his phone into his pocket. “Because if everything were completely different, I would snatch you up immediately and never let you go.”
Well, that wasn’t what Liza hoped he’d say, but it was still a nice ego boost.
“Psh.” A smile tugged her lips, and her cheeks flushed. Brennan was such a damn flirt. She nudged his ankle with the tip of her shoe. “Stop that. You’re making me blush.”
He lifted his palms. “I’m just saying. You’re the brass ring, L. If he knows what’s good for him, he’ll get over whatever all happened.”
She smiled again. All single women should have a Brennan in their life—a hot-as-hell guy who showered you with compliments but wasn’t trying to get in your pants. Brennan was the ultimate ego-booster. He was also totally non-judgmental and completely kind, and he always went way out of his way to be considerate to Liza as she toiled through the emotional roller coaster of being around Connor again. She’d lost track of how many times he’d found her crying and comforted her with gentle words and wholesome affection. It wasn’t exactly his burden to bear to rub her back, and hand her tissues, and repeatedly tell her,Hang in there, L. He’s not angry atyou, L. He’s just a grouch, L., and this’ll all work out somehow in the end.And yet, that’s what he’d done. Indeed, Brennan was her first friend here, and he was quickly becoming the best friend she had.
But even Brennan’s considerate friendship and prolific ego-boosting didn’t do much in the way of soothing Liza’s aching heart.
She set her elbow on the desk and rested her chin in her palm as her stomach turned. “It’s just not that simple, B. The whole thing is a terrible idea.” She tugged her blouse again to make sure it was still laying appropriately. “He’s not the only one of us who has stuff that would need to be gotten over.”
Effortlessly picking up a heavy oak chair, Brennan set it down in front of her and sat. “Tell me about it.”
Liza met his eyes warily as she recalled the long conversation she and Connor had the day they had gone to meet Oscar for the first time. “I can’t.”
He rolled the sleeves of his light gray Oxford shirt to his elbows and leaned toward her. “Why not?”
“Because you’rehisfriend. And if I toldyou, you would be bound by brotherly loyalty to tellhim.” She sat back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest defensively. “Bros before hoesand all that.”
“L.” Brennan’s face contorted. “While there arebrosin this situation, there are nohoes, and I’m honestly offended that you think I’d refer to you in such a way.”
She leaned forward again. “You know what I mean. You have an unbreakable loyalty to him. You don’t have that with me. I am just your best friend’s ex-girlfriend.”
“Why do you think that’s all you are?” Brennan extended his palm like an invitation for her to hold his hand. “And why do you think I don’t have that with you?”
