My parents didn’t accept our relationship, and as I had tarnished the family’s reputation with a criminal record, they had refused to accept our invitation to the wedding. My brother and I were incredibly close, and he wouldn’t have missed it for the world.
“They chose not to be—” I began as Sebastian placed his hand on my shoulder firmly.
“So, as your big brother,” he continued, a broad smile on his face, “allow me to do the honours. Please, Evan, take it,” he added quietly before releasing my arm.
I stared down at the packet before lifting it open with my little finger.
“They’re tickets. Plane tickets?” I hoarsely said as he smiled, glancing at his wife beside him, who beamed back at us.
“We thought it would be nice if you had a break together, away from normality. So, we booked that. We hope you like it,” Angela blurted out quickly.
I saw Jain smile before looking up at me.
“Barbados?” I whispered, sifting through the paperwork. “Seb, I can’t take this—”
“I’m not taking it back.” Sebastian smiled before nodding at the envelope. “Anyway, your names are on there. If you don’t go, the holiday goes to shit.”
We all laughed then, and Jain squeezed my arm with excitement.
“Thank you, honestly. It means so much to us,” Jain said solemnly, and I watched as my brother moved his loving gaze to her, his eyes slightly changing before he spoke.
“You’re most welcome, Jain. We want you both to be happy.”
His wife nodded, and I couldn’t help but wonder how he afforded all of this on a professor’s salary. He seemed to read my mind, chuckling as he rested his hand on my forehead.
“Stop thinking. Get yourselves over that threshold and then later, onto Barbados,” he commanded, his dark eyes meeting mine before sliding his arm around Angela.
I didn’t question it, and I thanked him all the same. But there was something in my brother’s eyes that told me he was cooking up a storm behind the scenes, and I wouldn’t know until it had blown over, what it was all about.
After copious amounts of alcohol and dancing at the local pub, it was much later when I finally got him alone.
“Seb. You need to tell me what’s going on,” I muttered, his eyes turning to me in surprise as he patted his wife’s ass, moving away with me to speak privately.
“Evan, seriously. It’s a wedding present—”
“Sebastian—”
He winced before letting out a childish groan. “Not the full name, mate...come on.”
“An all-inclusive luxury all-inclusive break in Barbados isn’t cheap,” I argued as he glanced around us with exasperation. His dark hair, much longer than mine and worn in a ponytail, gave him the hippy vibe that made him so popular in school. But that’s where it stopped. He was a handsome man, the strong jawline we both shared, except his eyes were a bright blue. He wore sharp suits whenever he was out in public, and he worked out daily.
I’d never have guessed he was a professor, but the man knew his shit.
“Take your wife on holiday, Evan. Make love to her on the beach, and drink until you can’t focus anymore. Make babies. Forget reality, just for a short while, and when you’re back, come and tell us all about it over a good meal, hmm?” He smiled, knowing he had persuaded me within the first line.
“You should’ve been a gangster,” I muttered, swigging my drink as he smirked.
“I should’ve,” he remarked quietly before clapping me on the back. “It must pay more than teaching, right?”
He walked away, his arm snaking around Angela’swaist as she welcomed him back with open arms. They’d been married a few years now, and they were pretty much inseparable. Then, I saw Jain cross the small floor to meet me, her eyes filled with the effects of alcohol and joy.
“Mr Silver, I married you,hic—” Jain giggled, and I laughed as I pulled her towards me.
“Yeah, you did, Mrs Silver. I think it’s time I took you home,” I whispered, her hands lacing around my neck as her mouth found mine. The kiss was hot and sexy, different to how we had kissed for most of the day.
“We have to have sex,” she declared, and I winced when I heard wolf whistles around us.
“You could’ve used the word consummate.” I chuckled as she leaned up to whisper in my ear.
