Chapter 14
Anais
The next morning, I’m startled awake by loud knocking at my door.
I climb out of bed, pull on a pair of sweatpants and trudge to the door, moody and muttering curses under my breath.
Rising to my tiptoes, I peer through the peep hole, my brows knitting in confusion. Harrison? What is he doing here?
“Open up, sis, I know you’re in there,” he calls, his voice laced with amusement.
I make quick work of unhooking the security chain and swing the door open, shooting him a glare.
His smiling face is met with narrowed eyes until I spot the two takeaway cups in his hand, one stacked on top of the other.
My mood lifts instantly. It’s a peace offering for disturbing me so early no doubt, but I appreciate the gesture. Caffeine is needed.
“What’re you doing here?” I ask, yawning.
With a smirk, he shoulders past me and heads straight to the couch, placing the cups on the coffee table. It’s only then I notice he’s in his running gear. “I was in the neighborhood. Thought I’d check in on my favorite sister.” He reaches forward, grabbing one of the coffees.
I narrow my eyes, suspicious.
Sure, Harrison and I are close, but he never just stops by to see me.
“I’m your only sister.” I deadpan. “Only sibling for that matter.”
He laughs. “Touché.”
I snatch up the other cup and take a sip. When the sweet flavors hit my tongue, I sigh. Caramel, vanilla, oat milk latte. My favorite. My brother sure knows how to sweeten me up.
“So, what are you really doing here, Harrison?” I ask, lowering into an armchair across from him.
“Went for a run to clear my head.” I eye him and he sighs. “Just some stuff going on at work.” He shrugs. “You won’t be interested in the details.” He chuckles. “I wanted to check in, see how things are going. Make sure my sister’s okay and thriving in the corporate world.”
I roll my eyes, my smile unstoppable. “I’m good. Just exhausted.” I yawn as if to prove my point. “Work’s been insane, and I had a late night.”
“Oh, yeah?” he asks, casual albeit curious. “What were you doing?”
I freeze. My heart pounds in my chest. Do I tell him I was with Evan?
Will he read too much into it? Technically it was innocent, just two people at a karaoke bar.
And maybe I subjected him to my poor singing.
And maybe he drove me home and walked me to my door.
And maybe, just maybe, the hopeless romantic in me imagined him down on one knee by the end of the month.
Okay, yes, I’m getting ahead of myself. I’m also aware that my delusions when it comes to Evan are very much real. Yet, I can’t help myself. But I believe in manifestation. If I keep saying Evan is mine, then surely, one day, he will be?
“I was working late… then I took Evan to a karaoke bar,” I blurt, feigning nonchalance.
Harrison’s eyes bug, confusion taking over every inch of his face, as if he can’t quite grasp what I’ve said. He blinks, clearly blindsided. “You and Evan went to a karaoke bar?” he repeats slowly, as if he is testing the words on his tongue.
“Yeah,” I nod, confirming he heard me correctly.
“Your friend needs to loosen up. He’s so rigid all the time.
So, I dragged him to The Harmony Lounge.
Didn’t work, though. He stuck out like a sore thumb in his three-piece suit, wearing a scowl,” I laugh, remembering how Evan looked last night. “The man has zero chill.”
“No, he doesn’t,” my brother murmurs absently, eyeing me with suspicion.
The silence stretches, not uncomfortable, more suffocating with his curious gaze on me. Harrison stares at me like he’s trying to work out a puzzle.
“What?” I snap, when it becomes too much.
He sighs and scrubs a hand down his face. His head tilts, as his gaze bores into me. “It’s just weird, that you were out with Evan last night, and he never thought to mention it during our run this morning.”
Despite doing nothing wrong, and the evening being innocent, I swallow.
Why wouldn’t Evan say anything? It was harmless… unless it wasn’t?
Butterflies take flight in my stomach, but I quickly tamp them down. Now is not the time to read into anything.
“I don’t know. Maybe he wanted to forget my terrible singing.” I joke, aiming for indifference. “I mean, it was pretty bad. Honestly, I sing because I like to – not because I can.”
“Maybe,” he grumbles, still staring at me, still searching my face. For what, I’m not sure. He rises from the couch. “Anyway, I should get going.” He moves to the kitchen, tossing his empty cup in the trash. “What’re your plans for today?”
“Lana might come over. Other than that, some reading and self-care.”
His brows jump to his hairline, face screwing up in disgust. I frown in confusion, then I realize how it sounded. “I, I–” I stammer over my words, cheeks heating. “I mean like taking a bath, a face mask, a Mani Pedi. Relaxing stuff.”
Harrison shakes his head, huffing a laugh. “Sounds nice.” He smiles tightly. “You coming to lunch tomorrow?”
“Lunch?” I ask, confused.
He nods. “The Maxwells invited us to the Hamptons. A lunch for Thalia,” he clarifies, sensing my bewilderment.
“I didn’t know anything about that,” I murmur, frowning.
“Hmm,” he says. “Again, weird that Evan didn’t mention it, considering you were with him last night.” I don’t miss the sarcasm in his voice.
“Yeah,” I admit absently. Because why wouldn’t Evan mention it? Or… “Maybe he didn’t know.” I offer.
Harrison laughs, shaking his head. “He mentioned it to me this morning…” he trails off, leaving words unsaid.
Something is off. My brother is acting strange. Harrison is never usually this way with me – awkward, at a loss for words. My stomach turns. I wonder… Does he know? Has he picked up on my feelings for Evan? Can he see them written all over my face?
I laugh to myself.
Surely not. If he had, he would’ve said something before now.
Honestly, I’m not sure how he hasn’t figured it out, after all these years.
I’ve never exactly hidden my feelings toward Evan.
Not from him or anyone else. Sure, my brother probably wouldn’t be thrilled about me falling for his best friend, but he’d eventually get over it.
Not that there’s anything going on with Evan and me, but if there were. ..
Irritation slithers through me, and I really want to know what my brother is trying to insinuate. I lower my feet to the floor, crossing my arms over my chest, my eyes narrowing on him.
“If you have something to say Harrison, then just say it.” I can’t help the bite in my tone.
He sighs, pulling the door open. “I’m not sure how I feel about you and Evan spending time together.”
I snort. “Harrison, we were at a bar for a couple of hours. I sang. He scowled. I sang again. We went home.” It’s the truth, despite me wishing it were more.
Annoyance flickers in his gray eyes. “Still, he didn’t tell me. And that, little sister, is unacceptable.”
I groan, rolling my eyes. “Jesus Christ, you’d think I’d slept with him, the way you’re going on. I–” he cuts me off before I can say more.
“Don’t say that,” he growls. “I never want to hear you, Evan, and slept in the same sentence again.” His chest heaves as he pins me with a serious look.
A laugh bursts from my mouth before I can stop it. I shake my head, shocked. Where the hell is this even coming from?
“I hate to tell you this brother,” I spit the word. “But I’m nearly twenty years old. I can make my own decisions and be with whoever I want.” I try to sound confident, but my voice falters slightly.
Harrison’s nostrils flare, eyes flashing. He slams the door shut and closes the distance between us. “You think I haven’t noticed the way you look at Evan?”
My eyes widen, breath catching. I shrink back, my cheeks heating with embarrassment. “What?”
Harrison scoffs. “Come on, Anais, a blind man could see the way you look at him,” he says, shaking his head.
“Now, I’m ninety-nine percent sure Evan has seen it, too, but it’s not something we’ve discussed because I trust my friend not to go there.
But now? Now you’re working five days a week together… ” The implication is clear.
“I’m not a baby,” I grumble, sounding like the child he believes me to be.
“No, you’re not,” he states simply. “But you will always be my little sister and that means I have a duty to look out for you. I know you took that internship because of him. Sure, I know you love all things sparkly, but I know the majority of your decision was because of Evan.” He sighs, running a hand through his hair.
I sit, frozen, stunned by how much he’s seen.
I know I haven’t exactly been subtle, but because my brother never brought it up, I convinced myself he hadn’t noticed.
Now, in this moment, I realize just how wrong I was.
But what changed today? What finally pushed him to confront me about it?
Is it because of last night? “Listen, Anais,” he says, softer now.
“You might think you love Evan, but you don’t know him.
I do. And trust me when I say, he’s not the man for you. ”
“Seriously Harrison, you’ve got it all wrong,” I lie, shaking my head. “Where is this even coming from? I–”
He cuts me off. “I don’t think I have. And it’s something I can no longer ignore. Just please, listen to me, Anais.” He pins me with a look that’s part pleading, part authoritative. “You’re a good girl. Too good for Evan.”
My mouth drops open. How can he talk about his best friend this way?
“Just go, Harrison.” I sigh, suddenly exhausted. “I didn’t sign up for an unnecessary lecture this early in the morning.”
He leans down, pressing a kiss to my head. “Not unnecessary, but we’ll agree to disagree. I love you, Anais. You deserve someone who will worship the ground you walk on. And you’ll find him. It’s just not Evan.”
I mull over his words. Yes, Evan can be cold, indifferent, and sometimes cruel.
And sure, he’s had more than his fair share of women, but that doesn’t make him unworthy of love.
We all have history. My brother included.
There’s a reason the seven of them have stayed friends since they were in boarding school together. They’re all the same.
Assholes of the worst kind.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I murmur, dismissing him.
“You will. Call Mom about travel,” he reminds me. I nod robotically, my mind racing. “See you tomorrow, little sis.”
And with that, the door closes behind him, leaving me alone to stew in my thoughts.
Despite everything he said, it doesn’t change my feelings.
This isn’t some stupid little childhood crush. I love Evan.
I might not have much experience with men, but I know with everything in me, it’s the truth. And last night, despite his indifference, I know something changed between us.
I saw it in his eyes.
Now, I just need him to admit it.
And something tells me that’s going to be a battle, but that’s okay.
Because I’m more than prepared to fight.