I need space, but I know it’s something I can’t have. I already have plans to see them at their new place tomorrow. I won’t be able to avoid them then, but I can do it for the rest of the night. I might be able to sneak out without anyone noticing since this place is filled with so many friends and family. I’m sure neither of them will notice I’m gone.
“You’re not coming over here to make your escape, are you?” Luke gives me a teasing smile. He’s been overly nice since we got here even with the twins being downright rude to him. For some reason he finds it funny.
“I don’t think anyone will notice.”
How long can I keep this up? Maybe I need a fresh start, but I’m not sure how to do that. Harlow and our moms would probably lose it if they knew I was thinking about moving. Not only that, but I’ve started to make a name for myself here.
“I think the twins might notice.”
I shake my head in disagreement. Something’s off with them tonight. I think I’ve fallen into a sister role because why else would they get so pissy about me bringing a date? Okay, not a date, but it could look like one from the outside. I wonder how long they’ve thought of me like that. I’ve never brought men around before, but mostly because my dating life sucks. Some of them were downright horror stories until I gave up completely and deleted that one app I tried. I work in a male-dominated field, but one too many bad apples has started to sour me. I found out early in my career that some people only hired me to try and get in my pants.
I peek over my shoulder to see them talking to two girls, but in their defense it looks like they’re trying to get around them. They aren’t hard to miss with their size, and not only are they built, both are well over six feet tall. They’re almost identical, but Elijah has tattoos that run up and down both of his arms and has the darkest eyes I’ve ever seen. Owen has dark eyes, too, but his are a dark green that complement his sandy brown hair.
They must feel my eyes on them because they both look up at me with the same intense gaze. They move around the girls in front of them. The girls are left standing there looking confused with their mouths hanging open.
They’re headed this way and I’m locked in their sights. I’m not sure if I should still be pissed at them or let it go. I mean, it sucks if they think of me as their sister, but it’s sweet they want to be protective. I won’t let myself think for one moment that maybe they were shouting because they were jealous. I’ve never seen my calm Owen worked up before, but I won’t allow myself the fantasy of it being over wanting me.
“Do you want to get out of here?” I ask Luke, and he laughs.
“I really enjoy being able to use my hands.” I can’t tell if he’s joking or not.
“Well, Owen and Elijah can get over it. I’ve taken care of myself this long and I don’t need them hovering over me.” If we were together I might enjoy it more than I should, but they aren’t mine and never will be.
“God, Nellie, you really have no idea, do you?” He shakes his head and I can tell he’s fighting a laugh. I don’t get what’s so funny. If anything, he should be more irritated than me.
I can actually feel the twins closing in with each second and I don’t want to have a blow-up at their party. I’m already on the verge of tears at this point having listened to their dad talk about them. Today’s for celebrating and they should enjoy it because they worked their asses off to get here. Like with Harlow and me being raised by our moms together under the same roof, all of our achievements were theirs because our successes are important to them. Family is important and you don’t let anyone rock that.
“I didn’t know you were coming,” Owen says to Luke as he comes up to my side. His arm brushes against mine and there’s an edge to his normally calm tone. I guess my chance of escaping is out for now.
“You need a drink, baby girl?” Elijah wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me into his big body. They might not play sports anymore, but they’re still doing something. They were always big, but college took them to a whole new level. They’re solid all over and I have to fight not to turn my head and bury my face in Elijah’s chest. I miss the days when he’d wrap his arm around me and it was totally okay. Now my body lights up with a need I don’t understand. Why can’t I have this attraction to anyone else but these two?