Page 12 of Discerning Blake

“Happy birthday,” Amelia says.

“Thanks. You should come to my party tonight. Nothing big. Just the gang hanging out here.”

Amelia’s smile falters. “Oh, I’d love to, but I don’t think I can.”

Bryce nods, not pushing the issue. “How are you?”

“I’m alright.”

And when she says it now, she actually does look better.

Then she turns to Luke and hugs him too.

But that’s normal too. Luke used to be married to her sister. They’re practically family.

“We should probably get back to the group.” I put my hand on Amelia’s back to steer her away.

She jumps from my light touch. “Sure.”

I’m an asshole. It’s the first time she’s seen her friends in a month, and I want to keep her all to myself. What the hell is wrong with me?

We sit with the group. Amelia sits next to Claudia and I sit next to her. Claudia gives Amelia a mischievous glare.

Is it about me? Am I being too obvious? Obvious about what?

My thoughts are in shambles.

The yoga look might not be typical for Amelia, but it does look good on her. Her hair is disheveled and her body lightly sweaty. It’s putting very naughty thoughts in my head. Thoughts that in the past I would have rejected the moment they entered but now are forcing their way into my mind.

Bryce brings us our round of beer, and we all cheers. When the group finds out Bryce is my brother and that it’s his birthday, they sing him happy birthday.

Claudia’s husband calls for another round.

“I’ll have soda,” Amelia tells Bryce.

“You can have fun, Amelia. I don’t think they’ll judge you for having another drink,” I whisper close to her ear.

Again, she jumps from my proximity. It’s starting to make me curious.

“It’s not that. It’s just that, these days, the second drink is the one that brings on the waterworks. I don’t want to cry in front of my clients.”

“So come tonight then.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t… It’s not…”

“Ethan’s not coming.”

“Really?”

No, not really. He’s invited. But she looks up at me with so much hope that I’ll make sure it comes true.

“He has Chase tonight. He wants to spend as much time with him as possible.”

Her smile makes my chest flutter unexpectedly.

“Alright, then. I’d love to.”

I help Bryce with the clean up after everyone leaves.