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"It does"

Whatever

"If it was you—"

"I wouldn't give a shit, because I'd be dead"

The door interrupts us Laughter My kid sister and , each sopping wet

"It's raining" Briar takes Opal's bag Places both on the counter "Raining really hard"

"Do you have anything I can borrow?" Opal asks

"Yeah I have my clothes in the spare room," Briar says

"Your fiancée sleeps in the spare room?" Simon asks

"No" Briar stumbles on her explanation

"She's a closet hog," I say

She nods "There's not enough room in Liam's bedroom So I took the closet in the spare"

Opal nods "Doesn't he have a walk-in closet? Really, Liaer closet"

"His clothes are worth more," Briar says

"But yours are way cooler You look a—" She motions to Briar's short black dress and boots "He's another guy in a suit"

"I like hih I like you better out of it" She presses her lips to my cheek Leans in to whisper "Can we make this fast?"

I brush her hair behind her ear "I'"

"Thank you" She pulls back Looks to Opal "Any preference?"

"As long as it's dry" Opal follows Briar into the spare room

Their banter fades into the background

Simon stares intensely

I try to ignore hi table

Years of training take over Simon and I fall into the routine of manners

He places the silverware

I place the plates and drinks

The ladies eed Sirim

He shoots me a we'll talk about this later look The same one he had when I was a kid who fucked up

Then he shifts into loving older brother Gets Opal talking about her art class, her friends from school, her love of spicy food

Opal lights up theadvice on acing classes and avoiding assholes

They leave right after dinner

Briar offers to clean up When I insist I've got it, she wishes ht, and retires to her room

The dishes distract me for a while

I shower, change into pajamas, try to zone out with the TV

But the thought gets louder every ?

A so

A better man would confront his brother

But I'm neither

I text my friend Accept his offer to find answers

I' in the dark

Si to find out what it is

Chapter Twenty-Four

Briar

Ah, the fun of alcohol I fall asleep easily Wake two hours later with an intense need to pee

Two drinks andOr maybe it's all the water I drank at dinner Opal claiue on fire She's adorable Okay, maybe she's a little tall to be adorable, but she's full of energy and enthusiasm Too cute to be a master of spicy food