Page 44 of Last Fall

Fuck control. I stepped into her and put my other hand on her opposite cheek. “You’re the only one I want to see. I hatenotseeing you atall.Ever.”

She did this soft little sigh thing and her green eyessoftened. “Same.”

I wanted to kiss the ever-living crap out of her. But instead I kissed her forehead. “Let’s go inside before Imaulyou.”

She laughed and it was the best sound in the world because it meant she wasn’t put off by the truth of whatIsaid.

“You think that’sfunny?”

She shot me a sexy smile over her shoulder as I reached for the door. “Not funny, Erik.Fun.I think...I think I’m finally starting to havesomefun.”

I opened the door and while I was blocked from everyone inside, I did a victory fist-pump beforeheadingin.

“Swanky,” she said, looking around, hands shoved in her coat pockets. It was a nervous little gesture. One step better than wrapping her arms around hermiddle.

“Let me introduce you to everyone. Jack?” My older brother turned away from the food, a sandwich in his hand and his mouth stuffed full like he was still some college frat bastard living off of every scrap of food hecouldfind.

Some things neverchanged.

“HeyE.”

Zoe glanced between us and I think she caught on pretty quick that we were brothers. The resemblance was uncanny, or so I’d been told repeatedly mywholelife.

“Jack, swallow for fucks sake.” He gulped it all down and grabbed a napkin, wiping his fingers clean before holding it out for a handshake. “This is my friend Zoe Burke. Thewriter.”

Not that he really needing prompting. The minute I brought up Zoe he hadquestions.

And questions andquestions.

Jack smiled warmly. “Talk some sense into our sister.Please?”

Zoe relaxed. “So you’re both in onthis,huh?”

“We bothcare,” Jack corrected, “and we’re both meddling older brothers.Soyeah.”

Zoe smiled at thatcomment.

That’s right. We’re thegoodguys.

“Well it’s very nice to meetyou,Jack.”

“And you as well, Zoe. Can I get you adrink?”

I wandered behind them a little. Close enough to eavesdrop but far enough away that I didn’t interfere with their conversation. It was pretty standard getting to know you stuff.What do you like to drink? How do you know Erik? What do youwrite?

“Oh my god. You’re Zoe Hyde.TheZoe Hyde? Holy shit!” Jack turned a little red like a good fan boy. I intentionally forgot to mention exactly how successful a writer my writerfriendwas.

But thenZoeturned red like she was embarrassed too. And that was weird because Zoe did the fan thing all the time. She went to signings. She did podcast stuff. She even did interviews from time to time. It didn’t occur to me she might reactlikethis.

“Uh, yeah. That’s me.” She ran her lower lip through her teeth, her eyes dartingmyway.

Looking for support? From me? Hell yeah. I gave her a reassuring smile and sure as shit, she brightened a little, taking a quickbreath.

“So what is it youdo,Jack?”

My big brother set his water on the counter and grabbed his blazer. “I’m the head coach of the Miami Pythons and duty, unfortunately,calls.”

Zoe’s mouth fell open. “Why are youuphere?”