Page 38 of Don’t Break My Heart (Secrets of Ravens Hollow #3)
She watches Asher as I watch Romeo walk across the room. They say something to Sally, then Asher leans on the bar, watching us as Romeo moves in behind the bar with Sally. Myriah leans into me closer. “We don’t not love him,” she says, her eyes still locked with his.
“Oh, dear God,” I mutter as a massage my temples.
“He’s just so lovable, you know. But I’m pissed with him as well. He just has no sense of responsibility for anything he does. One day soon he’s going to come across a girl who fucks him over like he does all of us. I hope it’s real soon. I would love to see him suffer like the rest of us have.”
I can’t help but laugh. “We can only hope, sis.”
“Right.” She smirks, and I can see she’s imagining it.
The only problem is I don’t think my brother will ever fall for a girl the way they all fall for him.
He’s just not capable of those kinds of deep feelings.
Something to do with our fucked-up childhood.
Maybe that’s what’s wrong with me as well.
“Least I’m back now. You won’t have to see his ugly face around this place every day.” I laugh, trying to lighten the mood for her.
“Don’t get rid of him. Didn’t Romeo tell you profits are up big time? Especially in this bar. I don’t think we have ever been so busy even during the week.”
It all clicks for me why profits are up so much, when I have worked on this shit for years trying to make improvements. “Let me guess, we have a new market of single ladies drinking here.”
She grins and her entire face lights up. “Sure do, and you know how much they love designer cocktails. Sally has a whole new menu going just to cater to them.” She flicks the one in my hands, and I look at it properly for the first time. “We have been hosting bachelorettes and everything.”
I shake my head, looking over the new drinks, impressed with what Sally has come up with. They are pricy as fuck. No wonder Romeo is loving this new team dynamic, it’s lining his pockets nicely.
When I look up, I find Myriah staring at Asher.
He’s leaning over the bar chatting to Sally with a menu in his hands.
She looks at him like he hung the moon. “What is wrong with the women of this town?” I mutter for her benefit.
She knows how much of a manwhore he is, and yet she still is infatuated with him. All I see is my big dumb brother.
She takes my head in her hands and positions me so I’m staring at Jagger. “Look at him, those arms, those tats, that ass, sexy as hell.” She sighs .
I cringe. And like he knows we’re talking about him, he turns around and winks in her direction.
“You need to get out more.” I spin back toward her, having a fabulous idea.
“Actually, maybe not out. Maybe we need to bring the hot eligible bachelors here. Romeo and I had this idea that we could play a love-matching game in the new VIP club. It would be to make a shit ton of money and have a bit of fun as well, while attracting new wealthy dudes. But doesn’t mean we couldn’t find people a date for the night as well.
It could turn into something real.” I wiggle my eyebrows playfully.
Her eyes twinkle with delight at the idea. “A game? And I could play?” She points to her chest.
I shrug. “I don’t see why not.”
Her grin widens. “What would I have to do?”
I consider her, loving the smile that’s already back on her face. “I’m not sure yet. Leave it with me.”
“But I can be one of the first to play?” she asks, a little more desperate.
“You can be our experiment. If you want?”
“Yes, I want.” With a cheeky-as-hell smirk, she takes off across the room toward the bar.
She says something to Asher that has him raising a brow in my direction.
Oh God, she didn’t just go straight over there and tell him, did she?
I turn away from them, not wanting to get involved in the drama of it all.
Poor Myriah has no clue about men at all.
But who am I to talk, with the mess I’m in.
I scan my card into the VIP lounge, the rhythmic beat of dance music hitting me as the door opens.
Asher falls into step beside me. “Hey, what is Myriah going on about? You’re not going to let her play this game you’re planning, are you? ”
I raise a brow, wondering why my brother cares so much about this. “What’s it to you?”
“I… I don’t know.” He scrubs a hand down the back of his neck, looking uncomfortable. “She’s just a nice girl. I don’t want to see her get hurt with some dude who’s out to use her.”
I huff out a laugh. “Asher, do you really have that little of an idea about women?” I grab hold of his shoulders and look him dead in the eyes.
“You have got to stop waving your dick around and putting it in everything that moves. You’re the one hurting nice girls.
You’re not some fucking Casanova. You sleep with them, they fall for you, and when you move on to the next cute thing, you hurt them. ”
He stares back at me blankly like he had never considered this was even a possibility before. “Oh. I didn’t think.”
From the bar I find Erica watching us. “Yeah, that sounds about right.” I smile at her. “You need to use that big brain of yours a little more often and your dick less, big brother.” I tap him on the head.
“How come you get to have three boyfriends and a husband?” he asks like it’s unfair.
I can’t help but burst out laughing. “You want that much trouble, Brother? Try it. Trust me, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.
And for your information, I’m not married.
” I show him my hand. “He asked for a divorce after just a few weeks with me. Guess I’m just as good with dudes as you are chicks.
” My heart shatters all over again as I say the words.
I shouldn’t care, I’m off the hook. Free, as Orlando said.
But I don’t feel free. I feel trapped, chained to all of them even though I’m trying not to be.
“I’m sorry, Sis. For what it’s worth, he’s an idiot.”
“Yeah.” But even as I say it, I know why Orlando asked for the divorce.
For me. He wanted me to have my freedom.
I thought that was what I wanted as well.
It was what I harped on about the whole time I was with him.
Take me back to my life, as soon as I can I’m going back there .
No wonder he shipped me off home first chance he got.
Maybe Cruz is right, maybe I am the asshole.