Page 210 of The Night Shift

“April, I —”

She holds her finger up. “Not done yet. If what you feel for her is real, then good. I want that for her. She’s a good person who deserves to be happy. But if it’s not, if this is just about the thrill, or the challenge, or whatever else men seem to get a kick out of, then please don’t do that to her. She might seem like a mean and cold person, but she gets affected a lot. Underneath all that toughy-tough exterior, my sister has the softest heart. She has so much love inside her. She just doesn’t know where to put it. Don’t take advantage of her just because she hasn’t figured it out yet.”

“April, I would never hurt Holly.” I’m not sure I’m even capable of it.

“Good. Because if you do, I’ll have to hurt you back.”

“Duly noted.”

April frowns. “I’m being serious, Theo. Flirting with my husband all the time is one thing, but if you ever even think about hurting my little sister, Iwillkill you.”

Somehow April’s fake death threat scares me more than Holly’s real one.

Her phone buzzes. She glances down. Sighs. “I’ve gotta get back inside. Parker needs me.” She turns on her heel.

“April?”

“Yeah?”

“Can I just…can you let him know that I never meant to —”

“He knows.” April gives me a sad smile. “He just needs some time. And space.”

I nod. “Right.”

“Though, next time think twice before lying to him. He still loves you very much, but if you hurt him like this a second time, I will never ever speak to you again.”

I don’t respond. I have nothing to say other than I’m sorry. Nothing else to justify my actions. If Parker’s my best friend, then April’s like a sister to me. And I hate that I’ve managed to hurt them both.

She must see the sheer devastation on my face because the next thing I know I’m being pulled into a tight, careful hug.

“W-what’s happening?”

“Hugs always seem to cheer me up.” April squeezes me tighter. “I thought you could use one.”

Smiling, I hug her back with one arm. “Thank you.”

“No problem.”

“And I’m really sorry for ruining your wedding.”

“You didn’t ruin it.” She pulls away, eyeing me with a small smile. “Just help me get rid of Parker’s atrocious Nightwing costume once I’m back from the honeymoon and we’ll call it even.”

I laugh.

She pats my arm and tells me to have a safe trip home. I pick up my drink and go back to admiring Holly from afar.

Fifteen minutes drag by. The upbeat songs finally wind down. Holly’s dad tries to coax her into one last dance. She shakes her head, clearly done. He relents, presses a kiss to her head, and makes his way toward the bar. Holly comes walking to me.

“My feet are killing me,” she says, snatching the whiskey glass from my hand and downing whatever’s left. Her facescrunches up instantly. “Oh, god. How the hell do you drink this poison?”

I pull a chair from another table and nudge it behind her.

Holly sinks into the chair, shooting me a skeptical look. “No snide remark about my dancing skills? Wow. Either you’re really drunk, or the world is coming to an end.”

I kneel and start working at the buckle of her heels with my good hand. “I wish I was drunk.”

I steady myself on one knee and slip my thumb beneath the strap, unclasping the buckle. The heel wobbles, then slides off. I set it aside and reach for the other. Holly makes no effort to pull her foot back. Doesn’t flinch. Just watches me.