Love You Always

“Fuck off.” I splash cold water on my face, grabbing a towel and wiping it off. I look in the mirror. I look like I was on an all night bender. I toss the towel, walking back out to see my brother behind my desk with his feet kicked up. “I don’t drink.” I knock his feet off my desk, motioning for him to get up. He rolls his eyes but he gets up and heads for the sofa. He sits down in dramatic fashion, making himself comfortable.

“You spend all of your nights at my Club Vine sitting at the bar.”

“I’m not drinking.” He knows I’m not; he’s only here to needle me. I enjoy control too much to drink. I move my mouse to check to see if I have any new emails. Nothing. I grit my teeth. I am slowly going out of my mind.

“You find anything out about the VIP group?” I flick my gaze back to my brother, who has now kicked his feet up on the table. He looks as though he’s enjoying my frustration.

“No, I haven’t. It was booked under a fake name. That means a bigshot booked it.” Yeah, I know. I have run out of ideas of how to track down my dollface. Now I’ve resorted to camping out at the club, hoping she’ll turn up. It is not where I want to spend my nights. “You gotta let this go.”

“When have I ever let anything go that I want?” I challenge. You don’t make it as far as I have in life if you don’t keep going. You push until you finally break through no matter how long that may take. If you want it bad enough, you’ll make it happen. I want Amelia more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. So I’m not going to be happy or settle until she’s wearing my ring and my last name. I’m not even mad at her for giving me the slip. I’m more pissed at myself for letting it happen. I should have held her tighter. I learned my lesson. When I do find her—and I will—I’m going to chain her little ass to me.

“Why are you pushing so hard for this chick? I’ve been at the club. Every other woman is coming up to you trying to get your attention. Chicks are everywhere. Trust me. I know.” Sean stands, walking over toward my desk.

“You don’t know shit.” No one can understand unless they, too, had found the other half of their soul. I think that’s what’s fucking with me the most. How could she not have felt it that night? As sappy as it sounds, it feels as though there is a gaping hole in my chest. I’ve woken up a few times in the middle of the night unable to breathe, thinking I was having a heart attack when really it was only the ache she put there when she walked out of my life.

I don’t care if it makes me sound soft, it is the fucking truth. She strolled into my life and knocked me right on my ass. She gave me a taste of something that I never knew was out there. She left me craving more and knowing that only she could fill the void in me.

“I know you look like hell and haven't been yourself.”

“My normal self is an asshole who works too much,” I remind him.

“True. I’d rather you that way than looking like someone kicked your puppy.”

“I’m going to kick you out of my office.” I glance at the clock. “Shouldn't you be at work?” It’s late afternoon and this is when his day usually starts.

“Get up. We’re going to dinner.”

“I’m not hungry and I have plans.”

“I didn’t ask if you were hungry and I told them not to let you into Vine tonight.”

I level my baby brother with a hard stare. It’s been years since we came to blows. I thought that time period was in the past for us but I’m itching for a good fight. Looking to take out the frustration I have on someone about her leaving. Hoping that it will make me feel better, and here my brother is, practically volunteering to be the recipient.

“I own part of those clubs.” I stand from my chair. He ignores me.

“We’ll eat and if you still want to fight we’ll go to the gym.” He cracks a smile. “If you want to make me the even more handsome brother, that’s fine by me.”

“No, I’ve got plans,” I say again.

“I told Stella if your girl shows up to call. I gave her the same picture I gave you from the surveillance footage from that night.” He slaps his hand down on my shoulder. “I just want you to relax. I know I’m giving you shit but I can see you’re not going to stop until you find her. As much as I’m against this, I’m on your side.” He gives my shoulder a squeeze before he drops his hand.