“You’ve got it,” I replied as Brinley looked at Celia.
“I am going to dance for a while. I promise I will keep my hands to myself. Take him somewhere.” She told her friend before turning around. I knew that Brinley had been drinking, but I already told the guys that lived there not to let anyone in the bedrooms. They passed the word around not to touch Brinley or Celia, but my sister’s best friend didn’t look to be the wild type. She never was.
“Let’s get some air after I grab a beer,” I grumbled, turning towards the kitchen. I got a bottle of beer and another diet coke for Celia before I headed to the large balcony. There were a few people out there, but I went to the corner, sitting down on the bench as Celia joined me. “She makes me fucking crazy.”
“She always has, Remy. Brin knows how to push your buttons and you let her.” Celia told me as I nodded. I took a long sip of beer, feeling restless. I’d driven here from Seattle on a whim, having gotten into it with my former boss and ex-girlfriend. I was going to come back to San Diego anyway, but it was faster than expected.
“I know,” I replied, glancing at her as she took a sip of her soda. Celia had wild curls that were cut short and her flawless skin was the color of a porcelain doll. Her grey eyes seemed bigger than before and I didn’t want to look down at her toned legs in that tiny skirt. Brinley obviously dressed her tonight.
“Aren’t you home early?” Celia asked as resentment washed over me. I hated everything and everyone in Seattle right now.
“I just got the chance to bail. I have a job interview lined up for Monday for a company. I think it would be good and I can always do freelance work.” I shrugged and kept looking forward. Celia had a way of seeing right through me a lot of the time and it was an uncomfortable feeling for me. I wasn’t sure why, but I shivered under her gaze.
“I think you’ll get it,” Celia told me as she smiled. I gazed at her, getting lost in those eyes for a moment.
“Hopefully. What are your plans?” I asked her as she shrugged.
“We are going to relax and enjoy life for a while. After that, we’ll search for jobs. I haven’t decided if I’m going to stay here or not.” Celia responded as I frowned at her.
“Where would you go? We’re your family.” I reminded her as she smiled at the ground. Her mom died in a car accident just before she went to college and she stayed with us all the time after that. I shouldn’t think she was as hot as I did since she was like a kid sister to me.
“I don’t know. I’m so tired from school that I just want to hang out. You know?” She asked as I nodded. There was a part of me that wanted to do the same thing, but I wasn’t twenty-three and just out of college. I needed to be more responsible than that.
I went inside after an hour and told Brinley that we were leaving. It was close to one, and she’d danced enough. Celia reminded her that they had plans with Mom the following day to console her as my sister slipped into the passenger seat of her car. Brinley was pouting, and I rolled my eyes as I got into my Range Rover and started the engine. I was following them home.
I thought about Celia as I drove. There was something about her that made me feel good inside. I knew that she got me and could comfort the deepest parts of me, knowing that she didn’t think I remembered our time together.
She was a family friend and like a sister to me. I couldn’t seek comfort in that anymore.
CHAPTER THREE
Celia
Brinley bitched about Remy on the drive home but that was nothing new. When she yawned at a stop light, I shot an accusing glance her way. “You are tired.”
“So what? I could have stayed longer.” She argued as I laughed.
“We have the whole month to enjoy life, Brin. There will be more parties, barbeques, and nights out. I want to get some sleep, so we can go shopping with your mom tomorrow.” I tried to cheer her up as I glanced in the rearview mirror.
Remy was following us. Seeing him tonight was a shock to my system. He was supposed to be arriving in a couple of weeks, but the sight of that gorgeous body and his blue eyes triggered the same attraction that I’d felt for him for years.
I didn’t think he remembered what happened between us. I would never bring it up either. I was close to graduating when his best friend Jessie was killed in a car accident. Remy took it hard and was a mess at the funeral. Somehow, I got him out of there and we went to a restaurant where he could drink, and I could keep an eye on him and try to talk him through this. They’d been friends as long as Brin and I had, and I know how I’d feel if I lost her.