My Brother’s Best Friend

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ARELLA

“OOOH… I LOVE that dress but you won’t need it anymore. No, you won’t need it anymore. Let’s just kiss ’till we’re naked, baby,” with my brush as her microphone, Kat sang her heart out like she was at the karaoke session.

I ignored whatever she tried to point out, instead, I looked at my reflection in the mirror one more time, then I grabbed my purse, tossed my phone and keys, and walked past her.

“Really, Are?” she said with a laugh. “To be honest, I would be a boner right now if I were a guy. That blue dress is perfect for you, darling.” She strolled her gaze on me, making me a little bit self-conscious.

“Yeah, and barely covered my ass. And thank, God, you have a vagina and not a penis because I don’t want you swaying your junk and balls around the apartment.” I turned to look at her, and she was literally grinning.

She looked pretty awesome with a gold mini-dress and black pumps. And of course, her hair-always shiny and glossy without putting too much effort. I envy her.

“Are you coming or not?”

“Coming! I’ll drive, Sinderella.” Kat winked. My account was already deactivated, but she had been calling me by my username to annoy me.

She revved the engine and drove as soon as we settled in her car. My nerves started to rack as we got closer to the high-end club.

“Are you sure we are meeting his brother? He’s probably there.” Kat side-glanced at me. What was I not expecting was Skip to ignore me even at work. I gave up on my fifth call and two text messages this week when I received nothing in return. It hurt like hell that he didn’t return any. I’d never done like this even to my ex-husband. And it stung more when Brett mentioned that they already talked.

“Yeah. And it’s hard to say no to Clyve. He’s sweet, and I have this feeling that we’re gonna be good friends.”

“Or you’re doing this to get under Skip’s skin?” Her brow arched.

“I wouldn’t do such a thing.” I glared at her.

“I know. Now, chill out. I’m just kidding.” She rolled her eyes.

“I made mistakes, but I can’t jeopardize what Brett and the Linton boys have. I won’t do it again, and besides, you have no idea how Skip ignored me at the lab. We are truly over.”

I told Kat everything that happened between me and Skip. But she didn’t judge me and being Kat, of course, she couldn’t avoid to not give sarcastic and naughty comments. She said she saw how Skip looked at me when he went to our apartment. She knew there was something going on between me and him, but she kept it to herself.

“He was hurt, Are. Give the man a break.”

“Really? And how about me? It’s not like I planned all these things to happen between us. He ignored me, fine. And I’ll make sure he won’t come to me and ask for an apology.”

The Night Stalker was better than the last time I was here with my ex. He loved to party and which was not really my thing. Loud noises, strobe lights, and the smell of booze and sweats made me dizzy, but there was no backing out for tonight-I had to get a life.

We found an empty table at the corner of the bar. A waitress dressed skimpily approached us. Kat ordered her martini, and I asked for a cosmo. A few minutes later, our colorful drinks arrived, and there was still no sign of Clyve.

“Where is Clyve?” Kat asked after sipping her drink.

Before I could fish out my phone, a warm breath against my neck made me freeze. “You look gorgeous.”

I turned my head and smiled. “Clyve! I thought you won’t show up.”

“Not gonna happen, sweetie.” His eyes danced with humor. Those eyes reminded me of him. Clyve cleaned up pretty well with a dark shirt and pants. He looked fresh than the last time I saw him at the lab. And he smelled sandalwood and mint. He sat in an empty chair beside me after he introduced himself to Kat. Kat giggled when Clyve kissed her hand just like a British did.

“So, you’re his brother, huh?” Kat started when Clyve got his sparkling water. I didn’t pry on why he didn’t order a drink, and Kat got my cue.

“And we’re not gonna talk about my brother since I am the one here, besides, I am more good-looking and younger than him, yeah?”

“Of course, I toss to that.” I raised my drink to them. “How about we dance?” I stood up, emptying my drinks. Honestly, I’m not much of a dancer, unless we considered dancing at the party I attended with my ex which mostly I didn’t enjoy because he got all the control over me.

“Oh, no. I can’t,” Kat countered, giving me a go-looked. “I have two left feet.” She could dance, but I got what she meant.

“It’s okay, pet. Just move and sway. I don’t know how to dance as well,” Clyve assured her.

Kat rolled her eyes humorously. “Just go. Have fun, and I’ll be fine here.”

We were pressed against sweaty people to move past them. I ignored the strobing lights and the thumping of the beat from the speakers.

We stopped near the platform where a woman in a skimpy dress was dancing in the pool. I started to dance when Clyve placed his hands on my hips. I raised my hands in the air, and Clyve followed my moves. I could feel my heartbeat started to thump erratically. I could smell the perfume Clyve was wearing.

I could feel the breathing on my forehead, but his touch didn’t feel the same the way his brother did to me. I felt comfortable around him in an instant-it was like my heart told me that I could trust him. It didn’t feel like I just met him three days ago.

“You can dance,” he whispered against my ear.

“Barely!” I yelled, making him laugh.

“You just did, lady!”

We danced to another music until I was slicked with sweat. I never had this kind of fun for a long time, and it was a good experience.

“I’m gonna collapse right if we will not get out of this dance floor. I’m soaking with sweat.” I laughed with him.

“You’re soaking wet?” If it wasn’t Clyve, I thought he was hitting on me.

I slapped his arm playfully. “I said I’m sweating!”

“I was just messing with you, milady!” His eyes twinkled with amusement. “Let’s go back to Kat before she kicks our arses.”

Kat was with someone when we got back to our table. A guy with an immaculate suit and sparkling cufflinks laughed at what she said. He looked like he just came out from a board meeting.

“Hi!” Kat was still smiling when she saw us approaching. “You seemed to have fun with Clyve.”

“She’s a good dancer, don’t you know that?” Clyve said with a little mischief in his eyes.

“I know. Anyway, this is Dash. Dash is my friend Clyve and my best friend, Are.”

A man with a billion-dollar looked smiled, showing his perfect white teeth that almost blinded me. He looked around my brother’s age. His chiseled face and firm jaw were tanned as if he spent too much on the beach. “Nice to meet you, Are, Clyve. I hope you don’t mind me sitting here at your table.” He shook our hands.

“Nice to meet you too, Dash. And please, we don’t mind at all.”

Dash then looked at me then back at Clyve as if searching for something between us.

“We’re not together, mate. This is my brother’s girlfriend,” he simply said, and I almost choked with my own saliva.

“I noticed. You two are not lovers.”

“Hmm, you’re right. His brother was out of town for a business trip,” Kat said.

“What kind of business?” Dash picked his interest.

“Cosmetics and fragrances,” she answered, and I remained speechless.

I wondered how far Clyve knew about my relationship with his brother. Do they kiss and tell?

“I’ll order us another drink, Are. The same for you?” Clyve asked.

“On the house, man,” Dash said. If I didn’t know Kat I would have thought that they planned to meet here tonight, but she always opened up to me regarding her dating venture.

“Excuse me. I’ll be back.” I stood up.

“I’ll come with you,” Kat suggested.

“No, thanks. Kat, I can manage.”

“I’ll help the lady. We’ll be right back.” He smiled at them, placing his hand at my back. We walked away from them, then Clyve said, “I think your friend finds a friend.”

“A friend?” I laughed.

I damn near gagged at the long line of females in the ladies’ room.

“Yeah. You know.”

“How about you, aren’t you interested in looking for a friend tonight?”

“I have you, my dear friend.”

Still laughing, I shook my head. “Are you gonna use the loo or what?”

“Nah. I just excused myself from them. I don’t wanna watch them snogging in front of me, you know.” He shrugged, a smile played his lips.

“Nah?” My brow arched in amusement.

“You two seemed to have fun.” The voice at the back of Clyve made me freeze. My heart thudded like thunder as he stared at me with all its intensity. His gorgeous eyes were rendering me speechless over again.

“I think I should find a loo now, right, brother? Make sure you’ll take care of my friend for a while, and don’t-”

“Leave!” His thundering voice made everyone around gasp.

“Yes, sir!” Clyve saluted his brother with a goofy smile on his face. He then walked away.

“What do you want?” I asked sternly, and he looked stunned.

His sinful lips slightly parted, then he regained back his composure in an instant.

“Are you dating my brother now, Arella?” His accusing tone made my blood boil.

“Well, I’m single, and he is. So what’s wrong with that?” I scowled. Despite my urge to get closer to him because feeling him could calm my wildly beating heart, it stopped me from doing so. He was rude.

Instead, he grabbed my arm and made sure I would not be able to lose, and dragged me out of the line.

“You’re hurting me,” I hissed, but he gripped me tighter. His hand on me reminded me of how Dominic handled me when I missed doing what he asked.

Then he finally let go of me in the dim-lit narrow hallway.

“W-what is your problem?” I rubbed my skin where his fingers almost imprinted on. “You ignored me for almost two weeks. You didn’t return my call. You didn’t reply to my text messages. You didn’t even say a word to my sample in the lab, and now you are dragging me to the hallway, for what?” I breathed hard when I was done talking. I wanted to say more, but I could be just wasting my time.

He didn’t say a word. His piercing dangerous eyes remained cold and flinty like a lunatic, almost freezing me, but I would never flinch for him.

“So, this is where you should say you made a terrible mistake for choosing me over my brother and falling to my lies, right? Just say it, Skipper! This is where you’re best at, skipping.” I paused and blinked at him. My adrenaline still flooded in my bloodstream with anger and raw emotions.

He took a step closer to me and stopped when our body was merely an inch apart.

Against the wall, I stiffened.

He cupped my face. His touch sent an electric reaction through my veins.

I took a shuddering breath. No matter how much I tried to hold myself not to fall for his touch again, my heart had a mind on its own. It was a sick joke on how I quickly dismantled my self-control and washed out my anger in just a look into his eyes.

His eyes softened as he stared at me. I could feel his pain, longing, and sadness. He was showing me his vulnerability. Oh, God. Then he stepped back, released his hands, and walked away.