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We arrived at the bar, and while Oscar focused on finding us a place to park, I shot Abby a quick text.
Hugh
Oscar and I…
I deleted and tried again. I didn’t want to lie, but I wasn’t sure how else I could prepare her to see us acting like boyfriends when she knew we weren’t.
Hugh
I’m bringing Oscar as my date.
Abby
Yeah, you told me already?
Hugh
I’m… I think it might be…
I deleted it and made a grumble sound under my breath.
“Problem?” Oscar asked with a laugh. “Is that phone giving you attitude?”
I shoved the phone in my pocket. “No. I just… I guess I’m nervous.”
He turned the car off and came around to meet me as I stepped out of the low-slung sports car. When we began walking toward the bar entrance, he put his hand on my lower back to steer me toward the inside of the sidewalk. He was close enough for me to catch a whiff of expensive cologne.
“Don’t be nervous,” he murmured. “I got your back.”
I leaned a little closer to him and sighed. “I don’t care about Jared. It’s the rest of them. His entire family… they were almost my family. I was close to them, and I miss that. I don’t miss him…”
Oscar wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me close, turning his head to press a kiss to my cheek. “But you’re mourning the loss of the family you wanted. It’s probably hard to see Abby getting everything you wanted. And before you interrupt me,” he added with a knowing grin, “I understand you’re happy for your sister. You can feel both things at once.”
I nodded, happy to be so understood. “Thank you,” I murmured. “And thanks again for coming with me.”
He stopped and turned to face me before taking my chin in his hand. His eyes bored into mine, and his lips were curved into a killer smile. “I’m a very dedicated boyfriend, Hugh.” His voice was low and went straight through my chest to my balls.
Then he leaned forward and kissed me full on the lips, slow and certain.
All of the worries ping-ponging through my head became muffled and unimportant. Nothing was as vital in that moment as accepting his kiss. Giving myself over to the power of it, the reassurance of it, and the genuine affection clear in the gesture itself.
When he finally pulled away and met my eyes, I tried to look better, more solid and less fearful.
“Thanks,” I croaked stupidly. “And… thanks.”
Oscar took my hand in his and led me through the doors and into the bar. The noise of chatter and cheer greeted us, and I immediately recognized Jared’s thick, dark hair across the crowd. He was taller than Dex, taller than most people, and my eyes went straight to him as if the previous two years hadn’t happened.
“Over there,” I murmured, pointing to where I now saw Abby and Dex at the arched entrance to a side room, giving people big smiles and hugs. Abby was dressed in a gorgeous white sweater dress, and as we moved closer, I saw she’d paired it with the tall black boots she rarely found an excuse to wear. She looked beautiful.
“Hugh!” she cried when I came within hugging distance. She beamed at me before squeezing me tightly. “So glad you’re here. I can’t wait for you to meet Sandy, my boss, and Henry—you know, the one I told you about who teaches in the room next to mine…”
As she continued telling me all the people she wanted me to meet, I caught Jared’s eyes over her shoulder and exchanged an awkward smile with him. Thankfully, the warm press of Oscar’s hand on my back reminded me I wasn’t alone.
I pulled back and gestured to Oscar. “Abby, you remember Oscar Overton. Oscar, you know Abby, and this is her… husband… Dex Currier.”
While Abby stepped forward to grab Oscar into a hug, Dex hugged me. “Sorry about everything,” he whispered. “Thanks for understanding. Abby was upset that she disappointed you with the whole courthouse thing, but?—”
I smiled. “I do understand. I was just surprised. But I’m very glad to finally be able to call you brother.”
