Page 50 of Dream On, Liar

His smile didn't falter.

There had been a time when he'd practically lived at our house. My brother's best friend. When Ma had left, it had been as easy for Vedant to start hanging out at his place. So much so, in the first few years after, I’d barely seen him at home. Then somewhere along the way, their friendship had curdled into rivalry, and they'd gone from inseparable to barely able to stand in the same room. Somehow, despite all that, he'd managed to keep one relationship intact.

My sister's.

That fact had always sat beneath my skin like a splinter.

“What do you want?” I asked, annoyed that my good mood had been ruined in seconds because of him.

His expression lost some of its teasing edge. “It’s about Raina.”

I barked a humourless laugh. “We’re done with this conversation.”

“I'm serious.”

“So am I.” I replied, taking another step but he didn’t falter, matching his step with mine.

“You need to get over yourself, and make up with her.”

“Don’t tell me what I need to do. You have no clue what you’re talking about.”

“I know that she misses you.” The words hit somewhere I refused to acknowledge. “I know that if you stopped being stubborn and called her, she’d probably answer.”

I stared at him for a long beat.

“You seem to know an awful lot about her.”

“She’s one of my best friends.”

“Good for you.” I replied coldly. “How’s Vedant doing, by the way? I haven’t been able to catch up with him in a while…you know with our schedules, and seeing he’s also supposed to be your friend—oh wait, he can’t stand you either. No wonder.”

His jaw tightened as the only sound that settled between us was the music that blared from the speakers.

Finally, I stepped around him just as he spoke.

“He’s struggling, too, by the way." Clapping a hand on my shoulder, he continued. “Because of you, his own relationship with his sister is ruined. Honestly, it’s a surprise you still have a relationship with any of your siblings.”

He looked at me expectantly. “Do yourself a favour, and stop being such a jerk.”

“Fuck off.”

I didn't wait for a response.

By the time I handed Matt and his group their buckets and made it back to the bar, my mood had completely soured. Even so, I caught myself scanning the crowd for a flash of blonde hair tied back with a burgundy bow. The craving to feel that same rush I'd felt whenever she was near only grew stronger with every passing minute.

I leaned against the counter as I waited, telling myself she'd probably been delayed by her friend.

Five minutes became ten.

The bartender asked if I wanted another drink.

I shook my head.

The crowd shifted, people came and went, laughter rose and fell, but she never appeared.

For the first time in years, I found myself disappointed over a woman I’d barely known.

Yet somehow, later that night, I found myself standing at the door of the one place I knew would make me feel something, where pain had always managed to quiet everything else.