Sunshine Kisses

‘More than you did seven years ago when you kissed her and then spent most of the summer avoiding her?’

‘You don’t know what you’re talking about.’

‘No, I don’t.’ Alex’s voice was cool, clipped. ‘Because you’ve never told me what happened between the two of you. So again, care to explain why you’re here?’

And for the first time, Erik told his brother everything. From the morning after his first kiss with Abby, the awkwardness and reconciliation that had followed, right up to her running away from him at the masquerade party.

‘Let me get this straight,’ Alex said, his disarmingly blue eyes piercing into Erik’s. ‘I haven’t seen you since June. With the exception of some Merry Christmas messages in the family group chat, I haven’t spoken to you since you texted me on my birthday in November. I wouldn’t even know you’d broken up with your ex if you weren’t here telling me that you’d kissed someone else. And now I find you on my doorstep at three in the morning, ruining my shot with a beautiful woman, because you’re having girl trouble?’

Well, put like that, Erik felt like a sack of shit. He rubbed his tired eyes, shoulders slumped. ‘I’m sorry. I panicked and—’

‘Don’t be.’

When Erik looked up, his brother’s face had transformed with a small, crooked grin, so different to the smooth, practised smirk he normally wore.

‘This is the first time in years it’s felt like I have a little brother.’ The surprising warmth in Alex’s voice helped ease the tension in Erik’s body.

He wondered how different their relationship might have been if he’d made more of an effort to include Alex in his life over the years. Maybe his brother, who he’d always assumed was simply too cool for him, had merely been waiting for an invitation.

‘I can clear out before tomorrow night. Tonight, I guess. If you want to call her again,’ Erik said with a grin.

Alex shrugged. ‘Seriously, don’t worry about it. She was…a crime of opportunity. And the endless string of models is getting boring, if I’m honest. I’m a lot more interested in what happened between you and Abby.’

‘I kissed her; I thought it was good; she freaked out. There’s not much more to it.’ A note of bitterness crept into Erik’s voice.

‘And this whole time, you were wearing a mask?’

‘Yes.’

‘And you didn’t try to go after her or make any other attempt to reveal yourself?’

‘Well, no, but—’

‘So you have absolutely no reason to believe she knew it was you.’ He said it as a statement.

‘Why else would she have run?’ Erik asked.

Alex rolled his eyes, a crack of annoyance in his usual smooth incredulity. ‘Because a random guy in a pub kissed her on New Year’s Eve and she didn’t want to get stuck with some sap who thought it meant something?’

‘It’s not like she hasn’t kissed me before,’ Erik started.

‘Six years ago. I would hope your technique has improved enough that it was an entirely different experience for her.’

Even after his long, devastating night, that drew a full laugh from Erik’s exhausted body. ‘Yeah, I guess so.’

‘I suggest getting in a taxi right now, showing up at her place, and kissing her again sans mask, but that doesn’t exactly seem like your style. If your track record is anything to go by, we’ve got another few years of pining ahead of us before you try to make a move again.’ It stung, but Alex wasn’t wrong. ‘Go to bed, dude. We’ll figure out how you can get your girl in the morning.’

Erik nodded, surprised that his brother had been so eager to listen and so keen to give advice, then immediately felt ashamed for thinking that way. Alex had always seemed distant, but Erik hadn’t tried nearly hard enough to bridge the gap.

‘Hey, Erik,’ Alex said, pausing at the entrance to his bedroom as Erik continued down the hall to the guest room. Alex cocked his head towards the door looking sheepish, an expression he had never seen on those always casual features. ‘There’s a reason that room doesn’t have all this.’ He waved an arm, gesturing to the bright, dynamic artworks covering the walls. ‘Why the ensuite is stocked with your soap brand. It’s…uh…you’re welcome here any time, you know?’

Chapter 21

Work Song – Hozier

‘H

ow do you want to play this?’ Erik asked as the lift trundled towards the ground floor.