Jack, the most charismatic of Tristan’s friends, pulls me in tight for a hug. “The stunning Charlie, always a pleasure to see you.”
He shoots me a grin that could melt my pants off, and Triston jolts him. “Behave, Mathews. Sister.
Off-limits.”
I flick a sideways glance at Danny and find he’s observing me warily. Like I might be mildly contagious.
The flashbacks hit me.
I climb onto his knee and wrap my legs around him.
“Danny,” I choke out.
“Charlie,” he responds in his low Scottish drawl. He stiffens as he calculates whether he has to hug me.
That voice. Why does it make me think of sex? My name rolling off his tongue makes the hairs on
the back of my neck stand up.
I hate how he affects me. I must have a disorder. Asshole Arousal Disorder where I’m only interested in men who ignore me.
I grind my body against his massive cock.
Stop it!
I snap out of it.
“You’ve all met Cat before.” I turn to see she’s smiling like a simpleton and doing that little jig she does with her legs when she’s nervous.
“Hiya,” she says in a high pitch.
Tristan clears his throat and looks at Danny pointedly, who is ruffling his hands through his hair like he’s agitated.
“Charlie, Cat, this is Jen.” Tristan places his arm on the blond stunner’s back.
She has poker-straight long blond hair and is super skinny with beach balls stuck to her chest. Just the type my brother likes.
“Hi, Jen.” I smile.
“Hi, Charlie, Cat” She leans in for a kiss. “It’s great to meet the little sister!” I stiffen. I’m not her little sister.
She looks 5 years older than me, max, not qualified to be talking like my new stepmom.
“Jen is a human-rights lawyer,” Mum announces, clearly a fan.
“I mean, I don’t like talking about it too much, but yes, I’m the youngest human rights lawyer in London.” She flutters her eyes around the group.
Satisfied with the murmurs of approval, she moves on. “What do you do, Charlie?”
“IT support.” My lips curl in a permanent fake smile, knowing she’s only asking because it’s never going to be as good as the youngest bloody human rights lawyer in London.
“That’s wonderful.” She clasps her hand to her chest as if I’ve just revealed I’m a heart surgeon. “Turn it off and turn it on again!” “At your service.” Pathetic.
“The IT support people in our company are so rubbish,” she adds unnecessarily.
“I’m sure you’re much better, though.” She stares at me like she doesn’t believe that for a second.
“Right.” I give her a death stare.
“Oh.” She places a well-manicured hand on Danny’s bicep. “Danny could get you a job at Nexus!
I’m sure he could find you a job doing something.”
“No, that’s fine, I’m not looking,” I fire back quickly as Danny stiffens.
Not a hope in hell would I beg that cut-throat, ruthless, all-round bastard for a job.
Besides the obvious shame from trying to maul him, there was the other glaring issue that he would never hire me. I’m not the ‘Nexus calibre’.
I need to move off this topic. “Cat’s a drama teacher in Highgate. Since we are going through all our CVs”.
“That’s right,” Cat cuts in, looking at Tristan meaningfully. “Mine’s a vocation rather than a career.”
“How lovely. I live in Highgate,” Jen says. “Got a little maisonette there. Bought it a few years ago. The garden is small, but it has a little summer house I can use as an office, and the view of the heath is nice from the balcony.”
I stare at her as she makes what is likely a 2 million pound property sound like a cute cottage. “It sounds very… quaint.”
“Charlie and Cat live the bachelorette life in Kentish Town.” Tristan’s eyes wrinkle in amusement. “Party girls. Although you rarely come to my parties anymore unless I force you!” That’s because I tried to rodeo your hot best mate.
“Kentish Town?” She looks at me like I’ve just been released from a Cat A prison.”I guess property prices are lower there, since it’s up and coming!” “We’re renting,” I mutter.
She had a mortgage, and what did I have? Mice.
“Charlie knows I’ll help her out when she wants to buy,” Tristan jumps in, overcompensating in case they thought he was a tight git, with his poor penniless sister living in squalor.
“No,” I fire back in dismay at my charity case persona. “When I buy, I’ll do it myself.” We are not broaching this topic here. Tristan was forever trying to give me free money.
“How long have you been dating Tristan?” I ask Jen politely. I don’t like this girl so I’m hoping it won’t last. It never does with Tristan; I reckon three months tops, I’ll have to play niceties.
“Oh no,” she laughs. “This gorgeous one is mine.” She pokes a finger into Danny’s ribs, and he shifts uncomfortably from foot to foot, his hands pushed deep into his trouser pockets.
He’s been silent through the entire interchange.
My stomach clenches and I force my happy face.
No, Charlie, I’m not doing this. I’m not interested, he says as he pushes me off his knee.
So this is Danny’s type. The opposite of me. Blond, highly successful, waive-like feminine.
“Where’s Ben?” Tristan prompts.
“Charlie and Ben are on the rocks. She might be single soon,” Mum announces. “Again.” “Mum!” I glare at her, mortified, as the boys mumble their apologies.
“Oooh, poor thing,” Jen purrs as she rubs Danny’s arm. “Boys, do you have any nice friends for
Charlie?”
“No,” Danny replies with unnecessary force. I shoot him a look and meet a dark gaze. So I’m not good enough for any of his friends either?