She wondered if she’d been cursed that time in Germany.
How else to exin it? For years, she’d hardly seen him, buttely, their paths kept crossing again and again.
“Little Elissa, you made it!”
Bradley’s voice was warm as he waved her over. “Come on in!”
A few of Frank’s buddies greeted her too.
She pressed her thumb into her palm, steadying herself, and nodded at them one by one. “Hey, Bradley. Timothy…”
When she got to Rowan, she hesitated, lips tightening. “Mr. Murphy.”
The namended in the room like a dropped ss.
For a moment, even Bradley and the others felt their nerves prickle.
Rowan, though, didn’t seem bothered. His gaze was cool and unreadable as he smiled, just a flicker at the corner of his mouth. “So I’m the only one who doesn’t get to be your brother?”
She couldn’t help herself; with him, she always lost her filter. “And what exactly is our rtionship, anyway?”
Seven years ago, on the day he’d had her dumped back in Matriarch Paige Murphy’s garden, he’d said those exact words to her. She remembered every syble.
Looking down at her as if she were nothing, he’d mocked, “Did you really think you were my real sister? Elissa, what do you and I have to do with each other?”
Now, Elissa broke eye contact, ncing at Frank–who’d already dozed off–then looked to Bradley for help.
“Bradley, could you help me get him to the car?”
“Sure, no problem.”
<b>1/3 </b>
12:12
The awkwardness in the room was unbearable; as soon as Bradley hefted Frank up, he seemed eager to escape.
No one knew what had gotten into Frank tonight. Usually <i>so </iposed, but after just a few words with Rowan, he’d started downing whiskey like it was water.
Bradley helped him into the back seat and turned to Elissa. “You got this? Want me to follow you home, help get him inside?”
She shook her head. “It’s fine, thanks, Bradley.”
He grinned. “No need to thank me. Get home safe, all right? And hey, don’t forget my birthday this year.”
She hesitated, reluctant to get pulled deeper into Frank’s social circle. “We’ll see…”
“What do you mean, we’ll see? You came to Timothy’s birthdayst month but you’re skipping mine?”
<b>“</b>All right, I’ll be there,” she agreed atst.
Of all Frank’s friends, Bradley had always treated her well. He’d stood up for her before–she remembered that.
Seeing her agree, Bradley just reminded her to drive safe, then headed
off.
Elissa was just about to close the back door when Frank suddenly grabbed her wrist and mumbled under his breath, “Don’t you dare…”
She frowned. “Don’t dare what?”
Did he know about the divorce?
But before she could ask again, he’d already drifted back to sleep.
She nudged him deeper into the seat, closed the door, then walked around to the driver’s side. As she was about to get in, the sleek ck Bentley next to her suddenly swung its door wide open.
There was a sharp, metallic thud as her car door was pinned in ce,
<b>2/3 </b>
12:12
unable to budge.
Startled, she looked up to see Rowan leaning against his car, one long–fingered hand braced on the door, making sure she couldn’t move hers an inch. His voice was low and mocking: “So you’re really nning to wear this badge of humiliation for the rest of your life?”
Anger red in her chest. “What, am I embarrassing the Murphy family again?”
He nced down at her, his tone almost pitying for once. “He doesn’t care about you.”
She shed a careless smile. “I know. But as long as hees home once in a while, that’s enough for me.”
She sounded like someone hopelessly lovesick.
The veins on the back of Rowan’s hand stood out white against his skin. “You really love him that much?”
“Yes,” she replied, voice bright and defiant. “So much I can’t even help myself.”
His eyes turned icy, the corners of his mouth twisting in a cold smile. “Pathetic.”
She lifted her chin, meeting his gaze. “Is this news to you, Mr. Murphy? I begged you once, remember? I asked you who he really cared about.”
“And you never answered me back then.”
“So what’s the point of all this sarcasm now?”
<b>3/3 </b>