24. Ember

24

EMBER

“ C heers.” I gently collide my glass with Henry’s while we sit at the bar right outside the auction area.

“So, what do you do?” he asks.

“I work for Ford Enterprises, for one of their subsidiary companies as Marketing Manager,” I say, giddy, because it makes me feel proud to say that. Although, I never say XConnect specifically because if people assume it’s the Unleashed side, they might be uncomfortable or get the wrong idea. “How about you?” I ask, returning his question.

“Baseball.” He shrugs.

“Oh, are you part of the team? Why aren’t you up there?” My brows pinch in confusion.

“Not for this team. I play for another team. I just know a couple guys here, so I thought I’d come by in support,” he replies, taking a sip of the drink he ordered. There’s a large ice sphere that peeks out over the top of the glass, making his plain bourbon drink much classier than it should be. He ordered me the same without even asking what I would like, and the sip I take makes me cringe.

“That’s nice of you.” I smile, then glance back at the stage. Hudson is no longer on the stage, and I squint in confusion, looking around, my eyes bouncing from one side of the stage to the other. I slip off the barstool to stand, in an attempt to get a better view, which is futile, considering I was higher in a seated position.

“Who are you looking for?” Henry asks.

“Uh, my husband. He was just up there.” I’m still peeking over the top of the crowd.

“I’m sure he’s busy with the auction. Come sit back down.” He places his hand around my elbow, attempting to grab my attention, and I look down at where his hand grips my arm. It’s not hard or painful, just there.

In my periphery, I see, and feel, a large force walking up to us with purpose. Glancing in that direction, Hudson marches up to where I’m standing and wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me into him.

“What are you doing here, Henry?” The moment he says his name, it hits me. Henry. His brother, Henry. I remember he mentioned his name on the plane, but Hudson skimmed over his name and picture quickly before bringing up his twin brothers in more detail. Henry looks familiar because I’ve seen his picture before.

I don’t remember Hudson saying anything in detail about Henry, but it’s clear he is not happy to see him.

“ Henry? Your brother, Henry?” The look on my face is as questionable as my tone.

Henry puts his hands up in surrender. “I was just talking with Ember here. I came to support my baby brother. Nothing more,” he says, with a smile that feels far from genuine.

“Let me rephrase. Why are you talking to my wife?” Hudson’s hand, the one that rests on my waist, clenches, and I can feel his entire body tense.

“Your wife? You don’t say?” Henry looks between the two of us. “Why wouldn’t you tell me you got married? Do Mom and Dad know?”

“It’s none of your fucking business. Why are you even here?”

“Relax, I came to support you. To congratulate you. I happened to run into Ember by coincidence,” he replies, taking another swig of his drink.

“I doubt that.” Hudson’s reply is short and as bitter as that bourbon tastes.

“I really came by to say congrats. I fly back home in a few hours, and I was hoping to just catch up.” His tone is reserved and steady, sounding authentic. He shoots down the rest of his drink, placing his glass down on the bar.

Hudson remains stoic, the scowl unchanged from the moment he greeted him.

“Okay, baby brother, you win.” He looks over to me. “Ember, it was a pleasure to meet you.” Holding his hand out. I slide mine into his for a friendly shake, still trying to figure out what the hell is going on. He turns my hand over, the back of my hand facing up, and places a kiss on the top. His eyes peer over to his ‘baby brother’ before Hudson yanks me back, ripping my hand from Henry’s.

“Have a good flight,” Hudson replies, as he swings me around and steers me away from Henry. We walk toward the patio doors of the ballroom, exiting into the outdoor garden area. The darkness rivals the mood we just left, but feels serene with just the moonlight shining over the groomed rose bushes and ivy that lines the perimeter.

He releases my waist, stepping forward, stopping in front of the large three-tier fountain, expertly placed in the center of the courtyard.

“What was that?” I ask, quietly, standing a few feet behind him.

He’s leaning over the circular barrier of the fountain. He would be clenching his fists if it weren’t for the cement preventing his fingers from curling. I’m surprised the pressure doesn’t break the hardened stone with how tense everything is. I’ve never seen him like this.

He looks at the water, studying his own reflection, before he stands to his full height and turns around to face me.

“Just do me a favor and stay away from him.” His tone is calm and sounds like my Hudson again. But it’s clear he’s bothered.

“Why?” Which is the wrong thing to ask because it sounds like defiance. “I mean… what happened between you two?”

Placing his hands on his hips, he’s uncomfortable, unsure.

“I was engaged—” He pauses and looks at me with concern, before quickly averting his gaze. I am a little shocked, but I remain impassive and just listen. “He said she came after him… but Henry, he… he always wants what someone else has. Specifically with me. He’s done that our whole lives.”

He kicks an invisible rock on the ground, his eyes avoiding me.

“They were engaged for a while after she left me. Until he got bored.”

He runs his hands through his hair, weaving them behind his neck as he peers up to the sky.

“I’m so sorry,” I reply genuinely. He’s embarrassed, ashamed. And I can only imagine the self-doubt that someone would live with if their fian?e left them for their sibling.

“I didn’t know he was your brother. He just said he knew the players. I just figured he was part of the team somehow.” I step closer to him and reach around his shoulders, unhooking his stiff hands from his neck and placing them on my waist.

This is definitely crossing that line I drew out, but he’s struggling. I can feel the hurt in his voice, and this is the only way I know how to comfort him.

Placing my hands over his face, I pull his nose down to meet mine. I’m engulfed by his familiar and comforting woodsy scent, mixed with the florals that surround us, and I can’t stop myself from bringing his lips to mine. I know I shouldn’t, but I want to make him feel better.

The agony he’s feeling is like wildfire, spreading between the two of us, and this kiss is powerful enough to extinguish it.

I instantly melt into him as he pulls me in flush with his body. We swallow each other’s moans as our tongues dance together in perfect rhythm with each other.

His hand trails up my arm and caresses my neck. Our kiss turns passionate as he palms my face, bringing us even closer together.

My heart and mind battle each other, and it’s these moments that make me wonder if I could have both. The kind of relationship that allows for independence and a reliable comfort in someone else, without losing myself to that person. The kind of relationship that is highly improbable. The kind of relationship that scares the shit out of me because it increases my chances of turning out just like my mother.

His eyes are squeezed shut as I pull away, and I can feel him tense again. I press my nose back to his, telling him I’m not going anywhere and that I know he needs me right now.

“Take me home.”