“What’d you bring me?” Dylan asked as we made our way back across the road to the picnic table.

“Water. Like you wanted.” I passed it to him. He eyed Lex’s Frappuccino.

“You don’t like these,” she reminded him. “And it’s too hot for coffee.”

“You guys are ganging up on me,” he complained, pulling Lex beside him. But he looked at me over her head and mouthed, “Thank you.”

He meant for calling him and making him drag his ass out here at the last minute. That was what family was for—telling you when you had your head so far up your ass you couldn’t see what was right in front of you.

Best-friend-and-brother crisis averted, my eyes went back to the court.

The stakes had just gone up. Both guys were shirtless, and damn if it wasn’t fascinating.

Surfers trying to show off were one thing, but lawyers on the basketball court were a different breed. There was a desperation to it, like everything mattered just a little too much.

Is there such a thing as lawyer basketball porn? I’d totally buy it.

From twenty feet, I could see every line of Josh’s abs. And Nate …

It killed me to admit Nate looked better than I remembered. It wasn’t even that he was objectively hot. Though I guess he was. He had an unfair advantage because I knew just what that body could do. I could still feel it on me from the other morning on the couch. Like if I lifted my shirt I could see the impression of his skin on mine.

“These guys are pretty serious,” Dylan said, impressed. “Did they play college or high school?”

“Sure,” I replied absently. Someone snorted beside me. I ignored it.

Nate’s face was a mask of concentration, oblivious to the audience as he swiped the ball out of Josh’s hands.

Jordan leaned over. “I think they’re going to break out a measuring tape.”

“What?” I looked at her blankly.

“Do I have to spell it out? There are two desk jockeys running each other into the ground over you.”

“I don’t—”

“Shit!”

Four heads snapped toward the court. Both guys were on the pavement. Nate got up first, breathing hard. He seemed to hesitate before extending a hand to Josh.

Lex looked pointedly at me.

“Oh! Are you OK? Josh?” I jogged to meet him.

By that point he was standing and brushing himself off. He smiled, though it looked strained. He shook out his legs to check for injuries.

“Fine. Thanks, babe.” He bent over and dropped a kiss on my mouth. It was longer, harder than I expected. When I pulled back, Nate was watching darkly.

He seemed to shake it off, turning to Josh. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to catch you that hard.”

“No worries.” But Josh’s smile was tighter than normal.

“Maybe it’s time to go for something stronger than caffeine,” Dylan suggested, coming up behind us.

“Yeah, good idea,” I breathed, still unsure what the hell had just happened.

We headed for a nearby sports bar. Dylan fell into step with Nate, and Josh and I held back, him taking my hand in his. I was the last to our table. When we sat, Dylan and Nate were already deep in conversation.

“You still play rugby?” Nate asked my brother.

“Yeah, but I got hurt in high school. Now I play rec mostly, which is better for my grades. I’m going into fourth year engineering, hoping I can land a job in New York after. Something tells me I need to protect my interests.” Dylan half-smiled at Lex, challenging her to say something. She just rolled her eyes.

God, they were cute. I was glad they’d been talking about the future again.

“Good plan. If you need any connections, give me a call,” Nate told my brother. “I can get you introductions to a few firms.”

“That’d be great. Thanks.” Dylan looked at him with admiration.

For some reason, I couldn’t keep quiet. It bugged me that Nate was looking like a superstar in front of my brother. “If you need connections, Nate’s your guy. He sues half the city and does favors for the rest, so he pretty much knows the entire island.”

Nate’s eyes sparked on mine. “Give it time. You’re new to town, and your primary social activity is mainlining Thai food,” he volleyed back.

I smiled sweetly. “Don’t be mean. Not everyone can rub shoulders with rich criminals all day.”

Even though I was annoyed he’d come, I had to admit that a few minutes of arguing with him got me going more than the basketball.

After a round of drinks, I got up to use to the restroom at the end of a long hall. I ran into Dylan on the way back.

“Thanks for calling me the other day. I’m glad I came. Even if it used up all my travel points and half of next month’s grocery money.” He grimaced.

“I’m glad you guys are working it out. Actually, I’m a little relieved.” He raised an eyebrow quizzically. “I mean, if there’s no hope for you two, what is there for the rest of us?”

We shared a smile. It felt nice to be on good terms. Probably because it’d taken twenty years to get there.

“What about you?” Dylan asked casually.

I glanced toward the restaurant to ensure no one was in hearing range. “Josh is great. He’s smart, and sweet, and has manners …”

My baby brother cut me off with his “I can see through your bullshit” look. “I wasn’t talking about Captain America.”

“Dylan.” My tone held a caution.

One he completely ignored. “Nate’s into you—”

“So that is why you invited him! Dammit, Dylan, you always think you’re smarter than the rest of us, but you don’t even know him.”

He shrugged dismissively. “You’re forgetting I know you. We’re family, we’re made from the same parts. So believe me when I say the way you guys argue? It’s like watching through a peephole in Amsterdam.”

“Gee, thanks for the brotherly advice.” I patted his shoulder before brushing past him to walk back to the table. But Dylan’s voice stopped me.

“I’ll butt out if that’s what you want. But I don’t get it. If you won’t choose, you’re wasting Josh’s time, and yours. And Nate’s not stupid, Ava—it’s obvious to him too. You’re the only one who doesn’t see it.”

He backed down the hall toward the restroom, fixing me with a meaningful look and leaving me gaping.

I took a minute to gather myself before heading back to the table. Taking my seat again, I immersed myself in what Jordan was saying about some band. I refused to look at either Josh or Nate. Tried to ignore Dylan’s words that echoed in my brain.

A server set a brown to-go bag with the bar’s logo in front of Nate while the rest of us were still waiting on food.

“Not hungry?” I asked in a low voice.

He shook his head. “I’m going to go.” The coolness in his tone was new. “I’ll see you.” Nate left, saying curt goodbyes to the rest of the table.

What the hell was that all about?

As we ate our bar food, I couldn’t help noticing Lex and Dylan, how they’d tease and touch each other and exchange these secret looks. Wasn’t that what I wanted? Not the romance instead of the heat, but both together?

I leaned into Josh, who had an arm on the back of my seat. “Can we go for a walk?”

“You bet.”

After the bills were settled, we all stood to go.

“We’re going to see a movie,” Lex volunteered. “Anyone want to come?”

“If you want to abuse—I mean use—the apartment, go ahead,” I offered.

She and Dylan exchanged a look.

“Movie can wait,” Dylan said deadpan. My best friend almost managed to hide the smile tugging at her mouth.

“Good seeing you Jordan, Lex. Dylan, nice to meet you.” Josh smiled at everyone. “Ready?” He steered me toward the door.

It was dusk and starting to cool off. I wished I’d brought a jacket, but didn’t want to look cold in case Josh put his arm around me. We turned left out of the restaurant, toward home. I listened with half an ear as Josh talked plans for the week.

Less than a block away my gaze landed on a man in a doorway. He was sitting on a blanket with a dirty knapsack clutched protectively in one hand. His other hand held a sandwich. He looked up guardedly as I walked by. But what caught my eye was the bag from the restaurant, crumpled on the street next to his knapsack.

The bag Nate had been carrying.

Dammit …

I couldn’t escape Nate Townsend.

And I couldn’t keep faking it with some other guy until I got my head on straight. No matter what my brother said, it wasn’t a choice between Josh and Nate. It was a choice between Josh and me, believing I could feel the rush I’d always imagined. That I deserved it and would find it. With someone.

* * *

“Hello?” I called as I cautiously opened the door of our suite.

The kitchen light was on and Lex was getting a glass of water. The door to her room was pulled.

“Did you kill him?” I asked with mock horror.

Lex tucked a piece of unusually messy hair behind her ear. “He’s just tired. Long flight.” She said it in a low voice before draining the glass and refilling it.

“So that’s what they’re calling it these days.” She rolled her eyes. “It’s OK, really, Lex. If he’s dead, Kate, Ethan, and I split Mom and Dad’s money three ways instead of four. Which means we each get about twenty bucks.”

Lex smiled. I followed her to the couch, sat down, and curled my legs under me.

“So things are good with you guys?” I asked quietly.

“I think so. Long distance is hard. I’m glad we stuck it out, but if I’d known last year it would be this bad? I might not have done it. Still, he’s going to find a way to visit more, and I will too.” She paused. “I’m worried about you, though. What happened with Josh?”

“We—I broke it off.” She nodded understandingly. “It just wasn’t … I didn’t feel anything, Lex.” I thought about how Josh had been when I’d told him. Decent; understanding but disappointed. My shoulders rose and fell. “Maybe I’m doing it wrong. Maybe I’m broken.”

Lex shook her head quickly. “You are not broken, Ava. If there’s nothing there, there’s nothing there.”

“He’s perfect.” I didn’t know if I was saying it to Lex or to me.

“The funny thing about perfect? There’s no such thing. I mean, Dylan’s not perfect, and I’m not. The best I can hope for is that we’re perfect for each other.”

I thought about her words. “I know there are other guys. I’ll find what you have eventually. And if not, I’ll always have Travesty. And you. And maybe some cats.”

Lex leaned over to give me a hug before standing. “It won’t come to that. You’ll see.”