Between her shiny necklace and her intense eyes, Emma catches every spec of light in the room.

She's dressed to the nines.

Long hair in careful waves.

Red lips.

Dark makeup highlighting her gorgeous eyes.

For a second, I forget I'm sitting next to her brother.

I forget I'm here to announce the next phase in my life.

I forget everything except how badly I want to hold her.

I stand. Watch her cross the room. Wrap my arms around her.

"Hunter." Her cheeks flush. She pulls back. Plays off our embrace.

"You look gorgeous." My gaze refuses to budge from her eyes.

She's radiant.

A vision.

Everything.

Fuck, I'm so in love with this girl.

It consumes every thought in my head.

Every minute of the day.

I want the world with her.

And for her.

"You don't clean up so bad, yourself." Her red lips curl into a smile.

She pulls out her chair before I can.

Does the same with Kaylee's.

Kaylee giggles as she takes her seat. She looks gorgeous in her powder blue dress, long blond hair swept halfway up, shiny silver makeup bringing out her green eyes.

She's a knockout, no doubt about it.

But Emma has all my interest.

Kaylee and Brendon exchange fuck me glances. They're both quiet. Coy about how much they want each other.

But I've stayed with him for long enough to know—

Let's just say they aren't quiet in private.

The walls at the Kane place are thin.

I can't complain. It's not every day I get free audio porn. Especially of the kinky variety.

"This place really your vibe?" Emma's gaze shifts around the dark restaurant.

It's a fancy place in Santa Monica. Complete with high ceilings, candles, soft music.

Not at all my vibe.

Or hers.

But it fits the occasion.

"You know I aspire to be a banker." I motion to my suit and tie.

Emma laughs. "Nailed it, as usual."

"Yeah." Kaylee tilts her head to one side. "I could see it." She looks to Emma. "He is really good with the numbers."

Emma nods. "He's taught me a lot."

"Only what I know," I say.

"Really?" Emma teases. "I thought you were teaching me stuff you didn't know."

"You're already better than I am," I say.

Her cheeks flush. "I'm just—"

"Your business final is next week, right?" I ask.

Emma nods. "Almost done with my project."

"What is it?" Brendon's gaze shifts from Emma to me then back to Emma.

There's something in his dark eyes.

His normal curiosity.

I think.

We talk a lot. Watch action movies. Trade notes on mock-ups.

We're friends.

Close.

But we're not exactly trading secrets.

He never asks where I'm spending my nights. Only if I'm spending them sober. And even then, he's casual about it. So it never seems like a big deal.

Sometimes I forget what a big deal it is.

Emma does that to me.

She makes me believe I can do anything.

"It's a business plan for a small chain. A clothing line with three retail stores. There are a ton of moving parts. Inventory, designs, employees, rent, locations." Her eyes light up. "I always thought there were answers with business. That it was simple math. But it's all judgment calls."

Brendon nods.

"Don't even." She shoots him a knowing look.

He shrugs.

"You're going to start about how it's so good I'm in school." She folds her arms. "Kay, please—"

"You know I agree with him," Kaylee says.

Emma looks to me.

I nod. "You belong in school."

She shakes her head. "Et tu, brute?"

I can't help but chuckle. Her voice is bouncy. Her eyes are bright. Her posture is relaxed.

Easy.

This is where she belongs.

With her family.

With all this love in her life.

All this passion surrounding her.

I want that for her.

I want that more than anything.

"Be honest. I convinced you to love art history," I say.

She sticks her tongue out in distaste.

"What about those wood block paintings from the Edo era." There's a ton of erotic stuff. With full on penetration.

"Everything that's wrong about art history." Emma shakes her head. "It's porn for guys. Where is the—"

"They're ladies and dudes getting down. How is that for men specifically?" I ask.

Kaylee laughs. "He kinda has you there."

Brendon shoots her a look.

Kaylee blushes. "Not that I… I don't look at porn. Not that there's anything wrong with porn. I just prefer—"

"Dirty books," Emma offers.

"I read them for the story," Kaylee says.

"Some of them. Others…" Emma raises a brow.

Kaylee's blush deepens.

"Fuck, angel, I'm gonna have to drag you back to the car at this rate." Brendon's voice drops.

Emma's expression twists with exaggerated disgust. "I swear, they can't go five minutes without getting dirty."

"Can you really blame her?" I tease. "Kanes are irresistible."

"Well, that is true." Emma’s eyes meet mine. "Everyone knows that."

"You know every single guy I tattooed this week asked if you were single," I say.

"What did you say?" Emma asks.

"Over my dead body." Brendon chuckles like he's teasing.

"Oooh, maybe we should find an especially annoying one," Emma says. "I'll grab him. Start making out. Brendon will kill him. Get sent to jail. I'll have the house all to myself."

"Flawless plan," I say.

"I'll visit you in prison." Kaylee blows her boyfriend a kiss.

"I'll have to break out. Go on the lam." He reaches across the table. Runs his fingers over her palm. "I wouldn't last a week without you."

Kaylee lets out a dreamy sigh.

Emma shakes her head. "God, they're so cute. It's like… disgusting, but it's so adorable that I can't even hate it."

"I love you too." Kaylee hugs her friend.

A server stops by to take our drink order. She frowns when I insist on sparkling water for the group, but she still returns with a bottle of Pellegrino.

"Oh my." Emma laughs as I fill her glass. "Is this really such a formal occasion?"

"I hate to break it to you, Em, but I'm not here so you can mock my attire," I say.

"You sure? I had more to say about your tie." Her red lips curl into a smile.

"This?" I tug at my tie. It's crimson. Same color as her bed spread. And her nails. And her lips.

Emma nods. "Wes was right. A brighter red would be better. You really are a spring."

"Oh my God, this again?" Kaylee laughs. "If I have to hear the words 'soft summer' one more time."

"But you're such a soft summer!" Emma protests. "Look how gorgeous she looks in that medium toned blue."

"You're a vision, angel," Brendon says.

Kaylee blushes, no longer concerned with Emma's color describing system. "What were you…"

"Hunter, please. You have to ignore the gaga eyes. They never stop," Emma says.

"I'm getting that vibe," I say.

"Fuck, how long have you suffered from her crashing at his place?" Emma asks.

"Too long," I say.

"He's only home half the time," Brendon says. "Won't admit that he's seeing someone."

"I see people every day, all day," I say.

"What a Dean line." Emma laughs.

Kaylee nods. "He and Chloe took forever to admit it."

Emma whispers something in her ear.

Kaylee whispers back.

There's no sign Brendon knows.

Kaylee's kept our secret.

But then…

He's not a fucking idiot.

He must have an inkling.

We're going to tell him.

Soon.

But not tonight.

I already have one life changing announcement tonight.

I uncap the Pellegrino. Fill our glasses one at a time. "That's what I want to talk about?"

"Can't take any more of their dirty sex?" Emma asks. "It's not hot at all? It's actually disgusting?"

"Hate to break it to you, Em, but it's hot as fuck," I say.

Kaylee's face goes white. "You can, um… We're not that loud."

"You are," I say.

Kaylee looks to Brendon really?

He nods.

"But we… I…" She looks to me. "Really?"

"Yeah. You could give a few professional performers a run for their money," I say.

"Oh my God." Kaylee's blush spreads to her chest. "I… you should have said something! I would have toned it down."

"No way in hell," Brendon says.

Emma shakes her head. "See. They're already back at it."

"Think you started it this time," I say.

"Nuh uh. You did." Emma's smile spreads over her cheeks. She wraps her fingers around her glass. Holds it up. "Tell me why I'm toasting."

Because I'm four months sober.

Because I have a job that fulfills me.

Because I remember what it means to be an artist.

Because I'm crazy fucking in love with her.

Fuck, there's so much right.

But none of that is the reason why I'm here.

"I found an apartment." I hold up my glass. "Already started moving in."

"Yeah?" Emma's eyes light up with a mix of pride and desire.

It will be a hell of a lot easier fucking her with my own place.

And we're going to christen every fucking inch of that place.

My balls tighten.

She looks too divine in that dress.

I need it on the floor.

I need her under me.

I need her groaning my name.

"That's awesome, Hunter." Emma holds up her glass. "To the end of your free audio porn."

Kaylee blushes. "Um… how about, to this new phase of your life?"

"I like mine better. But it's your call, Hunter." Emma's eyes meet mine.

"To everything going right in my life," I say.

"I'll drink to that," Brendon says.

The four of us clink glasses.

And for the entire fucking dinner, I feel it.

I have a place.

A family.

A life.

We meet at Brendon's place.

After a long conversation and too much herbal tea, the party breaks up.

Kaylee insists on a walk on the beach. Before she drags her boyfriend away, she whispers something in Emma's ear.

Emma comes to me with a smile. "We have time."

"How much?" I ask.

"Not enough." She waits until the sliding glass door closes, until Brendon and Kaylee are gone, then she intertwines her fingers with mine.

I lead her up the stairs.

Neither of us has to say it.

It's so obvious.

I need to be inside her.

I need her groaning my name.

I need her coming so hard she can't stand it.