Ruined By My Brother's Best Friend (by Silverwriter) novel Chapter 23

Bad Habit

Mthroat went dry as I watched the blonde stroke Alvise’s arm, trying to get his attention while he remained focused on typing away on his phone. I forced my gaze away from them and sat down in the booth Archie had led us to, which just so. happened to be directly opposite theirs.

Great.

“Arabella!” Francesca squealed as she shot to her feet. “It’s been so long!” She hurried over and pulled me into a hug.

I hugged her back stiffly before pulling away. “Don’t I know it,” I replied with a sheepish smile!

I sat back down, resisting the urge to roll my eyes as she fussed over Sierra and cracked jokes with William. There was no one faker than Francesca. I said what I said.

“My little B, what do you want to drink?” Archie asked as he took a seat beside Alvise, who was still engrossed in his phone

“White wine,” I answered.

Archie frowned. “I was only asking to be polite. You’re getting fruit juice. You’re a lightweight.”

I pouted. “But I can handle a glass or two.”

He shook his head and turned to Sierra and William to ask what they’d like. A few minutes later, he returned with a glass of whiskey for William and two glasses of orange juice for Sierra and me, despite Sierra specifically requesting red wine.

We both cursed him under our breaths before taking our drinks. After a large sip, Sierra leaned toward me and whispered, “Isn’t he supposed to be engaged?”

I glanced toward the subject of our conversation, Alvise, but to my surprise, he was already looking at me. My gaze flicked briefly to the blonde, who was still rubbing his arm, before returning to him.

Without breaking eye contact, I whispered back to Sierra, “Don’t know. Don’t care.” I knew he could both hear and see us. But like I said… I didn’t care.

It had been over a week since he’d stormed out of my apartment. I’d cried myself to sleep every night since then, but I knew I had to pull myself together. Now, I was having nightmares about the accident. There were still so many unanswered questions, even after everything Alvise had told me. I still didn’t know what Jude had really been planning, whether he had actually intended to kidnap me, or why.

Since my eyes had been shut throughout the ordeal, I had no idea what happened to him during the crash or afterward. All 1 remembered was hearing a loud bang. A bang that had sounded disturbingly like a gunshot.m before I’d felt something warm splatter across my face and arms. I was certain of it.

None of it made sense. No police officer had ever contacted me for questioning. I’d fully expected the police to show up at my apartment demanding answers… Answers I didn’t even have. At first, I thought I’d imagined the whole thing. But when 1 returned to work the following day and Jude was nowhere to be found, I knew it hadn’t been a dream. There was nothing in the news. No reports or investigation. Nothing.

The only other person who might have known anything was Alvise, but he’d already told me everything he claimed to know. All I was left with were guilt… and nightmares.

William suddenly grabbed my hand, pulling me out of my thoughts. I turned to find him holding out his glass of whiskey. “Hey,” he whispered. “Have you ever tried one of these?”

I shook my head. “Nah, I haven’t.”

He grinned sheepishly. “Here. Try mine.”

Suddenly, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. I knew instantly that Alvise was behind me, but I remained perfectly still, refusing to turn around even after I felt him stop beside me.

He signaled for the bartender, who came over immediately. I glanced sideways at the bartender. So…. he now he wasn’t busy.

“Whiskey. On the rocks,” Alvise said. The bartender nodded eagerly and, within moments, placed a tumbler in front of him.

Alvise lifted it to his lips and took a slow sip. Then, without warning, he nudged my stool with his foot until I was facing him.

My breath caught at the sudden proximity. He was close. Far too close. Close enough that I could catch the clean scent of his aftershave.

His eyes held mine as he absentmindedly stroked his jaw. “You’ve never had whiskey before?” he asked.

Confused and dazed, I nodded slowly, wondering why I was even answering him. Before I could make sense of what was happening, he raised the glass again and took another sip. Slowly, he turned the rim so the exact spot his lips had touched, so it faced me.

Without breaking eye contact, he brought the glass toward my lips. My heart thundered in my chest and every nerve in my body seemed to awaken at once. Without thinking, I parted my lips. The cool rim brushed against them, sending a shiver down my spine as he tipped the glass just enough for a ‘small amount of cool whiskey to flow into my mouth.

I swallowed the harsh liquid, almost choking on the unfamiliar burn. Before I could recover, he leaned close to my ear.

I sucked in a sharp breath as his low voice broke the silence. “You gave me a bad habit,” he murmured. “Now all your firsts have to be with me.”