Paris (Entangle Me Book 4) Read Free

familiar face walks into the kitchen.
    “Hey sis,” Hansley’s lean arms wrap me in a bear hug from behind. I can smell the thin layer of fried potato and mayonnaise on his black hoodie. “Long time no see.”
    “Whoa,” I whisper. “Dude, did you just have some takeout?”
    He puts a finger to his lips. Hansley takes me out of the kitchen and into the living room. “Shhh! Don’t say anything alright? Don’t worry, I’m still going to eat tons. Can’t wait to tuck into those dumplings…”
    I tsk tsk and push him away gently, walking towards the circular timber dining table. Hansley has the biggest appetite of anyone I know, but I don’t know where he puts it.
    “So how’s work?” I ask, laying down the cutlery on the table. Sometimes it still baffles me that behind his hipster and grungy image, my brother is actually a very serious and bookish accountant. My tattooed, spiky-haired, junk food addict brother is a whiz at preparing ledgers and separating debits from credits. 
    He shrugs. “Month end stuff, busy as always. How are all your fancy weddings going?”
    “Well, my tan from Thailand has disappeared. Look!” I push up my sleeve to show my forearm, which still has the faintest remnant of my newly acquired tan from basking in Kamala Beach.
    He shakes his head, “No, you look pasty like me as always. We’ve established this, we are genetically bred to look ashen.”
    I look into his eyes, which look a lot less sunken than before. He looks really refreshed, almost glowing. I would usually smell alcohol on his hoodie but not this time.
    “Who’s the new girl?” I smirk, asking the only thing that can be the cause of his sunny disposition.
    Involuntarily, a look of embarrassment creeps up on him. “Nothing, I’m just going through a no drinking spell at the moment.”
    “Courtesy of some girl, who is it?”
    He continues to look coy. “Nothing, it’s just casual.”
    Boy, I bet she would love to be labelled as casual. It’s a fashion style, not a relationship status.
    “Wow, she is so lucky to have you,” I say dryly.
    “Oh come on, you know I treat women with respect.” He smiles to himself. “But no, I’m the lucky one to have her.”
    I won’t press on it now, but he’s never wanted to not talk about a girl with me. It must be serious.
“Maybe you will finally stop going to seedy pubs on Friday and Saturday nights then? Ever think of that?”
    “I like my cheap and seedy pubs thank you very much. Besides, who else would Tristan go drinking with?”
    My stomach drops at the thought of Tristan being single and ready to mingle.
    “Anyway on a serious note, how have you been? We haven’t really hung out much since that night,” he says hesitantly. He knows that he got a bit out of hand that night, with his temper being directed right at Adam.
    I shrug my shoulders, happy to change the topic.  
    “I’ve been good. The new job is keeping me busy, and I like it that way.”
    He glances at my speculatively, “But you’re not overworking yourself for a reason yeah? I’m your big brother, I’m supposed to take care of you.”
    “Thanks,” I smile at him. “I’m doing a lot better now, believe me.”
    I’m going to Paris with Tristan in a week, I don’t have much to complain about right now.
    Suddenly mom calls out from the kitchen. “Lunch is ready, come and grab the plates!”
    Hansley’s eyes light up. “Yesssssssss! Sorry if I steal your dumplings, I’ve got the munchies so bad.”
    “Go ahead. I had a late breakfast anyway.”
    He paces ahead, and I giggle to myself. There’s nothing like family, they’re irreplaceable.
    Forty-five minutes later and I’ve eaten enough Asian food to sate my craving for another few days. Mom has outdone herself, providing enough food to feed a small army. Two full plates of beef chow fun, three plates of her handmade steamed pork and mushroom dumplings, a small mountain of steamed bok choy and steamed corn.
    I sit back, breathing