And the world suddenly seemed louder because of it.

“So, Cara,” Jude chimed in as we were all gathered around the living room, munching on chips and salsa, while dinner cooked. “I’ve always wondered… how big of a dick is my brother to work for?”

I nearly choked on my tortilla chip. Quickly giving him a dirty look, I washed it down with a large gulp of cheap beer, cringing as the pungent flavor hit my tongue.

Clearly, my brother’s taste buds hadn’t improved with time. His time as a “commoner,” as I liked to call it, working in a hospital as a nursing assistant for several years while coming to terms with the death of his fiancée, had changed him. In more ways than I could ever comprehend.

He’d not only met Lailah, gotten a few tattoos and life experiences, but his whole demeanor had altered in those precious few years.

We had both been trying to fight the inevitability of our lives back then, I guessed. I had lashed out, trying to be someone I wasn’t, and Jude had transformed into the person he was always meant to be.

Looking at everyone in the room, so relaxed and comfortable, I wondered if I was still searching.

“Mr.—Roman, I mean,” Cara said, correcting herself mid sentence, “isn’t actually that bad. He has his surly moments, and he was a bit difficult to warm up to, but in retrospect, he isn’t the worst boss I’ve ever had.”

She didn’t look at me as she spoke. Instead, she paid particular attention to the half-empty glass of beer she’d been nursing since we arrived, but I did see her cheeks flush as she spoke, and it gave me great pleasure, knowing I created such a response in her.

How I’d love to create a plethora of responses in her, in so many ways.

“You hear that, brother? You’re not the worst boss she’s ever had. That’s got to be one of the best compliments you’ve ever received from an employee!” Jude said, slapping me on the back, as he wandered into the kitchen to check on dinner.

“Do you want to book that hotel room yet?” I asked, shaking my head. I took another swig of tasteless beer.

“No.” She laughed. “He’s great. They’re both great.”

I nodded, agreeing mostly, as I tried to cover my disappointment. I had known this would happen. It always did. People would meet me and then meet Jude, and suddenly, I was invisible under his hero-like personality. It was like being the stepbrother to Superman. Who would honestly care about that guy?

“I knew they’d be great,” Cara said softly.

I looked up at her, preparing myself for the barrage of hero-worshipping that would follow.

“Why?” I played along.