He crosses his arms over his chest, matching mine. I expect an argument, but that’s not what I get. “I’m sorry.” He runs a hand through his hair as if you couldn’t tell we were already brothers by our eyes and hair color. Give him a year or two and we’ll also be the same size in height and build, or if the fucker is lucky, he’ll be taller. “I wasn’t thinking about you.” He turns toward the bedroom as if to make sure Trish can’t hear him. Lowering his voice, he adds, “I wasn’t thinking at all.”

Not more than a month ago, I was the same way, so Lark might be right. I shouldn’t be too hard on him. He knows he screwed up my night, and I’m certain Trish isn’t too impressed with how things played out.

“I’ll apologize to your girlfriend if you’d like.”

“She doesn’t need you to. It’s squashed between us, so it’s over for her.” I step closer and lower my voice this time, and say, “Look, you can use the apartment, but maybe not so . . . frequently. Lark and I are going to be here more often.”

“Maybe it’s time I get my own.”

“Let’s just get through this year. I’ll be going to medical school, and it will be all yours.”

He nods, but then holds out his hand. “Are we good?”

I take his hand, but then pull him against me to pat his back. “We’re good.”

As soon as we back away from each other, he says, “The roses were a nice touch. Trish loved them.”

“Trish can have them. Make something up, like you had them delivered for her. After having her night ruined, she should have something nice come of it.”

“Don’t worry,” he says, walking back to the other room. “Something came . . . of it.”

I shake my head because this kid is too much. “You’re such a fucker, Noah.”

“That’s why the girls love me.” He opens the door and disappears into the bedroom.

That’s my cue to return to my girlfriend. Not sure what Trish is to him, but I’m not sure it matters much tonight.

I open the door to find her still standing at the window. She looks back at me and then returns her gaze through the glass. “I didn’t know our town was so pretty at night. How have I lived here my whole life and never seen an image of it from this elevation before?”

“This building has only been around for four years or so, and there aren’t any high-rises, though not for long. One is being built next door.”

“Soon we won’t recognize Beacon at all.” She sounds impressed with the view, but not so much about the changes to our town.

“It will be so different even after medical school.” I shove my hands in my pockets and stay where I am, unsure how she feels about the situation we just encountered.