On the train ride home, I felt free. I had enjoyed not having every minute and thought consumed by Adam. Was this wrong? I grinned as Kyle's cheeky face came to mind. If neither of us were with someone else in five years, I would remind Kyle of our conversation.

The week dragged by. Though I stayed busy, Adam was always on my mind. I rang Belinda while on the train home on Friday afternoon. We decided to go out. She would come and get me at eight.

When I arrived at my bedsit, my brother, Daniel, was sitting on his duffle bag at my door. He cocked his head and grinned at me. "Hey, Sis."

"What are you doing here?" Something was up I gave him a stern look.

"I came to visit my favourite sister."

"Is that right?" I scoffed.

"Yes and no," he said in a downtrodden voice.

As I unlocked the door, I said, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I need a place to stay. Just for tonight. This stupid bitch I've hooked up with has kicked me out."

"If she's such a stupid bitch, why did you hook up with her in the first place?"

"For sex."

Daniel is so straightforward. I can't tell you how many times he's landed on my doorstep for the same reason. "God, don't men think about anything else? What about her personality?" I scolded.

"What personality?" Daniel laughed. "I just said she was a bitch, didn't I?"

I sighed. "I only have one bed."

"That's okay, we can share. It's a double."

"Daniel, you're my brother!"

"We'll top and tail, we've done it before, Jazz. I won't tell anyone if you don't."

I shook my head in disbelief. He had an answer for everything. I went into the bathroom and called over my shoulder, "I'm going out with my girlfriends tonight. What are you doing?"

He leant on the doorframe and grinned. "Coming with you. Maybe I'll hook up with one of them, then I won't have to share your bed."

I shoved him out of the way and shook my head. "There is no way I would encourage any of my friends to hook up with you."

"Why, I'm a good bloke, hold a steady job, keep fit and don't take drugs. The perfect catch."

I stared at him from under my brows. "Except you are the biggest player I know and you haven't had a relationship that's lasted longer than five minutes."

He bent into my fridge and came up with an apple, waved it at me before taking a bite, and said, "Look who's talking."

We laughed, neither of us seemed to succeed in the relationship department.

Belinda had met Daniel before, but Macy hadn't. Her relationship with the mysterious Peter or Paul had crashed, so she was on the lookout.

"Your brother's nice," she whispered. "Good looking."

"Oh, Macy, stay away from him. I hate to say it, but my brother is the biggest user."

She giggled. I could tell she wasn't going to take any notice of me. I studied Daniel as he put on the charm. He was attractive and not something I'd ever considered before. He was around five ten, five eleven. We all had blonde hair. His was wavier than mine, thick and scruffy. Mum was always at him to get it cut and neaten himself up. To be honest, it suited him like it was. It gave him that cute little boy appearance that made girls want to take him home and clean him up. It had to be the reason he couldn't stick to one girlfriend. There was always another who tried to be his saviour. Daniel's eyes were bluer than mine, with the same dark lashes Melody, my sister, and I had.

He had a perverted sense of humour that had gotten him into trouble many times. He whispered something in Macy's ear. She laughed and watched him walk towards the bar.

"What do you think?" Belinda cocked her head and grinned at me.

"He'll break her heart, and I'll feel bad. Maybe you could talk to her for me."

Belinda laughed and crossed her eyes. "When Macy has something in her sights, there's no stopping her. Besides, she's not a big wimp like you. She gets over broken hearts faster."

I screwed my nose up at her. "Very funny."

"So, how has it been going? I rang last weekend, but you weren't home. Did he take you away again?"

I shook my head and took a sip of my drink. "I went to Mum's for the weekend and caught up with an old friend." I pursed my lips. "I had a pretty good time with him. We went sailing."

"Him? What happened to Adam? Have you given him the flick?"

"No. You'd be the first to know if I had. I'd be the one bawling, remember."

Belinda laughed. "So, what is going on with Adam? You haven't talked about him much lately."

I shrugged again. "Haven't seen much of him." I held up my finger. "Once, since our weekend together. He had to go away for work."

"Belinda!" Macy called over the music. "Come and dance with me."

Belinda yanked her head towards the dance floor. "You coming?"

"I'll wait for Daniel," I said.

They strutted their stuff, and not long after, Daniel returned with a beer in his hand.

"Hey," I said. "Can you not flirt with Macy?"

He cocked his head and pointed at himself mouthing the words, "Me?"

I laughed and mouthed, "Yes, you". Then I yelled over the music. "You'll move on. I'll have to pick up the pieces, so please be good."

Daniel put his arm around my shoulder and hugged me. "Sure... if you give me her phone number. In two weeks, I'll give her a call."

I frowned and shook my head.

He laughed and squeezed me again. "What's this I hear about you having a boyfriend?"

"Who told you that?"

Daniel jerked his head towards the dance floor. "Macy. She says he's a no-show a lot of the time. Haven't you learnt by now, Jazz?"

"As if you're any different?" I scoffed.

Daniel frowned. "Not true, Jazz, I'm always attentive, just can't hold it together."

He was right, he was considerate but something always went wrong for him in the end. Perhaps he hadn't met the right girl yet.

He cocked his head and said, "Do you want to tell your big brother about it?"

The loud music made it hard to talk. I didn't go into every detail. At the end of my tale, I said, "I'm not sure what's going on with him, but I really like him."

"None of my business, Jazz, but from a man's point of view, I'd say he's a bit dodgy. I don't mean he doesn't like you. It sounds to me that he's married. Maybe you should play that game too. You know. Get someone on the side so he knows you're not waiting around for him."

I smiled, knowing I'd never do that, and then I told him about Kyle's proposal.

Daniel laughed and shook his head. "Wanker! He'll try anything to get his way with the ladies."

Daniel doesn't seem to be the type who takes life seriously.

I hope he doesn't break Macy's heart.

And what has happened to Adam?

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