Read Online The Girl With Diamonds (Midtown Brotherhood Book 2) by Savannah Blevins - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Savannah Blevins
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to teach that girl manners. When Magnolia looked back around, Leila continued to smile. “So…you and my brother.” She paused, her smile broadening. “That interview.”
Magnolia’s lips pressed tight. She definitely just said brother. That meant she’d been right. Austin and Henrik were related. Leila seemed nice enough, but the last thing she wanted to talk about was that interview. Especially with Austin’s sister. She couldn’t handle one more person taking up for him.
Leila reached over and touched her hand. “It’s okay. I know Austin was a jerk.”
Leila must have read the surprised look on her face.
“I grew up with hockey guys,” Leila said. “They might look like adults on the outside, but they forgot their maturity back in college. My brother is no exception. Austin should have saved his shenanigans for after the interview.”
“Thank you.” Magnolia deflated. All the nervous energy and annoyance she built up faded. Finally. Someone understood.
Leila picked up her glass of wine and took a small drink. “That being said. My brother isn’t a bad guy.”
Then she gave Magnolia the look. The sister look. Magnolia had two sisters. She knew what that look meant.
“I’m sure your brother is—”
“Amazing,” Leila said, interrupting. “He’s the best big brother imaginable. I went through a lot the past two years, and Austin never left my side, not even for a moment. My daughter, Lucy, the one you met at the Blazer’s game. She is crazy about her uncle. And Henrik. Don’t even get me started about his bromance with Austin. Henrik almost risked our relationship because he was so scared of losing Austin as a friend.”
Cressida leaned across Magnolia’s lap again, clinking her empty wine glass against Leila’s. “Amen, sister. I’ve been preaching this to her all freaking day.”
Again, Magnolia pushed Cressida back into her seat. “You told me to stay away from the athletes.”
“I lied. Sue me.”
Magnolia shot Cressida a death glare and slowly turned back to Leila, trying to regain her thoughts. “Like I said, I’m sure Austin is a great guy, but I’m in New York to salvage my career. I can’t risk my job so your brother has someone to flirt with every week.”
“This one has a chance to move to L.A. in the spring,” Cressida said, giving Magnolia a not-so-gentle congratulatory slap on the back.
Magnolia eyed Cressida. “How do you know about that?”
Cressida snorted. “I have my ways.” She leaned closer. “I hear everything.”
Leila was laughing now. “How many glasses of wine has she had already?”
“Too many.”
Leila scooted up to the edge of her seat, moving her feet into the aisle between them. “I don’t think this thing with you is about flirting for him. I think he has a crush on you.”
Magnolia nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “What’s the difference?”
“With my brother—there is a big difference. I can’t remember the last time he had an actual crush.”
“It’s the smile,” Cressida said, remaining in her spot for once. “You can tell by his smile. It’s different than his usual one. It changes when he looks at her.”
Magnolia shot her a glare. “No one asked you.”
“Yeah. I noticed it on the video, but it didn’t hit home until I saw him talking with you at the game Saturday. That wasn’t his normal flirting smile.” Leila nodded now as if Cressida made perfect sense.
They had to stop this now. She had to stop it before they all started making too much sense. She’d made up her mind already. “It’s best if we stay away from each other. I think we can all agree that we don’t need to give Ferra Decantur any new reasons to be interested in us.”
Leila bit her lip, and then took a rather guilty sip from her wine glass. “I may need to apologize, then.”
“Apologize for what?”
Leila winced. “I texted Henrik that you were here right after I saw you walk in.”
Cressida popped up to
Magnolia’s lips pressed tight. She definitely just said brother. That meant she’d been right. Austin and Henrik were related. Leila seemed nice enough, but the last thing she wanted to talk about was that interview. Especially with Austin’s sister. She couldn’t handle one more person taking up for him.
Leila reached over and touched her hand. “It’s okay. I know Austin was a jerk.”
Leila must have read the surprised look on her face.
“I grew up with hockey guys,” Leila said. “They might look like adults on the outside, but they forgot their maturity back in college. My brother is no exception. Austin should have saved his shenanigans for after the interview.”
“Thank you.” Magnolia deflated. All the nervous energy and annoyance she built up faded. Finally. Someone understood.
Leila picked up her glass of wine and took a small drink. “That being said. My brother isn’t a bad guy.”
Then she gave Magnolia the look. The sister look. Magnolia had two sisters. She knew what that look meant.
“I’m sure your brother is—”
“Amazing,” Leila said, interrupting. “He’s the best big brother imaginable. I went through a lot the past two years, and Austin never left my side, not even for a moment. My daughter, Lucy, the one you met at the Blazer’s game. She is crazy about her uncle. And Henrik. Don’t even get me started about his bromance with Austin. Henrik almost risked our relationship because he was so scared of losing Austin as a friend.”
Cressida leaned across Magnolia’s lap again, clinking her empty wine glass against Leila’s. “Amen, sister. I’ve been preaching this to her all freaking day.”
Again, Magnolia pushed Cressida back into her seat. “You told me to stay away from the athletes.”
“I lied. Sue me.”
Magnolia shot Cressida a death glare and slowly turned back to Leila, trying to regain her thoughts. “Like I said, I’m sure Austin is a great guy, but I’m in New York to salvage my career. I can’t risk my job so your brother has someone to flirt with every week.”
“This one has a chance to move to L.A. in the spring,” Cressida said, giving Magnolia a not-so-gentle congratulatory slap on the back.
Magnolia eyed Cressida. “How do you know about that?”
Cressida snorted. “I have my ways.” She leaned closer. “I hear everything.”
Leila was laughing now. “How many glasses of wine has she had already?”
“Too many.”
Leila scooted up to the edge of her seat, moving her feet into the aisle between them. “I don’t think this thing with you is about flirting for him. I think he has a crush on you.”
Magnolia nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “What’s the difference?”
“With my brother—there is a big difference. I can’t remember the last time he had an actual crush.”
“It’s the smile,” Cressida said, remaining in her spot for once. “You can tell by his smile. It’s different than his usual one. It changes when he looks at her.”
Magnolia shot her a glare. “No one asked you.”
“Yeah. I noticed it on the video, but it didn’t hit home until I saw him talking with you at the game Saturday. That wasn’t his normal flirting smile.” Leila nodded now as if Cressida made perfect sense.
They had to stop this now. She had to stop it before they all started making too much sense. She’d made up her mind already. “It’s best if we stay away from each other. I think we can all agree that we don’t need to give Ferra Decantur any new reasons to be interested in us.”
Leila bit her lip, and then took a rather guilty sip from her wine glass. “I may need to apologize, then.”
“Apologize for what?”
Leila winced. “I texted Henrik that you were here right after I saw you walk in.”
Cressida popped up to
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