dissonance. (a Böhme novel) by Sarah Buhl

stepped back from him. “Where is she?” I asked as I turned to face the same direction as him, my back now pressed against his chest and I heard a sexy sigh flow from him as I leaned my shoulder back against him. He rested his hand against my hip and I didn’t notice it at first, which was unnerving. Things were too easy with him.
    The girl from last night met my eyes before looking up at Blake. She walked toward us and she held a fake smile. She tried to show that Blake’s proximity to me did not bother her. I felt sorry for her as I took in her expression, but then she spoke.
    “Hi, Blake. Who’s your friend?” she asked in a snide tone. Her voice felt like my ears were being cleaned out with sandpaper. Okay, maybe not that bad, but she definitely annoyed me.
    “Abby, meet Brecken. Brecken, meet Abby,” he said without moving from his spot behind me.
    I put my hand to Abby to shake hers and she gave me a false smile and shook my hand with an exaggerated squeeze. I laughed for a moment, before righting myself. I nodded to her as I took my hand back and placed it on my hip, just below Blake’s.
    Blake still remained behind me and it was as if I was guarding him as a dog guards its food. But Abby didn’t care. She looked past me now and straight at Blake. “Well, the two of you have a good time,” she said before turning away from us. She walked with a punctuated click to her step.
    “She seems… nice,” I said as I turned to face Blake.
    He rolled his eyes as he put his hands in his pockets. “I guess that’s an okay word to describe her. I’m just thankful she didn’t stick around long.”
    “Awe. Shouldn’t you be flattered she’s chasing after you? That’s what women are supposed to think is hot— when men do it.” I laughed.
    “What do you mean?” he asked with a raise of his eyebrow.
    “Well, think of it this way. In movies the guy always fucks up the romance. The girl leaves. The guy chases after her with flowers and all of a sudden the world is roses and sunshine. Hollywood tells us women are easily bought.” I raised my own eyebrow now. “But in your situation Blakey, you have a girl you didn’t want to be with anymore. You dumped her, now she’s trying to win you back. It should be romantic.”
    “No, I don’t work that way,” he said with a low laugh. “I’m not a chaser and I don't find her chasing after me romantic either.”
    “Neither am I,” I said. “I’m more of a runner.” I winked.
    He leaned toward me to whisper something, but feedback from the microphone broke the moment for us. He stepped away from me and his smile filled his face.
    We stood quietly near the wall of the large room and watched as people stepped closer to the stage. Some of them I knew from playing out with the band and others I recognized as my brother’s friends. Then my brother walked into the room.
    He looked so much like my father.
    Emmet saw me and smiled as he walked toward us. He was giving Blake an expression that said his big brother protectiveness was beginning. Blake turned his head back and forth between the two of us.
    I leaned toward him to quietly say, “It’s my brother, Emmet.”
    He gave me a nod before looking back toward my brother. I could tell he intimidated Blake, and it made me smile. My brother was a big guy. Conall was given his height from him, who inherited it from our father. I unfortunately took after my mom.
    I leaned up to Emmet, pulled him into a hug, and whispering into his ear I said, “Be gentle. I think he might become more to me.”
    Emmet knew what I meant by that. I never settled for anything less than more in all things. I never did half-assed anymore.
    He pulled me out to arm’s length and gave me a wink before putting his hand to Blake. “Hey man, I’m Brecken’s brother Emmet, who might you be?” he asked.
    “Blake Lawson and it’s nice to meet you,” he said with that smile of his before he moved back to stand at my side. He looked down his