Chapter 311
**Tom**
I shoved his hand off my shoulder. "I made a huge mistake."
"What's that?" Leo's eyes sparkled with mischief.
"I should have thrown you off the balcony the second I walked in." I glanced at the floor-to-ceiling windows. "Still could."
"But you didn't!" Leo danced away from my reach, pirouetting like some demented ballet dancer. "Because I'm your sweetest brother!"
"Sweetest isn't the word I'd use." I advanced toward him, watching him back up against the couch. "More like most annoying. Or insufferable. Or pain-in-my-ass."
"Those are three words." He wagged his finger at me. "And technically, 'pain-in-my-ass' is four words if you count the hyphens."
"I'm going to count how many floors it takes for you to hit the ground."
Leo vaulted over the couch, putting the furniture between us. "Such violence! And here I am, just trying to help my beloved brother find eternal happiness!"
"The only eternal happiness I want right now is the joy of watching you plummet."
"Kate!" Leo called out. "Tom's threatening me again!"
Kate didn't even look up from her phone. "You probably deserve it."
"Betrayal!" Leo clutched his chest. "From my own girlfriend! The love of my life!"
"Keep it up, and I'll help him throw you off," Kate muttered, still scrolling.
"See?" I gestured at Kate. "Even she agrees you're not the sweetest anything."
"I'm hurt." Leo flopped onto the couch, sprawling dramatically. "Wounded. Devastated. My own family, plotting my demise."
"More like planning your long-overdue karma."
Leo sprung up from the couch, pointing an accusing finger. "You want karma? Let's talk about who really broke Mom's favorite vase when we were kids."
"That was you with your stupid indoor soccer practice."
"But who got grounded for it?" He bounced on his toes like an excited puppy. "You did! Because I convinced everyone you knocked it over while practicing your 'dance moves.'"
I grabbed a throw pillow from the armchair, launching it at his head. "I spent two weeks confined to my room because of your lies."
"Best two weeks of my life." He dodged the pillow with practiced ease. "Remember how I'd stand outside your door eating ice cream? Making those really loud 'mmm' noises?"
"I remember plotting your murder."
"You've been plotting my murder forever." Leo flopped back onto the couch. "Yet here I am, still gorgeous and alive."
Kate finally looked up from her phone. "If you two are done with your brotherly bonding, we have dinner reservations in thirty minutes."
"Dinner?" Leo's eyes lit up like a kid at Christmas.
"You guys go ahead." I waved them off. "Got some work to catch up on."
The truth was, watching Leo and Kate together made my chest ache in a way I hadn't expected. They moved in perfect sync, sharing those little moments couples do—the casual touches, inside jokes, and silent conversations. It reminded me of Sara's absence and how empty my hotel room felt without her laughter filling the space.
"Absolutely not." Kate planted her hands on her hips. "You're coming with us. And honestly? You should have brought Sara. Would have made this trip more interesting."
"She's busy with work." I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to sound casual. "New job and all."
Leo sprang up from the couch, spreading his arms wide. "Oh, Tommy boy! Poor, innocent, clueless Tom!" He started circling me like some demented motivational speaker. "You clearly need my expertise. If you'd just asked your wise younger brother, I could have taught you the ancient art of girlfriend persuasion! Sara probably would've jumped at the chance to come here if you'd used my foolproof techniques."
"Leo-"
"Lesson one!" He held up a finger, voice shifting into what I assumed was his attempt at a sage master. "You must learn the ways of love! The subtle art of making her heart flutter! The secret techniques passed down through generations!"
"I don't need-"
"Fear not, dear brother!" He draped an arm around my shoulders. "I shall teach you everything I know. We'll start with daily classes. Seven AM sharp! We'll cover essential topics like 'How to Make Her Swoon in Five Easy Steps' and 'Advanced Romance: Beyond Flowers and Chocolates'!"
"No thanks."
"But wait!" He gasped dramatically. "There's more! Sign up now and receive my exclusive masterclass: 'From Professor to Romeo - A Complete Transformation'! Special family discount!"
I shrugged his arm off. "I'd rather take dating advice from a goldfish."
"A goldfish?" Leo pressed a hand to his chest in mock offense. "I'll have you know I'm a certified expert in matters of the heart! Just ask Kate!"
Kate didn't even look up from her purse. "Don't drag me into this."
"Too late! She's already involved." Leo bounced on his toes, practically vibrating with excitement. "Listen, Tom. Forget all your excuses. Every Sunday, you and me - we're doing this. I'm talking full-scale romance boot camp. By the time I'm done with you, Sara won't know what hit her."
"I don't need-"
"Picture this!" He spread his hands like he was revealing a billboard. "Six months from now, you'll be standing in that fancy wedding hall Dad's been saving. Sara, walking down the aisle, you get all teary-eyed..."
"Leo-"
"We'll cover everything! From proper text response times to the perfect way to say 'I love you' without sounding like a robot." He started pacing, ticking points off on his fingers. "Week one: Advanced Compliment Theory. Week two: The Art of Spontaneous Romance. Week three: How to Make Her Heart Race Without Running a Marathon."
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Are you done?"
"Oh, I'm just getting started! We haven't even discussed the advanced modules like 'Proposal Planning 101' or 'Meeting the Parents Without Having a Panic Attack'!"
Kate finally looked up, shaking her head with a small smile. "Tom, ignore him. You don't need classes or weird strategies." She stepped closer, her voice softening. "Your heart already knows what it wants. Just follow that. Be genuine. Sara fell for you, not some manufactured version Leo wants to create."
"But my version comes with PowerPoint presentations!" Leo protested. "And homework! Everyone loves homework, right?"
"The last thing he needs is your bizarre dating schemes," Kate said. "Remember when you tried to teach that barista how to flirt? He ended up spilling coffee on three customers."
"Minor setback! Besides, they got free coffee AND phone numbers. I call that a win-win."
"Tom." Kate touched my arm. "You've got this. Do things your way. The right moments will come naturally."
Leo gasped, clutching his chest. "Naturally? NATURALLY? There's nothing natural about romance! It's a carefully choreographed dance of love!" He started doing what I assume was his interpretation of this 'dance', spinning around the room like a drunken ballerina.
"This is exactly why he shouldn't listen to you," Kate muttered.
"Excuse me?" Leo stopped mid-twirl. "I'm a certified love guru! I once helped a guy propose using nothing but rubber ducks and Christmas lights!"
"And how did that turn out?"
"Well..." Leo scratched his head. "The ducks may have caused a minor flood, and the lights might have short-circuited the entire block, but she said yes! Eventually. After the fire department left."
I couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, that's exactly the kind of help I need."
"See?" Leo pointed at me accusingly. "You're laughing! That means you're interested! The first class starts next Sunday, and I already have the perfect lesson plan."
"I'd rather figure things out on my own than follow your bizarre dating handbook." I crossed my arms, watching Leo's face fall like a deflated balloon.
"But... but..." He gestured wildly at an imaginary presentation. "I had charts! And graphs! And a special section on 'How to Turn Professor Mode into Romance Mode'!"
"Maybe you could channel all that energy into something more productive?" I raised an eyebrow. "Like convincing the board to approve that acquisition deal?"
"What acquisition deal?" Leo perked up like a meerkat spotting prey.
"Remember Pacific Tech? Their stock's tanking. We could probably get them for half price if we move fast." I pulled out my phone and showed him the numbers. "Could save the company millions."
"Half price?" Leo's eyes lit up with the same manic energy he'd had while planning his romance classes. "Oh, this is perfect! I can use my powers of persuasion for actual business!" He started pacing again, this time muttering about profit margins and market shares.
Kate watched him with an amused smile. "You know, sometimes I look at him and think, 'Wow, what a wise, capable businessman.'"
Leo straightened up, puffing out his chest like a proud peacock. "Finally! Someone recognizes my genius!"
"And then," Kate continued, "he opens his mouth and does something like try to teach his brother dating lessons with PowerPoint presentations."
Leo deflated faster than a popped balloon. "My PowerPoints are legendary! I use animations and everything!"
"That's exactly what I mean." Kate patted his cheek consolingly.
"But... but..." Leo's bottom lip quivered. "I had transition effects! And sound effects! There was going to be a slide that played romantic music!"
"And this is why I'm handling my love life solo." I grabbed my jacket from the chair. "Now, about that dinner reservation?"
"Fine." Leo sulked toward the door. "But don't come crying to me when you need help planning the perfect proposal. I had a whole module on ring selection and optimal sunset timing!"
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