"You get used to it," one of them said, giving me a sympathetic look. "You'll learn how he operates."
The other twin snorted. "Or just smack him upside the head. That works, too."
"Believe me, I've been tempted," I muttered. "August said I should be patient with him."
"That's because August has the patience of a saint," Cameron snorted. "Don't know how he hasn't killed the lot of us a million times over by now."
"It's like family," said the twin who'd given me the sympathetic look. "Even when you hate each other, you love each other."
The other twin pulled his brother into a headlock. "Aw, you getting all sentimental on us?"
The two of them tussled, throwing fake punches at each other until they crashed into a side table, knocking it over. Claps and cheers went up around the room as the glass top shattered. The twins laughed the entire time.
Cameron continued drinking his beer, eyeing me as he ignored the spectacle. "I don't know what went wrong between the two of you, but if you really want to fix it, you need to be persistent. Noah's like a hedgehog."
"Spiky on the outside, soft and cuddly on the inside?"
"Spiky on the outside and a skittish little rat on the inside."
"Hedgehogs aren't rodents. That's porcupines."
"Same deal."
"I'll take that under advisement." I sighed into my beer. "I guess I should try to talk to him again."
"Don't forget about my offer."
"What offer?"
Cameron leaned forward until his lips were against my ear. "To show you how I treat a woman."
"Are you always so forward?"
"Gorgeous, if I was really trying, you'd be flat on your back with my head between your legs already."
I backed away and flushed. "I'm going to go find Noah."
I wanted to get away while I still could. As much as Noah affected me, Cameron Thorne exuded sex from every pore. From the rumors I'd heard, I had no doubt his powers of seduction were that good.
The party didn't seem to be winding down any time soon, but there were fewer people than had been there when I first arrived. It seemed the ones still here felt they needed to make an even bigger ruckus to make up for the ones who'd left.
I spent a while bracing myself, trying to summon up enough courage to brave Noah's wrath once again. If I wanted a chance to make things better with him I'd have to catch him before he left, too. I couldn't let things end the way they had.
He wasn't on the back patio. I had to go searching through the mansion. I found him in one of the living rooms. He was slouched on the far end of a sofa, his head leaning back, propped up by the cushions. I marched up to him.
"We can't end things like this."
He titled his head slightly to look at me, neck limp. His eyes were unfocused. "Jen. You're still here."
"I was trying to enjoy myself but the pending implosion of my career has got me all out of sorts."
He stared at me silently.
I steeled myself, throwing my shoulders back. "I'm not leaving until we come to an understanding."
"I don't mean to be an asshole."
I was so taken aback I was speechless for a few moments. I gathered myself together. "Doesn't stop you from acting like one."
