Roxy’s eyes sparkle with mischief and before I know it, she’s pushing Kai off the lounge, thankfully in the direction of the grass.
“What the fuck, Rox?” Kai glares as he jumps up until his eyes lock on Roxy’s friend, Stevie, and his anger instantly dissipates. “Hello,Red.” He bounces his eyebrows. “I don’t think we’ve officially met.”
Stevie brushes her red hair behind her ear and playfully rolls her eyes. “Red? How original.”
I scoff under my breath and leave them to it, ducking around Roxy as she crosses her arms over her chest, ready to protect her friend. Kai’s a good guy, but he’s the definition of a playboy, and from what Roxy’s told me about Stevie, he’s not her type.
But at least he’s forgotten about Livvy. For the time being anyway.
If only I could forget aboutmycurrent fixation.
As if reading my mind, Jenna laughs as I pass her and Jack on my way to the kitchen, and I internally groan. But when the tightness in my chest eases, I’m forced to admit I may have been a little more worried than I realized. As I’m sure she expected—since she grabbed the bottle of vodka herself—the alcohol seems to have worked to erase whatever was troubling her. And while I’m not condoning drinking your issues away, I’m relieved to see her happy again. Either that, or she’s numb.
Is she numb? Is that it? I pause—God knows why—but thankfully catch myself without drawing attention.Keep walking, Mason. They don’t need you.Shedoesn’t need you.
Smiling at no one in particular, I continue on my way, grabbing a glass from the cabinet in the kitchen, filling it with water. Cloud cover momentarily darkens the sky as I stare out the window, my drink forgotten while I search the yard. For what? I don’t know.
Kai cannonballs into the pool, drenching Rox and Stevie, and while I feel bad for them, an uncontrollable burst of laughter escapes me.
I’m going to guess he didnotget Stevie’s number. He’s—
“I think that’s the first time I’ve heard you genuinely laugh. It always has an edge to it.” I jolt at Jenna’s sudden appearance but recover quickly, spinning around to face her.
“Always?” I scoff. “In the five hours you’ve known me?”
“That’s right. You can tell a lot about a person the first time you meet them.”
“Is that so?”
“Yep. Which reminds me.” She raises her hands like she’s under arrest, and her tiny bikini top shifts, the base of her tits peeking out from below.
My traitorous cock twitches.
“What are you doing?” I rush out, keeping my eyes on her face. I’m not blind; she’s fucking gorgeous, but she’s also sassy and annoying. Not to mention she’s off-limits. Reserved for my baby brother. And what baby bro wants, baby bro gets.
Jenna bites her lips mockingly before batting her eyelids. “Don’t arrest me, fun police. I promise I’m bored out of my mind right now. Nothing to see here.” She puts on an innocent tone that sounds a lot like Dorothy fromThe Wizard of Ozand I huff under my breath.
“You’re hilarious,” I deadpan. “I hope you found a parking spot.”
“I did, thank you. It’s just a short fifteen-minute walk from here.” She smiles, but the annoyance in her expression warms my heart.
“Good.”
“Good?” She huffs like I did, although hers is more cheerful than mine. “You’re really something.”
“That I am.”
Her smile returns as she shakes her head, and when I spin to empty the water I never drank, she falls quiet, drawing my gaze in the window reflection.
“You have a nice house,” she says softly, surprising me. “It’s so clean and inviting.”
“Clean and inviting?” I bite back a sarcastic laugh and glance over my shoulder. She’s a little tipsy so I'll let that one slide.
“Yes, clean and inviting. Not at all what I expected for Jack, and after spending the last few hours getting reacquainted, that opinion hasn’t changed.”
“Oh-kay.”What’s she getting at?
“This is all you. Isn’t it?”
