“How many years are there between you and Jack?” Jenna’s voice cuts into my anger, her curious gaze returning.
“Six,” I bark before huffing in apology. “I’m thirty-three,” I say, softer this time.
“And still living with your brother?” She raises an eyebrow, biting back a smile, and I hate that it makes me chuckle. Her teasing should piss me off. She doesn’t know me. But…
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“Why don’t you move out?”Well, Jenna,I ask myself that question on a daily basis.
“Would you?” I counter, waving my hand around the space. I love this house, but it’s much more complicated than that.
“Definitely not.” Jenna snorts, her expression awed. “This house is incredible. I’d kick my brother out. If I had one.”
There’s a sadness to her tone that has my smile fading. “Are you an only child?” I ask, wanting to keep her talking.
“I am. I would have loved to have a sibling growing up. However, I can also see the challenges.”
“Having a younger brother who treats houseguests like shit?” I smile until Jenna shakes her head.
“No. The responsibility for said younger brother.”
“What?” A pounding raps at my rib cage, the beat getting stronger the longer Jenna stares at me, seeing me better than anyone ever has. And she barely knows me.What do I say to that?
“Do you ever get the chance to let loose?” She breaks my inner spiral, and whether she sees how uncomfortable I am or doesn’t want the conversation to get too deep, I appreciate the change of subject.
“Of course,” I lie.
“You nursed the same beer for seven hours at the pool party yesterday.”
“I had two beers, thank you.” I smirk and she lets out a snort laugh. “Not everyone has to drink to let loose. I have my ways.” My voice deepens of its own accord, making my admission sound much dirtier than it is.
Jenna’s eyes fill with intrigue and I almost laugh, guessing where her mind went.
“Like what?” she asks.
“The waves.” I shrug nonchalantly and her lips twist.
“Wrong answer.”
“Wrong answer?”
“Yep.” She pops thep. “That doesn’t count. Let’s go.”
“Where are we going?”
“You’re going to meet me at the pool. We're doing shots.”
“Shots?” I stare, unimpressed. That sounds like hell, and something my brother would do. I see the effects of shots whenever I’m at work.
“You’re going to love it. I’ll tell you what… For every shot you have, you can ask me a personal question.”
Her reaction to Christmas comes to mind, and my intrigue gets the better of me. “Fine.”
“Yes! I’ll be back in five minutes.” She rushes off, but the excitement in her eyes lingers in my mind. It would be much easier if I wasn’t goddamn attracted to her. Too late for that.
Five minutes later, I’m in the pool waiting, but when fifteen minutes tick by, I question my sanity.Is she playing me?
Palms flat on the pool’s edge, I lift my body out of the water and freeze, my muscles locked as Jenna walks outside.
