“You’re talking like this is the fucking Pussycat Club. You’re my bro! A dude can’t imagine just getting some and moving on with his life?”
I let out a deep sigh and shake my head. There’s no reasoning with him. Absolutely no reasoning. I don’t feel guilty because even though I didn’t know what I wanted from Katherine, at least I knew I respected her enough not to just want to fuck her and walk away. I respected her enough to care about what was happening in her life. I respected her enough to want the best for her.
Which couldn’t have been said for my brother, which was something I already knew. I suppose I’d had high hopes that he’d matured as a man, but that day still hadn’t come. The best thing that could have happened for both Katherine and me was my brother staying far away.
“Listen, Zac, I’m only going to say this once. Don’t even think about trying to get your hooks into Katherine again.” I cross my arms and stare at my brother, giving him my best-fuck with me and you will pay-glare.
“Or what?” He asks, almost daring me to take him down.
“Or you’ll live to regret it.”
Chapter Nine
Katherine
“Xander, Marina, come over here,” Cora calls out into the office as soon as we walk in with our slices of pizza. The excitement in her voice is palpable, and I’m already trying to think of a story that will explain the conversation that has just occurred. However, my brain is refusing to process as quickly as it normally does because I’m still shocked to have seen Zac after all these years. And even more than shocked, I was taken aback by the look of admiration in his gaze. Not to mention the obvious attraction he had for me, did he really think I’d give him a second chance? At least Jack had the gall to look embarrassed by his brother. However, I couldn’t deny that both of them were hot as hell.
“What’s going on?” Xander calls out from his cubicle, his voice not its usual upbeat self.
“Yeah, is it important? I was just watching a video on YouTube.” Marina preens her eyes away from her phone and looks over at us. “I’m not eating pizza this week. I want to lose ten pounds before the audition.”
“Come here, you two. You’re not going to believe what just happened,” Cora says in a loud, excited voice, and I attemptnot to groan. She’s obviously going to enjoy telling this story. I also notice Marina’s frown as she gets up from her desk, slightly annoyed that no one rebutted her comment of wanting to lose weight by telling her she doesn’t have to, which she doesn’t. She’s perfectly delightful as she is, but I’m too caught up in my own stress to placate her right now. I suppose that’s selfish of me, but the worry in my stomach doesn’t really care.
“Cora, I don’t want you to?—”
“What is it?” Xander asks, looking sleepy, and I wonder if we’ve just woken him up from a nap. Marina’s eyes are bright, and she’s humming something under her breath as she steps forward in her floral dress, looking like she’s ready to be a bridesmaid at a Southern wedding.
“Are you practicing for an audition again, Marina?” I ask her, and she grins and twirls like an uncoordinated ballerina. I sure hope she’s not trying to make it in musicals because, from what I can tell, singing and dancing aren’t her strong suits.
“Yes, I’m embodying Ella-Mae because tomorrow morning I’m going to be auditioning for a role in…”
“Not now, Marina.” Cora shushes her. “I have far more important news to impart to everyone right now.” She practically rubs her hands together in glee. “And I mean far more important.”
“I wouldn’t say that.” My voice trails off as she offers me a dismissive, motherly look. I hold back a sigh as she waggles her fingers at me. “Sit down, everyone.”
“Don’t worry, girl. We got you,” Xander says as Marina mumbles on about being late for work. “Now what is it, Cora? Did you win the lottery or something? Are you about to tell us that you’re gifting us a couple of million each?” He sounds perky now, as if he’s convinced himself that his harebrained idea could even possibly be true. Not for the first time, I wonder who on earth I’m working with. This is the most oddball group of humanbeings I’ve ever come across, and that’s saying a lot because my family’s Christmas photo is in the dictionary under “Odd and Goofy families.”
“No,” she sniffs. “I do not play the lottery. I have far better things to do with my money.”
“True,” he says sarcastically. “I guess Ross does have a sale every week.” He looks her up and down and shakes his head. “You might wanna save your money and get some quality pieces at Nordstrom every once in a while.” He laughs. “Not to be bitchy or anything.”
“Listen to me.” Cora shakes her head and then looks each of us dead in the eyes before exclaiming. “Guess who’s friends with the big boss himself?” She speaks in hushed tones as if she’s just said one of us knows the President personally.
“What big boss?” Xander looks confused. “Like God?” He looks at me with wide, almost comical eyes. “Is this a way to get me to go to church on Sunday with you? I know I told God that if he helped me get over the flu, the last time I had it, I would try to get to church at least once a month and I will admit I haven’t gone, but…”
“Our boss…” Cora presses her lips together. “On earth.”
“Oh.” Xander wipes his brow. “I was about to say.”
“I’m not friends with the big boss, Cora. Please.” I give her a look, and she just smiles widely. “Jack Heathcliff and I barely know each other, and neither one considers the other a friend, trust me on that.” Though technically he has known me more intimately than any friend I’ve ever had, there is no way on earth I will be telling these folks that fact. No way in hell!
“Well, you did date his brother.” Cora sniffs. “Zac Heathcliff…” She pauses dramatically. “And he was just here in the office, and he came to speak to us both. He was practically salivating over you like a dog looks at a piece of bacon. And trustme, I have two dachshunds, I know how the saliva drops from their mouths when they are hoping for a bite.”
“Cora!” I glare at her.
“What is going on here?” Xander asks, looking confused. “You dated Zac Heathcliff? Isn’t he like super hot?”
“He’s alright.” I shrug. “And it was a long time ago.”
