“In this world? I wish you were right, but you’re not.” She shoves me gently. “Go on. Go make a scene. I’ll make contact with my spies so I can be there in five minutes flat if anything goes wrong.”
I eye my friend once more.
She grins. “I will not be what goes wrong. Swear on the lives of every polar bear to ever walk the earth.”
I hug her quickly. “I adore you.”
She squeezes back. “Adore you more.”
My brothers are still discussing Simon’s qualifications and worthiness, and it’s rapidly devolving—Ryker just said something about high school test scores—so I square my shoulders, straighten my spine, and walk out of the bedroom.
It’s time for a spite date.
7
EXCUSE ME, HAVE YOU SEEN MY BREATH? I SEEM TO HAVE LOST IT.
Simon
Despite my reservationsover being used as a puppet for some plan against Bea’s ex that I’m not privy to, I do believe this date was an excellent idea for inspiration.
Bea’s brothers haven’t stopped peppering me with questions in the three minutes since they let me inside the apartment, and I’m making mental notes of every inquiry to analyze later.
Overprotective brothers are something I’ve not experienced regularly in my own life.
I’m an only child. Lana’s an only child. Our boys watch out for each other, but it isn’t the same as this overprotective-guard routine that Bea’s brothers seem to have perfected.
“Aren’t there three of you?” I ask after answering how much I can bench press—unknown, as I prefer running and push-ups to the gym routine, if you’re wondering.
“Yes,” Hudson says as Ryker replies, “What’s it to you?”
“Your other brother doesn’t live here too?”
Hudson coughs.
Ryker narrows his eyes. “Until we see how you treat Bea, you don’t get to know anything about where our other brother is.”
“Or isn’t,” Hudson chimes in.
Sincerely, it’s fascinating.
So much energy put into protecting family.
I hope my boys stay this close as they age.
“What does it matter where he is?” Ryker asks as movement behind him catches my eye.
The short hallway is lit only by the natural light streaming in through the open doors on either side of it, which isn’t enough to see clearly, especially without my glasses.
My low-light vision took a turn for the worse when I had my vision laser corrected, which is something that I didn’t know could be a side effect of the surgery and which I’m lamenting at the moment.
My pulse is acutely aware of who’s coming down the hall.
The click of stilettos on the wood floor, the shapely curves, hips swinging with every step, hair pulled up save for a few curls framing her face, and?—
Dear god, she’s stunning.
Beatrice Best in a form-fitting, sparkly red dress and sparklier red heels, with plump, bright red lips to match, her green eyes larger and softer—I have made a terrible miscalculation in thinking that I would be the main attraction for this date.
