And I own that debt.
Even so, as I press the button on the coffee machine, the soft whir of it coming to life doesn’t quite mask the echo ofhervoice lingering in my mind, stirring up feelings I’m not ready to name.Get a grip, Hunter.
As I place the cup of coffee in front of North and sit down too, Nash strides into the kitchen with his usual swagger, the morning light coming through the window and catching the tousled edges of his hair. A trace of stubble on his jaw gives him a carefree, rugged look that he seems blissfully unaware of. But it’s his grin that rubs me wrong.
“Have any of you seen my houseguest? Maybe about five-foot-seven, perfect curves, long blonde hair, hazel eyes, a smile to die for, and—” he begins with a booming voice too loud for the hour.
“Way too good for you?” I cut in before he can finish, lifting an eyebrow in challenge. He just laughs, flashing a smile that has charmed many, and takes a seat next to Lio, completely disrupting the boy’s carefully brushed hair with a playful ruffle. I can’t help but grimace. “She left just a few minutes ago,” I inform him, a tinge of frustration in my tone. “Lio, head to your room, please. I’ll be there in a minute,” I gently instruct, and he nods obediently, but as he stands, a small cough escapes him as he makes his way down the hallway to his room.
It’s getting worse.
“Hey, I’m quite the catch myself,” Nash retorts with a cocky tilt of his head, helping himself to the eggs and bacon I just made.
“You didn’t even tell her your name,” I point out, leaning back and crossing my arms over my chest.
Beneath me, the chair creaks a subtle complaint, reminding me of yet another thing that needs fixing in this house. Or maybe it’s a nudge for me to lay off the late-night snacks. But let’s be real—tightening a few screws is the easier fix by far.
“Did she want to know it this morning? Because she sure didn’t last night,” Nash quips, a mischievous grin spreading across his face as he takes a bite of his eggs. He continues, speaking with his mouth full and pointing his fork in my direction, “And for the record, she didn’t want to tell me hers either.”
I huff in response. “Well, she left. Wished us a good life.”
“But first, she did assume that Hunt is your little wife,” North interjects with a snicker. He pushes his chair back and stands, retrieving his blazer draped over the chair’s back. “She evenapologized for your cheating ass,” he remarks and leans over, grabbing his coffee and downing it like a shot. “I’ve got to head out. Catch you later,” he shares, making his way toward the exit, not even thinking about saying goodbye to Lio.
It’s Sunday, for fuck’s sake. But no, he can’t be bothered to take a day off and spend it with his family.
“Shame, I would have loved to take another spin on that ride. I tell you, Hunt, that was premium pussy,” Nash mumbles, nodding to himself, and I slap him on the back of the head. “Ouch! The fuck?”
Having him talk about her like that makes me unreasonably angry. “How often do I have to tell you that we treat women with respect, you damn horn dog.”
“Oh, I respected the shit out of her. Made her come twice before I did and ate her out like a good boy.”
I puff out a breath in frustration.He’s such a fucking child.
This behavior is nothing new, and under normal circumstances, I would just shrug it off. After all, his hookups are typically just that—hookup material.
Butshewasn’t. I only saw her for two seconds, and I could already tell. She’s cute and quick-witted, with a conscience, unlike the babbling dumbbells Nash normally brings home.
She’s my typeof girl, not his.
I quickly shake that thought out of my head, reminding myself that she did jump into bed with him, which suggests she has at least a soft spot for handsome playboys.
It’s a category I feel miles away from now.
Nash and I could easily be mistaken for twins despite him being my younger brother. He’s the spitting image of who I used to be before everything went to shit. Before I went from the fit, handsome guy that Nash is to whatever version of myself I’ve become now.
I let out a sigh. It’s a heavy thought, one that has been my shadow for longer than I care to admit. I’ve changed, not just on the outside but inside too. There’s a bitterness, a weariness that wasn’t there before, and it clings to me, tainting everything I touch.
Nash, with his carefree laugh and easy charm, is a reminder of a past self I can’t return to. He moves through life with a grace I’ve lost, drawing people to him like moths to a flame.
I shake my head, trying to dispel the cloud of self-pity.
Focus on what you can control.
A mantra that’s become all too familiar.
I’ve got to stop comparing myself to who I was. I’m not that guy anymore, and that’s not a bad thing.
I had to rebuild myself from the ground up. I had to face the mirror every morning and not recognize the person staring back. So a girl Nash brought home, who I saw for a fleeting moment, shouldn’t faze me this much.
