“You’re—”being a bit of a dick. No. I can’t say that. One, Aunt Rosie will be coming back to live here at some point. I can’t make enemies with her neighbors. And two, I could never say something so rude.
“I’m what?” He raised a brow in challenge.
“Being a bit of a dick,” Katie said with a wide smile, reading Justine’s mind.
2C’s expression darkened.
“You’re just as nice as my aunt said you were,” Justine blurted, lying to keep the peace. “I mean, we heard you trying to deescalate the situation. Sorry we intruded.” She yanked Katie with her and fled for the stairwell. “Bye.”
Once on the ground floor and headed to their ride share, she let Katie yammer on and on about getting a backbone and facing bullies. Several minutes into their ride, Katie had yet to shut up about it.
“Okay, already. And ironic,” Justine cut in, “since you’ve been bullying me since we got in the car!”
“You really have,” their driver agreed, grinning at them in the rearview. “But honey, it sounds like that guy upstairs was a jerk.”
Katie nodded. “Vindication. He totally was.” She turned back to Justine. “You need to stand up for yourself more.”
Justine groaned. “I’m trying. It’s not easy.” Not having been raised in her family with so many demands and expectations. No wonder she had issues. Her oldest sister acted like a tyrant, the second oldest like a doormat, and she fell somewhere in between, doing her best to avoid domineering parents.
“I know.” Katie punched her in the arm. “I’m sorry. I just hate when guys push people around. Especially when it seems like all the good-looking ones are assholes.”
“Preach,” the driver said.
Justine would have been more annoyed, but the girl power solidarity felt good. Then their driver mentioned a few hidden gems nearby, restaurants and shops Justine would have to check out later. She’d previously lived in Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood, so Fremont was a change for her.A good one, though,she kept telling herself, trying to believe it.
When they arrived at the club, Justine noticed a small group of guys waiting by the side, one of whom she recognized as Katie’sotherbest friend. She swallowed a groan. “You promised tonight would just be for us to hang out and commiserate over how much we hate our jobs.”
“And how much we hate our bosses—although mine just left and I love the new gal. But hey, we’re going to bitch and complain, sure. And maybe you hit it off with a few friends I invited. The male kind.” Katie exaggerated her wink.
“You know, my head is starting to hurt. I might have a cough too.” Justine gave a few fake coughs, but Katie wasn’t buying it.
“Nice try.” The car stopped, and they left with a goodbye and hefty tip to their driver. “Get the lead out, Ferrera. Your ovaries aren’t going to wake up if there’s no one to greet them in the morning.”
“What the hell does that even mean?” Justine pasted on a smile as they approached Katie’s friends.
“It means you’re going to thank me tomorrow.”
“Or I’ll be cursing your name while battling a hangover and regretting a terrible Friday night where the men have no game.”
“Or that. Either way, you’re going. So move.”
CHAPTER 2
Xavier groaned as he let himself back into his apartment. Great impression to make on the new tenant. With a splitting headache and overdue project, dealing with his ex-girlfriend’s brother had been last on his To-Do list. And of course, just his luck, Justine in 3D looked beautiful and all put-together while he looked his worst. Brawling in public. Jesus. He hadn’t gotten into a physical fight since college, back when Auggie had been all about doing terrible things on campus then blaming Xavier for it.
Twins. He loved his sister, but Auggie could be over-the-top on a good day.
His phone buzzed. Speaking of over-the-top... “Yo, Auggie. What’s up? We doing dinner tonight or what?” He wondered what Justine and her friend had planned for the evening. If Justine had a boyfriend or significant other. Odd that her aunt had never mentioned her, considering he and Rosie had been good friends for months.
And of course, they kind of worked together.
“Bro, I need help.”
Xavier swallowed a sigh. “Of course you do.”
“Don’t be pretentious. Buzz me up.”
“Do you even know what pretentious means?”
