Preston looks like he just got punched in the face by Mike Tyson. Sebastian shakes against me in silent laughter.
“What’s so funny?” Preston snarls.
“You.” Sebastian lets the laugh out. “You’re third-rate comedy, but at least you’re entertaining.” He wipes tears from his eyes.
Preston turns to me. “Youbitch! It’s all your fault he’s mocking me!”
Sebastian steps forward, pulling away from my arm around his waist, as the mirth melts from his face. “Watch your tone if you want to keep your teeth. Nobody talks to my wife with disrespect.”
I pat his back a few times, to let him know it isn’t necessary for him to react like this. Part of me is flattered and moved that he’s defending me, but another part feels a bit unworthy of his protection because… Well, I did force him to marry me.
Preston slashes the air with his arm. “She’smyfiancée!”
“Shewas. You callmy wifeyour fiancée again, and I’ll break your face.”
“What happened to bros before hos?”
Sebastian takes another step forward, which puts him right in Preston’s face. “What part of ‘she’s my wife’ did you not understand?” Menace radiates from him. Preston’s going to get punched for real if he doesn’t quit.
“Preston, baby, are you okay? Is my sister being impossible?”
Oh, Lord. He’s still with Vonnie?
She comes toward us from the locker room, dressed to play tennis and holding a racket like it’s a medieval knight’s mace. She’s convinced she’s too good and too talented for lessons or practice. I can’t blame her entirely for that misguided belief, since so many guys lost to her on purpose to get into her panties. But shouldn’t she be self-aware enough to know something’s off? Because when it comes to matches against girls, she can only beat rank beginners.
Flashing a fake smile, she loops her arm around Preston’s and turns her hand so I can’t miss the pink diamond still on her finger.
She must really like that foul thing. Or she’s just happy she gets to keep something she thinks is mine.
“What are you doing here?” she demands.
“Whywouldn’tI be here? I pay for the entire family’s membership.” I let my gaze rake her up and down.
Although her clothing looks simple, she’s decked out in ten thousand dollars’ worth of outfit, shoes and accessories, not including the diamond. What will she do when she realizes her credit card bills won’t be paid out of my account anymore? I already had my accountants cut her off. She probably doesn’t know yet, since AmEx hasn’t sent her a notice that her bills are overdue.
A petty but satisfying revenge. And still nothing compared to what I’ve had to put up with.
“Whatever.” She tosses her hair over a shoulder. “All you’ve got is money, anyway.” Then her eyes turn to Sebastian and her smile grows even more cloying. “Isn’t this your older brother, Preston?”
“Yes!” He points an accusing finger at Sebastian. “And he stole Lucie from me!”
Anger and wounded pride flash in Vonnie’s eyes before she shrugs them off. “It’s justLucie. No big deal.”
Preston raises his racket, pointing it at Sebastian. “I challenge you to a match!” he shouts with all the gravitas of a medieval princeling demanding trial by combat. “Both of you! I’m going to show you that you made a big mistake!”
“You’re going to lose,” I say.
“No, he won’t, becauseIwill be playing with him!” Vonnie says.
She’s delusional if she thinks she’s a net gain for her partner. On the other hand, she’s cocking her hips left and right, trying to strike the best pose in front of Sebastian. She probably thinks she can beat him like all the other boys in high school and college.
Sebastian’s gaze flicks in my direction. It says,Do you want to go for it or back down and do our match instead?
I give him a look, tilting my head at Preston and Vonnie.I’d rather lick a skunk’s butt than back away from this challenge. Wouldn’t you?
Sebastian’s eyes glow with approval. “You’re on,” he tells Preston. “Losers get on their knees and shout, ‘We are not worthy,’ ten times immediately after the match is over. Oh, and you have to genuflect as well.”
Preston gives us a superior sneer. “Better get your kneepads ready.”
