“Don’t come crying to me when you need a tetanus shot,” I muttered, withdrawing my cell and turning it on. It was clear to me now that Reed was no doubt nursing a hangover and had overslept. Not the type of stunt that would earn you a death sentence from me, but I hated being stood up.
As I glanced down at the screen, I could see I had a voicemail. With a roll of my eyes, I shoved the phone into the pocket on my yoga pants.
“So, I take it he went back to his hotel last night?” I had to ask; the thought of Reed screwing someone else after our fight was not a long shot. Isn’t that why he slept with Tate that time? I wondered if I brought that up, whether he would still deny it.
“He did. But that’s not what you're asking.” Nix could be shrewd at times, when he pulled his head out of Harper’s ass.
I cut to the chase. “Did he go back there alone?”
“Would you be jealous if I said no?” That would be a resounding yes. The thought of Reed fucking someone gave me chest palpitations.
My lip twitched as I glared up at the big lug that was my half-brother. He looked so much like our father that I couldn’t believe it had taken us years to find out they were related. Dominic Summers and Phoenix were the same build, and they both carried that natural assurance that came with being a tough guy.
Phoenix, a.k.a. Brutal on the field, had been a linebacker in high school and college, and so had my father. They also had the same walk. I only noticed that last year. Funny.
“So, he did take a girl back to his suite at The Bayberry?”
This encouraged one of Phoenix’s lopsided smiles to appear. The type that got on my last nerve. “How do you know he has a suite at the Bayberry?” Phoenix asked smugly as he crossed his arms over his huge chest.
I panicked, my voice shooting from my mouth without thought. “I, erm—he’s rich now. Why wouldn’t he have a suite? And The Bayberry is the best hotel in the area, but anyway, he must have mentioned it.” Phoenix’s caginess was making me fear the worst. But I knew he loved to wind me up. The big guy used to do it in school all the time when we didn’t know that we were related. Nix had always taken such joy out of fucking with me.
My half-brother shrewdly studied my face. “You’re so full of shit, sis. You’ve bumped-uglies with Reed at his hotel, admit it?”
“We’ve what?” I panted, knowing what it meant but feeling horrified that my brother could even go there.
“You’ve fucked Reed.”
“Oh my God, I can’t believe you just said that,” I huffed, mortification humming through my entire body. I suddenly felt exposed.
Nix was amused by my reaction, “What can I say, subtle isn’t my first language.”
I’ll say! “I’m admitting nothing.” I couldn’t help but scowl at how on the pulse he was.
He studied me as if deciding whether to take me at my word before he chuckled. “That’s a yes. You should see your face. And behind your fiancé's back. You naughty girl.”
My face tightened. “It’s not really any of your business, is it?” Nix's mouth twitched as he glanced down at my empty hand.
“Prickly today. I’m glad you haven’t lost your edge during this wallowing stage you appear to be going through.”
“What? I am not fucking wallowing,” I snapped, slamming a hand on my hip. Nix’s expression became meaty.
“You’re still true to your namesake. As stormy as fuck.”
“Don’t say that,” I moaned, closing my eyes for a minute. Jasper called me Stormy, and I hated it. I lowered my arm, feeling deflated.
“OK, sis. Chill your tits.”
Rolling my eyes, I pointed out. “The fact that we’re related still blows my fucking mind.”
I faintly heard the engine of a car behind me, but didn’t turn to see who it was. I needed to get the truth out of Phoenix.
“Stop being a dick and just tell me,” I huffed with emotional pain, wafting some of my hair back. I had left it to air dry. Not a good look for me.
As I was about to contradict what Nix had said, he leaned his head past my shoulder and whispered, “Why don’t you ask him yourself?”
A mixture of horror and excitement seeped into my chest as the throaty purr of Reed’s Bugatti got louder up our driveway, echoing off the stone walls surrounding the Summer’s estate.
As I glanced over my shoulder, my eyes were drawn to the shiny paintwork. It looked even prettier than it had that day in the lot at the stadium.
