“Is everyone in the development old or something? Is this a retirement community?” That’s what I was hoping to avoid with Mom and Dad, but they aren’t here at least.
Bradley clears his throat, and Katarina pinches her lips, glancing off to the side as if she’s already annoyed with what he’s about to say. “No, actually, everyone is between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-five.”
“Wow, that’s impressive considering what the price tag must be on these houses ...”
“They’re villas,” Bradley corrects me. “This community, up until recently, was part of an initial phase of a social study. That’s how we got the funding to build such an extravagant setting.”
There’s the pit in my stomach that I’ve been waiting to feel. I knew the other shoe had to drop at some point. “Social study?”
“Didn’t you read the lease agreement?”
“Yeah, I must’ve missed that part,” I tell him.
With an arched brow, Bradley continues. “The houses are all occupied with single, widowed, or divorced men between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-five.”
Obviously, Katarina knew this, and the twins haven’t blinked, so they must have known too. Maybe they don’t blink either. I wonder what would happen if I pinched one of them.
“Katarina wasn’t living here with me, so up until this point, it has been uniformly men. This living arrangement was their decision, but the phase of the project they were undergoing is over now. There really isn’t anything to stress over. They’re all great guys, and I’m your brother; you know I wouldn’t put you into a situation like this unless I was sure it was a good fit for you.”
Bradley’s explanation makes zero sense.
“Okay ... so, are we part of the social study?” I ask. Would Bradley do that to me without discussing it out loud first, and not just on paper? He just said the initial phase was complete.
“Yes, and no. The study will be ongoing for the next six months, but the initial observations are complete. You don’t have to participate in the research portion of the study or anything.”
“Can I speak to you, Bradley?” I grab his arm and pull him across the large living area, down a hallway, where I find a laundry room and a bathroom. “What the hell is this?”
Bradley tosses his head back as if he has the right to be frustrated with me. “Look, Mom and Dad didn’t want you moving into their one-bedroom. They just retired. I wanted to help them, and in turn, I would be helping you. It all just kind of worked out, right?”
“You just threw me into a bachelor—thing, Bradley. Does that sound like the best situation to put your little sister in?”
“You want to meet a guy, don’t you?” he counters.
“Not like this!”
“Okay, well your options were limited, and this seemed like a great opportunity for you to spread your—"
“Bradley!”
“Wings, Ash. Wings. I promise you, the guys here are harmless.” I don’t like the smile Bradley is wearing across his face. There is something about the smile that’s making me feel uneasy.
I slap my hands down by my sides, feeling the need to whale out a string of obscenities. “I hate you,” I snap at Bradley.
“No, you don’t. I know you. Freshman year of college, you were upset to find out that your dorm wasn’t co-ed. Remember that conversation?”
“That was four years ago, Bradley. I’ve changed.” Haven’t I? I think I’ve changed. I’m at least four years smarter now, or one might like to think after a four-year degree. I mean … I know how to tap a keg. That’s got to be good for something.
“You like girls now?” Bradley counters.
“No. I don’t just care about meeting men.” Maybe I should care about meeting someone. I’ve already considered the fact that I could end up a lonely only woman with no game in the dating business.
“Mmhm. Okay then. Have fun, and as I said, the address information is on the fridge. If you have any questions or need anything, you know how to find me, sis. Remember, I did this out of—”
“Spite. That’s what this.”
“Love, but okay, spite works too.”
“Payback is a bitch,” I remind him.
