Page 103 of My Real Love Affair

“If you say so.”

We stayed in the pool for maybe ten minutes, splashing each other like children and racing from one end to the other. We were being generally absurd. Melody’s dress billowed around her in the water, and when she stood in the shallow end, the wet silk clung to every curve in a way that made my mouth go dry.

“We should probably get out,” she said, but she was still smiling. “Before security comes.”

“Good point.”

We climbed out, water streaming off us, creating puddles on the deck. The hotel guests applauded, and one of them tossed us towels.

“Best entertainment we’ve had all night,” the guy with the beer called.

“Happy to oblige,” I said, wrapping a towel around Melody’s shoulders.

She was shivering now, her teeth chattering slightly. “That was just a little—I don’t even know what I would call that.”

“Stupid?”

“Fun.” She looked up at me, water droplets clinging to her eyelashes. “That was really fun, Austin.”

“Good. You deserve fun.”

“So do you.”

We made our way back into the hotel, wrapped in towels and dripping. I navigated us down a hall, hoping to avoid running into anyone from the gala before we could make our great escape. Of course, that’s when we ran straight into Cash.

My brother stood in the hallway like an impeccably dressed roadblock, his expression cycling from confusion to horror to rage in approximately three seconds.

“What the hell?” He looked us up and down. “Did you just—did you jump in the pool? In formal wear? At a charity gala?”

“Technically, the pool is outside the gala venue,” I pointed out.

“Austin, what the fuck?”

“Language, Cash. There are families here.”

“Don’t.” He pressed his fingers to his temples like he had a headache. “You can’t just—people saw you leave with Melody. They’re going to wonder where you went. And when you show up looking like you went swimming, they’re going to know you are right back to your antics.”

“They’ll think we went swimming. Because we did.” I moved to walk past him, but he grabbed my arm.

“This is exactly the kind of thing that we warned you about.”

“The kind of thing what, Cash?” I yanked my arm free. “The kind of thing that makes you look bad? That embarrasses the precious Bancroft name? That proves I’m still the family screwup?”

“Yes.”

I was getting angry now, the good mood from the pool starting to evaporate. “I’m done, Cash. Done trying to be what you want. What Dad wants. What everyone expects.”

“Austin—”

“I don’t give a damn about my trust fund. Go spend it on some acquisitions in Dubai. Buy another company. Add anotherzero to the family fortune. I don’t care.” I clipped his shoulder as I walked past. “Come on, Melody.”

She followed without saying a word.

Behind us, Cash said something, but I ignored him. I was done with his judgment. I would always be a disappointment in his eyes. I was sick of his constant need to manage and control everything I did.

I led Melody to the front desk, water still dripping from our clothes.

The clerk’s eyes went wide. “Mr. Bancroft.”