I grew up alongside Lila, although I wasn’t adopted in any official capacity. I ate dinner at the same table, and slept under the same roof with her.
As an only child, Lila was used to being the apple of her father’s eye, with no competition from anyone else for thirteen years of her life. My invasion of her home was not a welcome one.
“If you lose,” Lila mused. “You have to be my errand boy. For a month. No complaints.”
“One week,” I countered.
She wrinkled her nose.
“One week? That’s practically nothing. You should consider yourself lucky that I’m not making you clean my apartment wearing a busty French maid outfit, with an extra short skirt.”
I huffed a faint laugh.
“Oh, sweetheart, I hate to disappoint you. But I don’t have the legs for that. Or the tits. You, on the other hand, would beperfect—”
Lila made a noise of disgust and shoved me in the chest, pushing me aside.
“You’re a filthy pig.”
I caught her wrist. She boomeranged back to me. I circled my thumb in her palm, holding her gaze.
“Two weeks, tops,” I said. “Take it or leave it. I’m the Treasurer around here. I have responsibilities with the club that I can’t just abandon because you want me to fetch your groceries.”
“Fine,” Lila relented. “But I get the first shot.”
She twisted out of my grip and moved away, putting the table between us. I could still feel the lingering heat of her skin on mypalm. I curled my fingers closed, wishing I could hold onto that heat a little while longer.
“Fire away, princess.”
Hades took the seat I’d vacated, stretching his legs out as he crossed his arms to watch the show.
“She’s going to slaughter you, brother.”
“We’ll see,” I replied. “Maybe I’ll let her win.”
Lila flicked an irritated look in my direction as she racked up the balls.
“Do you really expect me to believe that you would simply roll over and give up the opportunity to see me in a tiny pink thong? I don’t think so.”
Hades chuckled.
“And that’s exactly why you will lose, kid."
Secretly, I was grateful that the clubhouse was mostly empty at this hour of the afternoon. Lila went for the jugular and didn’t let up, keeping me on defense until the last possible moment. I did my best to hold my ground and fight back, but in the end, Lila won. She grinned, smug as a cat with her triumph.
“I look forward to having you entirely at my mercy for two whole weeks.”
“Best two out of three,” I said.
Lila shook her head, pushing her pool cue into my hand.
“Not a chance. I intend to savor my victory as long as possible. Besides, I’ve got plans tonight.”
“Hot date?” Hades asked.
Jealousy slithered between my ribs. I should have been used to it by now. A steady stream of guys had been knocking on Lila’s door ever since she started dating at fifteen. She was rarely single for long.
Before she could reply, the clubhouse door opened and Hillbilly stepped in.
