Page 135 of My Brother’s Best Friends Entanglement

“Says who?” Marcus doesn't sit up.

“Says anyone being reasonable. It's not permanent, our cousins might let us have their rental for a bit. They've got a tenant moving out this week.”

“Wait.” Marcus does sit up now. “Are you actually serious?”

Leon and Alexia look at each other, the kind of look that means they've already half-decided this without us. “It makes sense, I guess,” Leon says.

“Over my dead fucking body,” Marcus practically shouts.

“Hey,” Leon says, “it was almost over mine, so.”

Zachary appears in the doorway, rubbing his eyes. “Hey, what's going on?”

“Alexia and Leon are moving out,” Marcus says, “because Alexia apparently thinks that our best mate recovering in the house he fucking owns is too much trouble for us to handle.”

“That's not what I meant.” She's gone tight around the mouth. “I just think it's best. For you.”

“Really?” I say, sharper than I normally speak to her. “Best for us. Or best for you.”

“What does that mean?” Leon looks between us.

“Nothing,” she snaps.

“I think your sister's sick of living here with us,” I say.

“That's not what I'm saying at all.”

“Then what are you saying?” Marcus, arms crossed now, anger simmering in his normally placid eyes.

She turns on Zachary instead of answering. “What time did you get in last night?”

He blinks. “A bit after four. Had some end-of-month stuff to finish. Why?”

“Right. And it's quarter to eight, and you're up, because we're being too loud for you to sleep through.” She puts her hands on her hips.

He looks at her, confused. “So? I'll go back to sleep after. It's totally fine.” He points at Marcus. “He's going to make noise whether you're here or not.”

“Well, it's not good for you,” she argues weakly.

Zachary scoffs. “Oh, really? You really want to lecture me about sleep habits?”

“He's got you there, sis,” Leon says.

“And you.” She turns to Marcus. “You can't tell me having all of us here is good for your business. Your... private business.”

Marcus's eyebrows go up, slow, deliberate. “Are you asking if it's interfering with my sex life, Alexia?”

“That,” Leon says, from the bed, with a smirk, “I can answer with a resounding yes.”

“You have no idea,” Marcus mutters under his breath.

Alexia jumps on his statement, even though she knows the true meaning behind it. “Exactly. So you should want us gone more than anyone.”

Marcus's face changes, teasing dropping out of his tone entirely. “I was joking. You know that. I wouldn't kick any of you out of the house just so I could get laid. Give me a bit more bloody credit than that, Alexia.”

He's hurt. Genuinely, starkly hurt. I watch Alexia process it, watch her flinch at having caused it, then lock eyes with him — hers soft for the first time in weeks, a silent apology. He nods, accepting it, though his posture stays tight.

“And Rhys⁠—”