Page 39 of Room for Us

Behind me, I hear a soft question. “Why?”

I take the stairs two at a time and reach the front door in seconds, flinging it open without thought.

Zander’s brows lift. “Whoa. What happened to you?”

“What do you mean? Nothing!” I run twitchy hands over my hair. “I’m fine. Why would you ask that?”

“You’re all red in the face.”

“I’ve been cleaning upstairs. Vacuuming is hard, not that you would know.”

He snorts. “Whatever.”

“What are you doing here?” I bleat.

“Mom sent me. She said you needed help with that.” He jabs a thumb over his shoulder. “And I think she’s right for once. Did you really use a shovel to do all that?”

I scowl. “Yes. It’s called aerating the soil for new planting.”

Zander laughs. “There’s a tool for that.”

I growl, “You’re a tool.”

He ignores me. “There are these spiked shoes that strap onto your feet. Way easier. Then you just put the new soil and fertilizer over the top.”

What?! Fuck me. Celeste didn’t mention that.

Zander rolls his eyes at my obvious dismay. “Anyway, Mom said you’re doing all the planting on Saturday. I can come over and help.”

My lips purse. “And what do you want for the help?”

His eyes—blue like Mom’s—turn soft. “Maybe I just want to help my big sister. Is that so weird?”

“Yes.”

He grins. “God, you’re an asshole.”

“Takes one to know one.”

He glances behind me. “Hey. You must be Ethan. I’m Zander, Zoey’s brother.”

A wave of heat travels up my spine and threatens to melt my hair off my head. Before I can stop him, Zander maneuvers past me into the house. Spinning on my heel, I watch through slitted eyes as Zander pumps Ethan’s hand. The latter man wears fresh clothes, a bemused expression, and a partial smile. Bright eyes shift momentarily to me—electricity zings my belly as I remember his hands kneading my breasts.

Oh God, what have I done?

“Nice to meet you, Zander. I guess Zoey has told you all about me?”

My brother laughs. “Hell no. Sun River is a small town.” There’s a long pause; my brother’s head tilts. “You look super familiar.”

Ethan’s answering laugh is oddly strained. “Yeah, I have one of those faces.”

“Huh.” Zander looks at me. “There’s another reason I’m here, actually. Mom wanted to invite you guys to dinner at our place tomorrow.”

Face instantly frozen, my numb lips mutter, “A phone call would have worked.”

My brother winks. “I wanted to see my beautiful, brilliant sister.”

I hate him with the heat of a thousand suns.

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