Page 35 of Just This Once

My brother scoffed. “Yeah, right.”

But then he rubbed the back of his neck uneasily and glanced back toward the house.

“Hey.” I nudged him gently in the gut with a knuckle. “What’s wrong?”

Dammit. Had he sensed the chemistry between me and Parker? Had he seen me touch his friend?

“Hmm?” He turned back to me with lifted eyebrows and dropped his hand from his nape.

“Something’s bothering you,” I said. “What’s wrong?”

“Oh.” He tried to smile it off. “Sorry. It’s…” He shook his head, dismissing it. “It’s nothing.”

“No, it isn’t,” I argued, gripping his elbow and jostling his arm encouragingly. “If it’s bothering you, it’s not nothing. What’s going on?”

“It’s just—” He glanced up toward the house with a wince. “I heard Foster in the kitchen talking about this Xander girl coming to live with us, and I just—I’m still not sure what to think about it all.”

“How so?” I asked, tilting my head curiously.

“Well, she—” Shoving his hands bashfully into his pockets, he kicked at the side of the tire on the Lucid Air. “She’s too freaking pretty,” he finally blurted. “Keene may think it’ll be some kind of golden opportunity to live with her. ButI’llnever be able to relax. I mean, how the hell am I ever going to poop again, knowing that kind of gorgeousness is sleeping right above me?”

“Oaklynn’s pretty,” I reminded him with a confused shake of the head. “And you live withher.”

“That’s totally different,” he argued. “She’s with Archer. She’s like a—a sister. I don’t know. It’s just different. I never had to worry about any of that with her. Or Faith, when she was staying with Hudson before he moved out.”

“So you’reinterestedin this Xander?” I asked with lifted eyebrows. “Romantically.”

“What?No!” He scowled at me as if I were insane. “I mean, she’s beautiful, but I don’t even know her. And?—”

When he seemed to flail for words, I said, “She’s just not tossing any sisterly vibes your way, huh?”

“No,” he agreed glumly. “And I—I mean, I absolutely know I’d never stand a chance with her. Not with the others around. Parker especially. But?—”

“Oh my God,” I groaned, tipping my head back in disgust. “Why are all of you boys so intimidated byParker? Every single one of you thinks he’s just God’s gift to women or something.”

“Well, hedoesseem to attract them like flies,” Alec answered logically. “He doesn’t even freakingtrymost of the time. They just flock to him like—you know what? This is a better question foryou. You’re a girl. You tellmewhat’s so mesmerizing about him.”

God, I wanted to sigh dreamily in answer.Just everything. All I had to do was look at him, and I thought about sex. Iwantedsex. And I’d never even had a good experience with it. Not once. Yet I still wanted that boy to climb inside me and rock my fucking world. I had every confidence he could do it if given the chance, too.

Then there was that tragic ache in his eyes sometimes, like there’d been two minutes ago in the living room, and I wanted to save him from his own miserable loneliness.

But my loyalties remained with Alec. Alec was my number one.

So I scoffed and lied my ass off. “He doesn’t have anything you don’t. Except a truckload of ego maybe.” Alec was too self-conscious and hard on himself to put his best attributes on display.

“If you really want this girl,” I started, fully prepared to do everything in my power to help him. I wasn’t even opposed to holding her at gunpoint. “You can get her.”

“No.” Alec winced and lifted his hands, stopping me there. “It’s not even that. It’s just—I haven’t even met her yet, and I already feel tongue-tied from simplythinkingabout her.” Glancing at me hopelessly, he muttered, “Having tolivewith her is going to be absolutely miserable.”

I shrugged. “So tell Damien you don’t want her here,” I answered logically. “He won’t let her move in if you say no. You know that, right?”

“I know,” he mumbled and rolled his eyes. “I just can’t tell him no. She’s Union’s cousin and needs a place to stay. And the poor girl’s already heartbroken and homeless. I couldn’t do that to her just becauseIfelt a little uncomfortable.”

“Oh, Dopey.” I sighed and opened my arms to pull him into a hug. “You’re way too considerate and selfless for your own good. Do you know that?”

He kissed the top of my head before hugging me back. “Or I’m just incredibly lame,” he countered self-derisively.

“Nonsense,” I argued, squeezing him tighter. “You’re anything but lame. But hey. If it doesn’t work out with her, you can come stay with me, okay?”

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