Page 98 of Crazy Thing

“You’re into Ziggy now and all of a sudden you’re some love guru like our other brothers?” His eyes go narrow. “We’re the single ones, Darius. I thought we were in this together.”

I feel bad for the guy but tough luck. Ziggy’s amazing. Just the mention of her name has me grinning and zoning out like a clown.

Archer looks at me in disgust. “Pathetic. Just like the rest of them.”

I laugh, jogging to keep up with him as he picks up a few boxes of ceramic tiles and carries them to his truck.

“I don’t understand what’s happening to me. All I know is, I’m so fucking happy. Every time I’m around Ziggy, I’m just so…fucking…happy.” I pause, snatching a five-gallon paint bucket into each hand. “But she’s so damn skittish. I don’t know how to make her trust me. There’s this constant dread in the pit of my stomach that she’s going to change her mind and run off on me. And what the fuck will I do then?”

Archer shakes his head. “Precisely why I’d never make a move on Layla. As things stand right now, we’re friends. I’d never forgive myself if I did something stupid and fucked that up.”

“So you let fear get in the way? What if you could be more than friends?” I ask, not caring that I sound like a naive child as I hand the paint off to my brother.

He stores the buckets in the bed of his truck and dusts off his palms. “Dude, I’m a realistic man. I don’t know how to do that happily-ever-after shit. I wasn’t built for it. I’ve made peace with that.” He hops behind the wheel of his vehicle and starts the engine. Reaching out the window, heruffles my head. “But for what it’s worth, I genuinely hope there’s something different in the cards for Ziggy and you, baby brother.” I watch as he rolls away.

Nah. ‘Hope’ isn’t good enough for me. I’m a man of action.

I’m going to find a way to make Ziggy trust me.

38

ZIGGY

The sky is an artist’s canvas, painted the warmest hues of orange and purple and red as the sun descends behind the mountains. Darius gives my thigh a squeeze as his car rolls onto the long driveway leading to his home. Tingles race up my leg, making me clench my core muscles.

Leaning my skull against the headrest, I look over at the handsome man behind the wheel. I feel a dopey smile on my face.

This is nice. I like it.

The beautiful sunset. The beautiful landscape. The beautiful billionaire chauffeuring me around town. I know I shouldn’t get used to this little routine but I sure am enjoying it right now.

Darius cuts the engine on his circular driveway. “Here we are, my passenger princess,” he says.

My attention swings back out the front windshield and I catch sight of my bus parked next to Darius’s expensive water fountain. I can’t help but giggle.

He angles his muscular shoulders to face me. “What’s funny?”

“As gorgeous as she is, Lady Tourmaline looks sort of out of place here at your lavish estate. Especially since you’ve made no secret of your distaste for her.” I crinkle my nose at him.

He peers over at my mobile home, evaluating her as if with fresh eyes. “I’ve had a change of heart.”

“Have you?” I question, surprised.

Darius takes my hand, brushing his lips along my knuckles. “Your school bus in my yard means that you’re close to me, and in my book, that’s always a win.” He offers an impish smile, his voice lowering with embarrassment. “Sorry I ever dissed your ride.”

On that, he leaves me there, swooning, and jumps out of the car. Then he’s at my door, holding it open. When he extends his hand to me, I grab onto it. With these wobbly knees, I need all the support I can get.

Once I’m on solid ground, Darius heads to the trunk and grabs the grocery bags. Then, he confidently leads the way to the massive double-door entrance to his massive house.

Instantly, I feel myself panicking. “Wait!” I call out after him.

He glances over his shoulder, a puzzled look on his handsome face.

“I’ll cook you dinner inmykitchen,” I announce.

Darius tilts his head. “Ziggy, I have an enormous modern kitchen that I never use.”

“I can imagine,” I say, getting visions of high-end stainless steel appliances and well-stocked pantries and expansive stone countertops. “But everything I need is at my place.”

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