Page 13 of Game Change

“What’s their problem?” I ask Colin.

“Malcolm told Ian not to touch his sister. Ian touched his sister, and he’s never gotten over it. They’ve been in a bunch of fistfights about it,” Colin says with a sigh. He pinches the bridge of his nose.

“Isn’t his sister an adult?” I ask.

“Sure is,” Brody says.

“Thank goodness I don’t have a brother then. That sounds stupid.” I grew up with a stepbrother, and we got along fine. He’s four years older, and I always considered him family. At least I did until my stepfather passed away and he kicked me out of the family home even though I was the one who took care of his dying father for the last eighteen months of his life. In all that time, Oliver only visited once, claiming he was too busy to spend more time with his dying father.

“He came because his sister expected him to,” Colin says. “She doesn’t know he’s still being an asshole to Ian.”

“And he’s doing his best to ruin it for everyone,” Brody mutters under his breath.

I pinch Colin’s butt, and he jolts in surprise before leaning back into me. I wrap my arms around him again.

“He couldn’t ruin this for me if he tried,” Colin says.

“Thirty minutes. Any more than that, I’m going to come looking for you,” he says against my lips.

From over his shoulder, I see Malcolm roll his eyes. I have my dress back on, and I’m prepared to do the walk of shame to my own house. I’ve been trying to leave for the past hour, but each time, he’ll kiss me, and I’ll forget about leaving.

The guys are now hosting a barbeque at their place, and I’m inviting Raven and Amira. Since we only planned on going to the beach today, I don’t think they’ll mind.

“I’ll take as long as I need,” I say.

“Fine, but I’m keeping your panties.” He taps his pocket.

I try to reach for them, but he moves away.

“Are you going to swim with her panties in your pocket?” Malcolm says. “What will Esme think?” he asks.

Colin tenses, and I pull away to look into his eyes.

“That’s my ex, and it’s been over for months,” he reassures me. “Shut the fuck up, Mal,” he warns. “Fucking asshole,” he mutters under his breath. Malcolm huffs and walks out of the kitchen. “I’ll walk you home,” he says.

After kissing me senseless, I watch as Colin makes the short walk back to his place. He goes through the gate to the pool. Malcolm’s sitting there looking at his phone when Colin stands over him. They have a heated exchange I can’t hear until Malcolm sticks his middle finger in Colin's face. Colin knocks it away and storms inside.

In desperate need of a hot shower, I turn and bump into Amira, who’s smiling like a Cheshire cat. Raven soon joins us.

“Spill, slut,” she says, and Amira giggles.

“How big is it?” Amira whispers.

“Massive,” I announce, and they both jump up and down in excitement. “Why are you both so excited? I ain’t sharing it with you.”

“She’s using slang, Mir,” Raven says. “He fucked the properness out of her,” and they both giggle again. “At least you’re getting it. I was married and months would go by without so much as a quickie.”

“That’s because he’s gay, Rave,” Amira says. “It’s nothing you did.”

“I feel stupid and used,” Raven says, but she shakes her head as if chasing the thought away. “No negativity in this space.” She takes a deep breath and slowly exhales. “Give us the dirty details. I have to live through somebody, and Lord knows Amira isn’t getting any.”

I sit at the table, and over the next thirty minutes, I tell them everything. From the time we left the club to going back to his place and getting naked.

Amira fans her face. “You guys didn’t fuck, Brynne. It sounds like he made love to you a bunch of times.”

“You used a condom each time, right?” Raven asks.

“Yes, Rave,” I say with an eye-roll. “I’m not some teenager. And Mir, it wasn’t no lovemaking. It was—”

---