Page 18 of The Trade

“Are you suggesting we don’t tell them?”

“I mean, we’ll tell them . . . but maybe just at the last minute.” I can’t help the sly grin that pulls at my lips. “You know, so Mom can’t possibly book a flight in time.”

“Lili the liar! I can’t believe my ears.”

“Come on, Ace. It’s been ages since I last saw you, and you know how they can be.”

“I’m just messing with you. Of course I want to spend the weekend just with us,” he assures me, his voice softening. “I need my little-sis bonding time.”

“Then we’re in agreement.” My grin stretches wide. “We’ll just tell them it was a spur-of-the-moment decision.”

“Fine by me.”

Usually, my brother has his own room when he comes to visit me at Dayton. We stay up all night eating junk food and watching our old favorite movies. With Shannon around, I guess that changes things.

“Now that I finally have a roommate, you’re gonna have to sleep on the couch.”

“Also fine by me. I’m just glad you actually listened to me for once,” he teases. “How is that going, by the way?”

“It’s actually great,” I confess, voice muffled as if I’m admitting to a crime. “Shannon is an awesome roommate.”

“Well, I’m glad it worked out,” he says gently. “I won’t even say ‘I told you so.’”

“Good.” I chuckle. “Oh, and you have to promise me you won’t flirt with Shannon when you’re here.”

Shannon’s the quintessential girl my brother would go for—tall, confident, effortlessly pretty, and a cheerleader to boot. I couldn’t tell you why, but it’s like all straight football players are biologically wired to want them.

“That depends . . . what does she look like?”

“She’s beautiful, so don’t even try it,” I warn.

“Oh, come on, Lili.” He draws out my name. “Isn’t she like . . . your age?”

“Yeah, and you’re only twenty-six,” I remind him. “Dating a college junior wouldn’t exactly make you a cradle robber.”

“I mean, I guess. But, like, you’re my baby sister. It’s weird as hell to even think about.”

“Good, then it won’t be a problem.”

He snorts, the indignation clear in his voice. “I promise I’ll be on my best behavior.”

“You’d better,” I fire back. “Also, don’t think I didn’t see that TMZ post this morning. Are you actually dating that Instagram model?”

“No, I wouldn’t say that we’re dating,” he says, a note of smug satisfaction in his voice. “But we did have some fun together last night.”

“Ugh, ew!”

“Hey, don’t ask ridiculous questions if you don’t want ridiculous answers.”

I groan again, my face contorting with displeasure. “I’m hanging up now.”

“I love you, Lil. I’ll see you in three weeks.”

“Three weeks,” I echo. “Love you, too.”

After flinging my phone onto the bed, I’m left wearing an irrepressible smile. I soak in the happy thoughts before disentangling my clothing from the shower. Seems like I’ll have to bite the bullet and get a new dryer after all.

It may be ridiculous, but I should have just accepted the money from the start.

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