Page 45 of A Favor Owed

Chapter Eighteen

Brady

I can’t come over tonight.

Well, shit. What am I supposed to do with that? In Brady Land, that would be game over. Adios. Thanks for playing. I don’t pursue once the hookup has happened. If it’s not easy come, it’s easy go.

But this is Angela Pines we’re talking about. I can’t just let her go. I need her. She owes me. And goddamn it, I like her.

Fuck.

I can’t believe I’m doing this. I pull out my phone, my ears burning with shame, and dial.

Siobhan’s teenage voice snaps across the line. “Whoever the hell this is, you better let my brother go and give him back his phone or I’m calling the police.”

“Hey, McNugget.”

A pause. “It’s really you? You’recallingme? On thephone? Wait, hold up, I have to go tell Ma and Dad.”

“Quit it, Shiv.”

She laughs. “We miss you around here, Brady. Mom and Dad and Mikey do, at least.”

“Not my little sister, though, huh?”

“You know I do, dumbass,” she admits gruffly.

I should just get this over with now before I feel any more pathetic. “So, look, you’re a girl,” I begin, redness creeping up my neck.

“Ding, ding, ding! He’s not as dumb as he looks, folks.”

“Would you shut up? This is serious.” I take a breath. “There’s this girl.”

“And she’s already figured out what a loser you are? You’re toast. Can’t help ya.”

Okay, this is ridiculous. I hang up and run my fingers through my hair. I don’t know what I was thinking, calling my little sister for girl advice. She’s right. I’m a total dumbass.

My phone rings. Siobhan is calling me back. I sigh and answer.

“Not in the mood, Shiv.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” she says, clearly trying to catch her breath from laughing so hard. “I promise I’ll stop. It’s just too fun to give you shit, Brady.”

“You did learn from the best.”

“That I did. So what’s with this girl, huh?”

“Okay,” I say, wondering how deeply I’m going to regret this. “She’s shutting me down. Under normal circumstances, I would totally move on. But—and I know this is going to sound delusional and egotistical, but it’s the God’s honest truth—I think she might actually like me. She doesn’t hate me, at least. My question for you, little sis, is what do I do? Give her space, or go for it?”

“Hmm.” To her credit, she sounds like she’s thinking about it. “Did she hook up with your best friend or something? Or, more likely, did you hook up with hers?”

“Nah,” I say. “I wish it were that simple, but it’s complicated. It’s seriously messed up, in fact. She’s running from some bad family shit and doesn’t want me getting tangled up in it.”

Siobhan gasps. “She’sprotectingyou?” she squeals. “Oh my God, that’s adorable. I love her. Please tell me she’s also barely five feet tall and ninety pounds soaking wet.”

“No,” I say, suppressing a chuckle. “She’s tall and, uh…” What would be an appropriate way to describe Angie’s gorgeous physique to my little sister? “She works out.”

“She’s stacked, huh?”

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