Page 8 of The Anaconda Downstairs

We made our way up the driveway, where Hayes’s car sat, windows slightly fogged. I couldn’t resist. Grinning, I knocked on the window. “Quit making out and bring your girl inside already.”

Penelope stifled a laugh beside me as we headed into the house. We found Gryff, Flynn, and Isak already set up in the living room, controllers in hand.

“Well, well,” Flynn drawled, raising an eyebrow. “Look what the snake dragged in.”

I shot him a warning glare. “Smartass.”

Flynn and Gryff exchanged a look that I didn’t like one bit. Even Isak, my baby brother, was giving me a smirk, and I had a feeling it was more about arriving with Pen on my arm than the snake shenanigans from earlier in the week.

I needed a distraction and fast. I pointed at my youngest brother, Isak. “Aren’t you forbidden from playing video games?”

He shrugged, unrepentant. “What Dad doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”

I snorted. “Because you think he doesn’t watch these live streams?”

Isak smirked, but I saw that flicker of worry. “Dad was born before the internet. He’s not interested in watching video games online.”

“Keep telling yourself that kid.” I have him a slap on the back. Isak loved to push boundaries, and it was good for him. He was still finding his place in the world, trying a little of this and a little of that. “It’s your ass on the line.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, they rang right back at me in my head. It would be my ass on the line if anyone knew the thoughts I’d been having about Penelope all week.

I really needed to get laid.

To get Pen off my mind.

Which was a dick move. I may have a high body count, but I didn’t use women. Each and every one of the ladies I’d been with could have been the one. I gave them each my heart, if only for the night. I was eternally the hopeful romantic, hopeful each woman I met would be the one who I could give my love to forever.

Just hadn’t happened yet. Maybe that made me the hopeless romantic?

A few minutes later, Hayes walked in with the cute neighbor girl who was all grown up now. And he was smitten as a kitten. Lucky bastard.

“Hey, guys,” he called out, greeting everyone. For the first time, my kid brother embodied the king of his castle. “I brought new talent.”

“Well, well,” I said, grinning, “if it isn’t the infamous Willa Rosemount. Nice to finally meet the girl who’s got Hayes all twisted up.”

Hayes shot me a glare, but Willa just laughed. “Twisted up, is he? Good to know.”

He rolled his eyes at me, gesturing to the others. “You know Flynn and Gryff. And if I’m lucky, you won’t remember Everett. And that’s Isak.”

As Hayes made introductions, I settled onto the couch, hyperaware of Penelope sitting next to me, our shoulders brushing. I needed to focus on something else—anything else.

Hayes would probably be coming to me for advice about Willa later, so I should be paying attention to how the two of them were interacting.

“And this is Penelope,” Hayes was saying to Willa. “She brings in the big numbers to our live streams when she’s in town.”

Willa gave her a friendly wave. “Hi, Penelope. Nice to have another girl at this testosterone fest. Have you known these yahoos long?”

Flynn straightened up as if that raised his hackles. “Hey, who you calling a yahoo?”

Willa wrinkled her nose and glared right back at him. “You.”

“Right you are,” Gryff interjected. “Carry on.”

Pen laughed and threw some popcorn at the twins. She really was just one of the guys around us. “Just a few months. My boss is engaged to Declan.”

As the conversation continued, I found myself stealing glances at Penelope. The way she effortlessly fit in with my brothers, her infectious laugh, the sparkle in her eyes when she did her signature “Hey, Besties” intro for Willa... I needed to stop this. Now.

Willa gave me an easy out when she shoved me aside to sit next to Penelope.

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