Page 21 of The Love Playbook

“Such a territorial motherfucker. You’re just still sore Brynn’s making me cupcakes this weekend, aren’t you?”

“Maybe,” Jace mumbles into his beer.

“Well, whatever. Either way, I’m going to get Charlotte to change her mind. By the time Christmas rolls around, not only will she be okay with our parents getting married, but she’ll be planning the bridal shower, and come spring, she’ll be walking down the aisle with a smile on her face.”

“Whatever you say,” Jace mutters as he focuses back on the game.

“You don’t think I can do it?”

He glances my way with a smirk. “All I know is ever since Brynn and I came back to school as a couple last year, you’ve been pestering Charlotte, and so far, all it’s accomplished is giving you blue balls. So no, I don’t think you can sway her.”

I glance over at Damon, my jaw unhinged, as if to saycan you believe this guy? But all he does is shrug and nod toward Jace as he says, “I’m with him.”

“Same. You don’t have a chance,” Brandon agrees.

“Fucking traitors,” I grumble.

“Oh, don’t be such a baby,” Damon says. “It’s not like we’re rooting against you. We just don’t think you have the stamina to go toe-to-toe with Charlotte.”

My eyes widen, and I gasp. “Oh, I have the stamina,” I say, standing. “I have the fucking stamina of a . . . a . . . a . . . fuck! What kind of animal has a lot of fucking stamina?”

Brandon frowns. “A lion?”

“I watched a documentary once on lion coitus.” Brandon shudders. “You don’t wanna know about that shit, bro. Their penises have barb?”

“Holy shit. Forget about lion dick, okay?” I say, cringing.

“Lalalalala,” Jace says, plugging his ears.

“Whatever animal has the most fucking stamina, I’m that,” I say.

“Someone’s grumpy,” Brandon grumbles.

“All I’m saying is?”

“You have stamina,” Damon says, “we get it.”

“In and outside the bedroom.” I point at him.

“I don’t know,” Damon says. “If you couldn’t convince Charlotte to look your way before, I don’t see how you’re going to convince her now that she’s going to be your stepsister.”

Shit. He’s right. I know he’s right.

I’ve been trying to ignore how fucked up the situation is that the girl I’ve been trying to hook up with for the past year is now going to be my stepsister, but there’s no denying it. Hooking up is probably a bad idea. If Charlotte and I have sex or date and it blows up in my face, it’ll only cause more problems for my mother.

She needs to be the priority here. And she needs me to convince Lettie that my mom and her dad are good together, that they both deserve a second chance at love and happiness.

Which means I have to keep it in my pants.

Well,shit.

Frowning, I rise from my spot on the couch and head toward my bedroom.

“Where are you going? It’s not even halftime,” Jace calls out.

“To call your girlfriend for advice,” I holler behind me as I shut the door, smiling ear to ear when he yells:

“Stop calling my fucking girlfriend!”

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