Page 19 of Here's to Yesterday

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Ipausethe movie that’s playing on my laptop as a knock sounds on my bedroomdoor.

“Hey, kiddo. There’s a sexy tattooed man at the door for you. I don’t know if your boyfriend knows you’re associating with him, but if he doesn’t, don’t tell him. This hottie is grounds for majorjealousy.”

I’m not sure whether I should laugh or scream because Tucker is here. I was hoping that if I ignored his ten text messages and two phone calls, he’d take the hint and leave me alone. Guess it didn’twork.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” I say. “He actually had the balls to show uphere.”

“Mmm. And I’msoglad he did,” Kassi says, practically melting into apuddle.

Grabbing the nearest pillow, I throw it at my aunt. “Go away, you weirdo. And tell him to leave while you’re atit.”

“Oh, honey, you couldn’t pay me to turn that man away. Have you seen his eyes?” she says, fanningherself.

Yes, yes I have. And they’re breathtaking. Everything about Tucker is breathtaking. Which is part of the reason I attempt to avoid him like the plague and have always dodged that line of thinking. I shouldn’t find my boyfriend’s brother as attractive as I do. I’m sure it goes against a moral code ortwo.

“Please? Get rid of him,” I beg. “Tell him I’m super sick and it’s horribly contagious.Please?”

She sighs and rolls her eyes. “You ruin all the damn fun. Fun-sucker,” she says as she shuts my door and goes to send Tucker on hisway.

I groan and lie back on my bed, wishing she hadn’t brought up how attractive Tucker is, because that’s all I can think about now. It was easy for me to ignore how attractive he is when Tanner was here, but ever since he left I haven’t been aslucky.

Tucker is hot. Super fuckinghot.

Tanner is exactly the type of guy Ishouldbe attracted to. But Tucker is exactly the type of guy Iamattracted to. However, tattoos and plaid aren’t on the Doughers’ radar. And neither is being a mechanicandmusician. No matter how attractive Tucker is, he’ll always be placed on my Fantasy Guylist.

Never mind the fact that he’s my boyfriend’sbrother.

Another knock sounds on my door. I get up to answer it thistime.

“Did he buy it?” I say as I open thedoor.

“Hedidn’t.”

I try to slam the door shut again, but a gigantic Converse-covered foot sneaks its way in between the door andframe.

“KASSI GARRETT YOU’RE A HORRIBLE PERSON!” Ishout.

“I’m sorry! He’s just so cute! He charmed his way in!” she yellsback.

“Traitor!”

I’m still trying to push the door closed, and Tucker is still trying to push it open and make his way into myroom.

Into mylife.

And he’swinning.

I finally give in—probably to both—and let go of the door, causing him to stumble into theroom.

He straightens himself and then shoots me a smirk. It’s immediately transformed into a grimace. “Is that what you’rewearing?”

I glance down at my purple yoga pants and ratted t-shirt.

Putting my hands on my waist, I jut my hip out to the side. “What? Don’t I lookhot?”

“Oh, you’re always hot, Maura,” he easily replies, taking a seat on my bed. Onmybed! “But I know you, and that outfit is definitely not up to your usual exquisitely fashionable par. So get dressed and let’s roll. We gotta be out of here in ten minutes,princess.”

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