Page 27 of Book Boyfriends
“But high school was a long time ago.” A dark laugh vibrates from Lars. Hitching forward, he moves to break out of Jackson’s hold, then launches my brother into the air.
“Jackson!” I lunge forward as if to catch him.
“My lady!” Lord James’s arms loop around my waist, pulling me back against his front and ensuring I don’t crash into my brother’s flailing body.
Jackson drops to the carpet with a loud thud. “Oof,” he groans, his face pinched with pain.
“State champion, huh? Must not be abigstate.” He places his boot atop Jackson’s chest.
“Your…mom…never complained about…the size,” Jackson gasps out his retort.
“Ha!” Lars’s violet eyes almost twinkle with admiration. “Nice one, pretty boy.”
“You…wish…you were as pretty as me.”
He leans over, his face hovering mere inches from Jackson’s. “Says the man who’s flat on his back for me.”
“You wish. You’re cute… But notmytype.”
He smirks. “I’meveryone’stype.”
“If you’re into the wolfman lumberjack thing,” he scoffs playfully.
If Lars didn’t appear straight out of central casting as sexy werewolf number one from a paranormal TV show, Jackson’s comment would give me pause, as if he knew who these three men were. With his flannel shirt that molds over a ‘carved out of stone’ physique, ripped fitted jeans, black boots, and dark beard and hair, he’s the epitome of the pack alpha from an episode ofTrue Blood.
Lars howls with laughter. “I think I’m going to like you.” A furrow notches his brow. “Well, I will once you apologize to Georgia.”
“The feeling may be mutual, once you take your boot off my chest.”
“Wonderful, there are two of them,” Lord James mutters.
Oh, god.I pinch the bridge of my nose. Did I accidentally base elements of my snarky werewolf character on my brother? If one of these three men is, indeed, whom I’m supposed to end up with, this assures Lars is no longer a contender. My brothers may think I’m picky, but this one I’m sure they’ll bless. Romantic entanglements with fictional men are one thing, but those having shared personality traits with my brothers are deal-breakers.
Good lord, am I seriously considering dating one of these men? Also, are they even real live men if I made them up?I rub the erratic pulse beating in my temples, the twinge of a coming headache forming.
“Jackson, are you okay?” I ask.
“I will be once Wolverine lets me up.” He juts his chin up at Lars, who merely grins.
“Lars, would you please let Jackson up?” I sigh.
“Once he apologizes.”
“Lars?”
Ignoring my brother, I go on, “He did. He said he didn’t mean to upset me.”
“That’s not an apology.”
“He’s right.” Jackson turns his head on the floor to look toward me. “I am sorry, Georgia. Mynotintending to hurt you doesn’t change the fact that I did… And I’m so sorry. You’ve had enough happening without me pushing or lecturing you.”
“What’s been happening, Georgia?” Owen places a calm Wentworth down.
“Nothing,” I lie.
There’s enough going on here. The last thing we need to add to this ridiculous scenario is the melodrama that is my life.
Sighing, I motion at Lars. “Please let him up.”
