Page 41 of The Rules Of Attraction
Some people thought we were just as bad as each other but I’d be the first to point out our differences and they were vast. The one big one being I had limits and Preston did not. Hence why he was going out with Andrea Searman, a woman who was just a fraction worse than Celeste.
Word on the street had it that she was an escort who’d made it big with a rich old guy who suddenly died a week after their wedding leaving his young widow of twenty years old his billion dollar fortune. But that wasn’t enough to satisfy dear old widowed Andrea as she would hook her fingers into any man with wealth.
The woman was always at a party, always involved in some scandal. Just always.
“Andrea is just fine little brother, but I appreciate the concern.” Preston gave me that fake smile.
When dad walked over to the far side of the kitchen I leaned closer to Preston and whispered, “I hope your dick falls off. What the hell are you doing with Andrea you idiot?”
“Mind your own business,” Preston hissed, his eyes darted to dad who was just going into the pantry to get the wine.
“You know I can’t do that.” I goaded.
“Try.”
“You just got divorced.” I reminded him.
“Exactly, so I should get back out there.” Preston smiled that smug smile of arrogance.
His marriage to Victoria Secrets model, Piper Ainsworth, was destined for failure. The only good thing to come from it was Katherine, my four year old niece. She was the most beautiful little girl who adored Preston.
That bitch, Piper, had full custody and moved to Florida early last year out of spite. She was the kind of woman that loved to mess with people and wreck their lives just because she could.
Preston took every chance he got to see Katherine, but I saw the strain it placed on him.
After his disastrous marriage, I thought Preston would try to pick better women. Clearly, I was wrong.
“You want to get back out there with Andrea?” I gave him a deadpanned expression.
“Yes, I heard you scared away the fresh pussy at the office.” He smirked.
I didn’t quite realize what he meant until seconds later when it hit me. the newest member of staff we’d had was Summer.
My whole body tightened at his reference and I had to wonder if this was how my father felt when I joked around with my vulgar language. It was all fun and games until people were talking about someone you knew. In my case, I knew I didn’t exactly know her but we’d had a massive connection and I wouldn’t stand for anyone, not even my brother, talking about her in that way.
“Don’t,” I said with warning in my tone. “She was nothing of the sort, and nothing to do with you.”
Preston smiled, “Did I hit a nerve little bro?”
My father came closer so I withheld on telling him to go fuck himself. Instead I narrowed my eyes and seethed at him.
With the table set my father took a seat but I noticed that he brought over two bottles of wine, instead of the one we would share, placed one in the center of the table and kept one to himself.
Most unusual since my father didn’t really drink that much. Preston noticed it too, and cut me a worried glance.
“How was your day dad?” Preston asked.
“Perfect.” Dad said a little too quickly. He started cutting off slices of the chicken and setting them on his plate.
“Doesn’t seem like it was perfect.” I pointed out.
Dad stopped and looked at me. I landed myself in that one. What I should have done was kept quiet.
“Okay Alex, it actually wasn’t, and the little time I was hoping to spend with my boys is spent talking about loose women and dicks falling off. So you pretend to be me and tell me how you would feel.”
Dad looked stressed out. He’d been stressed before, but usually it didn’t warrant a bottle of wine which he was now opening. I watched him fill his glass and put the bottle back near him, which confirmed it wasn’t for sharing.
We didn’t say anything else while we ate which was completely unlike us because this was the time that we got together and spoke.
