Page 40 of The Rules Of Attraction
Chapter 7
Alex
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“How was your day?” Dad asked through a forced smile.
Poor guy, I knew I was trying his last nerve.
“Wonderful.” I smiled back. My smile was forced too.
Summer hadn’t come in today, so I was guessing that meant she wouldn’t be taking the job. And, since I thought going to her hell hole of an apartment bordered on being a little too much on the obsessive side I decided to leave it alone.
Leave her alone for a while.
Maybe I just needed to get her out of my system.
It was Thursday. On Thursdays we all met up at the family home for dinner. It was mom’s idea.
She insisted on us meeting up and eating together like we used to when we all lived together.
We may have all had busy lives but we still managed to do it every week, except for when one of us was away on vacation.
“Wonderful, oh great. That’s good to hear.” My father placed the gravy in the center of the table.
Preston cut me a glance out of the corner of his eye, taking a break from whatever he was doing on his phone.
My father was pissed at me because he’d heard that Summer ran out of the office yesterday within two minutes of being alone with me. He also knew she didn’t come back, which he assumed was my fault.
He didn’t get the chance to shout at me because we’d taken an oath that on these special nights we wouldn’t argue. My mother made us promise.
“Did you have a good day Preston? You do know phones aren’t allowed at the table right?” I said to my brother who looked at me fully now, bright blue eyes staring into me.
“Yes, Alex. Phone gone.” He placed the phone on the table face down. “And you know what my day is about to get better.”
“God, why is that?” I’d bet he had a date. His hair was all shaped and cut in that sharp style he liked.
“Date with Andrea.”
I laughed when my father grimaced and turned away to get the tray with the roast chicken.
“Which Andrea is that now?” I knew exactly which Andrea Preston was talking about but I just wanted to hear him say.
He gave me a knowing look, the kind he gave when he knew I was shit stirring.
“Andrea Searman.” His eyes bore into me.
Dad scowled at the mention of the name, just like I knew he would. I feigned
surprise.
“Jesus, Preston aren’t you scared your dick might fall off?” I chuckled.
“Alex.” Dad hissed chiding me. His face was classic disapproval of my word choice.
“It’s true, dad, these things can happen you know. Especially with women like that.” Now I feigned concern for Preston, of which I was not.
My father was always on my ass about women. Preston was the one he should be worried about though. My brother had no morals, and picked anyone available in the moment. Didn’t matter if they were taken or not. He’d work his charm, lure them into his bed and drop them most often than not leaving a string of broken hearts in his wake.
