I drive to our place, the one Reid shared with us until he decided to move into the frat house.
“We have a Gamma meeting,” he reminds me when he realizes that we aren’t going to Greek Row but we’re leaving campus.
“Yeah, fuck the Gamma meeting. This is more important.”
He keeps quiet for a minute, then he asks me, “How long have you been fucking her?”
I try to stay calm, keeping my tone of voice even. Nothing good can come out of escalating this situation any further.
“I’m not fucking her, Reid. I love her and she loves me back. It isn’t just sex and it never was. If anyone, you should know.”
The bitterness in his tone breaks my heart, I can almost taste it, I can feel his heartbreak in every cell of my body, in every recess of my heart. Fuck, our twin connection had to choose this moment to work on full power.
“The fact that it isn’t just sex makes it even worse, Chase. If you love her, like you say you do, how could you risk her this way? If Dad finds out, he’ll cut you both off.”
My jaw ticks with anger and frustration. “I don’t care about the money. I—”
Reid is relentless. “Sure, fuck the money. How noble of you. But as usual, you’re just thinking about yourself and you’re thinking with your dick first. Tuition and board for this year is paid for all of us. But what happens to Kaya if Dad cuts you both off? You’re graduating but how would she ever afford Bridgeport U?”
“We get our trust funds at graduation. I’d pay for her schooling,” I snap as I park in front of our house and get out of the car, taking fast, long strides toward the front door.
Reid chases me, continuing his verbal attack. “Dad put clauses in our trust funds, you dip-shit. The bulk of it is subject to us being employed by Hudson Marina. And do you think our old man would let you work with him if he finds out that you’re doing the one thing he told you not to?”
I enter the house and turn on my heels to face my brother again. I’ve thought about it. Both Reid and I want to work with Dad, we’re passionate about the family company and the legacy it represents. We’re proud of our father for building it from the ground up. But if I have to choose between that and Kaya, if I have to choose between my family and Kaya, she wins. I love her more than anyone in the entire world, I need her more than the air I breathe. The three years I spent trying to stay away from her have been nothing but constant, excruciating pain.
“Look, if he takes my trust fund, I’ll find a job. If that isn’t enough, I know Parker and Bryce will help. They’d do anything for Kaya.”
“Yes, we would.” My best friends enter the living room and I feel relieved and grateful to have them on my side in this battle. Especially because I know that my behavior toward them hasn’t been exactly beyond reproach. But we talked, I explained my feelings and asked for their forgiveness and they came around. Even Bryce. I thought I’d never say this, but I saw how happy they make Kaya and how happy she makes them. So to my own surprise, the idea of sharing my girl with them doesn’t bother me like I feared it would. It actually feels more right than I care to admit.
Parker
I IMMEDIATELY SPOT Chase’s split lip and an angry red mark on his jaw that will probably turn into a nasty bruise.
So the twins have been fighting and it isn’t surprising if Reid found out about Kaya and Chase’s relationship.
“Is this just a fucking game to you? Huh, Chase? You don’t care about the money but what about Kaya’s feelings? Have you thought how she’ll feel when Dad cuts her off from the family? Maybe even divorce Karen if she won’t go along with it? Don’t forget that this is what he did with his own parents when they had some huge disagreement that he still refuses to talk about after two decades. Have you thought about me? How I’ll have to choose between you and Dad? So I hope walking out into the sunshine with our stepsister will be worth it, because it’ll destroy our family.”
Chase and Reid stare at each other with open animosity and Bryce is the one who, as always in our group, acts as the peacemaker.
“Guys, calm the fuck down,” he urges them. “Look Reid, I know you’re angry, I understand. I was too, at Chase obviously not at Kaya. If we all keep their relationship a secret, there’s no reason for Dustin to know. And you never know, your dad’s feelings might change. Chase is looking for a way to—”
Reid cuts Bryce off. “You know, dude? I understand my brother being delusional about this but what convinced you to drink the kool-aid? My dad is a great guy, he’s suffered a lot and had to put up with a lot of shit from me and Chase while we were growing up. But he’s stubborn. He rarely changes his mind. Didn’t you hear me earlier? He hasn’t had any contact with his parents since we’ve been alive. I’ve never met my fucking grandparents. Plus, you guys remember Celine Richards? Dad’s friend’s daughter that we met at the country club and Chase fucked a couple of times? Remember the embarrassment after Chase dumped her and how most of our parents’ friends would still be less than thrilled to see one of us four even speak to one of their daughters? Since we’re known as the biggest man-whores north of San Francisco? So if you think that we could sit down and talk to him about dating Kaya, you’re even crazier than my twin.” He then turns to Chase again.
“You’ve obviously lost your fucking mind. How long do you think you’ll date Kaya in secret? Forever? I have news for you, asshole. The secret’s already out. Have you stopped one second to think how I found out? I saw you making out with her behind that bar last night. So you haven’t been as careful as you think you have.”
Surprisingly Chase hangs his head. “You’re right, Reid. I’ll have to be more careful. But I love her with all my heart and she loves me too. I’m done staying away. I think there’s no other solution than to try to find a way to reason with Dad or keep the secret forever. This isn’t just my choice, Kaya wants this relationship just as much as I do. And I’m not the total selfish prick you think I am. I told her how much you care about her, jerk. I know you’ve never acted on your feelings, that you’ve been much stronger than I’ve been. But Kaya cares about you too ...”
I spy Reid’s reaction and I see his feelings for Kaya shine in his eyes but only very briefly. That same warmth he had when he told me and Bryce how he felt vanishes almost as fast as it appeared. He shoots me and Bryce a warning look. He has no intention of fessing up about that kiss, not even with his own twin. But there’s even more to his perturbed expression and I understand why when Reid speaks next.
“I’ll keep your secret, douche. But not for you, you don’t fucking deserve it. I’ll do it for her, because I’ll never stop loving her, no matter what. But me keeping my mouth shut might not be enough. Oliver was with me, so you better figure out a way to find out if he intends to tattle.”
Bryce
WHAT A FUCKING MESS.
I’m disappointed in Chase’s carelessness. He put her at risk by kissing her where anyone could’ve walked out and see them.
I feel some of my very own guilt burn in the back of my throat, Parker and I aren’t behaving much differently, we’ve been sloppy when we’re around her.
“This is bad,” I bite out. “So, we’ve overcome our own rivalries, your moral dilemmas about lying to your family, for what? To have everything go up in flames because of Oliver Wellesley?”
Chase doesn’t immediately see my point. “Maybe I can talk to him. Explain the situation. I know we didn’t start exactly on the best of terms with him but we’re frat brothers and he made Reid his deputy. I think—”
I interrupt him. “He likes Kaya. I don’t know how much but he likes her enough to try to corner her at the bonfire and dare her to skinny dip with him and try to get a kiss.
I swear that if the situation wasn’t dire, I’d laugh at the matching murderous expressions on my three best friends’ faces.
Parker is the first one to recover. “I’ve seen him looking at her but I thought it was just curiosity because she’s always with us. If he likes her
, it could be a problem.”
I nod. “Yeah, you’re right. I don’t trust him. There’s something in him that I can’t quite put my finger on but ...”
“Maybe I could talk to him. I could ask Valeria what’s the best way to approach him,” Reid volunteers and we all stop to stare at him because there’s another elephant in the room.
“Talking about Valeria.” Chase is the one to ask the question on the tip of all our tongues. “What’s up with that? You’ve shown up to all the latest events with her.”
Reid looks a little uncomfortable. “I— I don’t know. She asked me to the bonfire and it happened just after Dad asked me to make sure that we maintained a good relationship with her and Oliver. You know, because of that business deal. So I thought why not? Win-win, right? I wouldn’t create another rift after the presidency shit by turning her down and I’d have a buffer between me and Kaya.”
I meet Chase’s eyes and I can see a similar perplexity in his gaze to the one I’m feeling. “You want to be careful there, Reid. Make sure you don’t get too involved if you aren’t into Valeria. If you scorn her, you’ll end up hurting that business deal and if Oliver tells her what he saw, she might end up being the one who tells on Chase.”
I know immediately by the look that Reid gives me, that the situation is worse than we thought.
“There’s nothing wrong with Valeria but— I’m not into her. I’m not into any girl but Kaya. But you’re lucky that I intend to keep dating Valeria, bro. Since I can’t have the girl I love, I thought I might as well go for one Dad would approve of.”
Chase looks at his twin with same disconcerted look I see in Parker’s eyes and I’m sure it’s in my own. “What about Kaya? She loves you too, Reid. Have you thought about letting her have a say? This is what you and I did wrong all these years. We made decisions for Kaya without asking her how she felt.”
Reid has one thing in common with his brother. He’s a stubborn asshole. “I’m not willing to risk blowing up our family for my own happiness. And yes, Chase, that’s me judging you, you selfish motherfucker. And Kaya might say that she wants you now, but if the worst happened, don’t you think that she’d resent you for being the reason why she lost her family? I don’t want that. So I’m dating Valeria. For now I’m keeping it casual, I don’t think I’m ready for a girlfriend. But Valeria is nice and pretty and I hope that she’ll help me get over Kaya.”
We all shake our heads at how asinine that all sounds. Even though the resentment part isn’t completely wrong. If I were Chase, that would definitely be a worry.
“So what are we going to do about Oliver?” I ask hoping to redirect the conversation to our biggest problem.
Chase sighs with a grim expression on his face, worry forming lines on his forehead. “I think there’s only one possibility. I need to talk to Oliver man to man and ask him to keep quiet. There’s only so much I can do but I hope that he’s gonna be decent enough to understand how serious this is.”
Reid covers his face with his hands. “See why I’ve stayed away from Kaya? Now we’re at the mercy of that asshole. I hope Oliver is gonna listen to you, bro but I’d prepare for the likely eventuality that he might not play ball the way you want him to. Valeria keeps saying that her stepbrother loves playing games and controlling others. Apparently he made some enemies at Yale and that’s why he had to leave. I don’t know the exact story but I think I should find out. It could help to have some dirt on him, in case we need a bargaining chip to encourage him to keep his mouth shut.”
I look at my friends and I can’t help the ominous feeling that’s spreading in my chest. “I don’t like this. I don’t like it one bit. What are you proposing we do? That we find something to blackmail Oliver to ensure his silence?”
Reid’s jaw is set with determination. “No, trust me I hate that idea as much as you do. And I’m sure that Kaya would hate it even more. But I see it like an insurance policy. Something to dangle in front of him, if he decides to be an asshole about what he knows. I hope he’ll see that making enemies out of us and Dad too isn’t a great idea. But if what his sister says is true and he likes to play games to get what he wants and if he wants Kaya ... have you got a better idea? We don’t have to actually do anything if he decides to be decent. We just need to find him an incentive in case he doesn’t.”
I suppose that makes sense. But you tell me, when has blackmail ever not caused trouble?
15.
Booze Cruise
Kaya
THIS PLEDGE THING IS going to kill me before it’s over, mark my fucking words.
I’m at the Zeta house on a Friday afternoon ‘helping’ the sisters pack for a two night cruise on Oliver and Valeria’s yacht.
It’s a joint Gamma and Zeta event and of course it’s a pledge event, so like at the bonfire, there’ll be challenges thrown at us and I’m honestly not looking forward to the idea. We were supposed to leave on Saturday but the guys’ football game has been cancelled due to the other team’s forfeit. Something about a huge doping scandal at their school. So we’re leaving one night early.
“Is there anything else you want to bring before I close your luggage?” I ask Valeria.
“Oh yeah I can’t forget this, I bought it just for the occasion.” She hands me a black silk underwear set that in all fairness is more a bunch of strings and ribbons that must cover absolutely nothing. It has a set of diamanté’s letters on a waist chain that spells ‘buy me diamonds’. Tasteful, I think.
I take it trying to maintain a neutral expression and to avoid thinking that she might have bought it for Reid.
But obviously I have no such luck because Valeria smiles conspiratorially. “I hope your stepbrother will like it. If things go my way, we’ll fuck again.”
Again?
I try to calm down my erratic heartbeat. Get a fucking grip, Kaya. Reid has every right to do whatever he wants, he isn’t with you, my subconscious reminds me in a rather bitchy tone. Yeah no shit, I think. He barely even talks to me. But that doesn’t mean that it hurts any less to think about him with someone else.
“So are you and Reid serious?” I ask, because I’m a glutton for punishment but maybe I really need to hear that they’re serious. Put another nail in the coffin of whatever my heart still hopes will happen with Reid.
“Oh, no. Not yet. We’ve been hanging out, very casually. I’d be lying to you if I said that I’m not hoping for things to change but you know the reputation your stepbrothers and their friends have around campus, right? They aren’t relationship kind of guys. The twins last year fucked their way through the cheer team, while Parker and Bryce must have gone through all the ΙΑΚs. But after test driving Reid, I’m hoping to change him and convince him to commit. Do you have any advice for me, Kaya? After all, you got Bryce to give up his freedom for you.”
Yeah, I’m definitely the wrong person to ask advice about Reid. He doesn’t even speak to me. But I don’t want to get into the complexities of my non-relationship with my stepbrother and I opt for a more diplomatic, “Bryce is different, he’s a sweetheart. Reid keeps to himself a lot, so I don’t know him that well, sorry.”
“Yeah, you’re right. He doesn’t talk a lot, doesn’t he? But he’s got a huge cock. Like scary big. I’m very curious if Chase’s cock is the same. After all they’re twins even if they aren’t identical. What do you say, Kaya? Are they the same down there?”
I gasp at her question. “How am I supposed to know?” Yeah, I do know exactly how big Chase is but there’s no way I can tell anyone about that.
Valeria laughs, totally at ease with the direction of our conversation.
“Oh come on, Kaya! Don’t be a total prude. Are you telling me that you and your stepbrothers have never been home alone, maybe a little drunk and you haven’t gotten a little ... ‘experimental’ together?”
I shake my head vigorously. “No, we never ... no.”
Not that I didn’t want to. I would’ve given Chase and Reid anything they wa
nted. I still would. But we all know how things went between us.
Valeria continues unperturbed. “Oliver and I did in our early teens. We used to fuck constantly. As soon as we’d have the house to ourselves – which happened very often – he’d sneak into my room. I’ve tried pretty much everything there was to try with him, sexually speaking. And just so you know, his dick is huge and he fucking knows how to use it, like your stepbrother.”
“Why ... why are you telling me this?”
She smirks knowingly. “I told you that Oliver wants you.”
I blush, flustered by the image she just put in my head. What the fuck is wrong with me? I can’t help but remember the sight of Oliver naked at the lake. His proportions are different than Chase’s but when it comes to size, they’re both definitely above average.
I try to hide the fact that my mind has gone straight to the gutter but I know I’m blushing and Valeria laughs at my embarrassment.
“Anyway not that I want to tell you what to do, Kaya, but I’d stick to Bryce if I were you. Oliver is hot but he’s worse than your brothers. All he cares about is getting laid and having his way. He’s selfish too, he doesn’t care who he ruins, what relationships he trashes to get his way. And when he’s done? He just walks away. It’s something to do with how he’s been raised, you know? All that shit about being an English lord, he thinks other people are there to cater to his every whim.”
There’s something in her expression that tells me that she’s experienced that side of her stepbrother but at the same time ... I don’t know why she’s warning me because Valeria doesn’t necessarily strike me as the caring type.
“AND HE’S SO SURE OF getting what he wants that he’s made a bet with me that he’ll fuck you before the end of the school year.”
Illicit (Perfect for them Book 2) Page 15
