“Don’t do it,” I warned.
But he didn’t listen. He shook his entire body, spraying water everywhere. The shelter had rubber aprons for us to wear to protect our clothes, but I’d have needed a hazmat suit to be completely safe from the dog’s aggressive drying methods.
“Oh no. Your hair,” Emma said plaintively.
My arms were outstretched to either side as I dangled them in the air, letting droplets roll off me and onto the floor.
“Why don’t these rubber suits have sleeves? And hoods?”
“That can be your contribution to society,” Gina exclaimed. “You can make ones that cover your whole body.”
I gaped at her for a second, wondering if I should be offended that she thought so little of my offerings to humankind or touched she thought I had entrepreneurial potential.
In the end, I shook my head and grabbed a towel, though its purpose was slightly defunct by this point. I rubbed the dog’s coarse coat. When I leaned down to reach his back legs, the dog seized on the opportunity to lick me.
Reeling back, I wiped a hand over my mouth. I pointed a finger at the dog. “The last guy who tried that almost got a knee to the balls.”
I unhooked the dog I’d been washing, lifted him out of the tub, and crated him before moving on to the next dog. I opened the door to see a cute black-and-white puffball. The dog looked sweet, with its tongue lolling out.
When I reached in to grab him, he growled and lunged at me. I sprang back, slamming the crate door closed before Cujo could take a bite out of me. I looked around to see the other girls staring at me.
“I think I’m going to save this one for the staff.”
There were no other dogs there for us to wash, so I took off my apron and hung it up before settling back against one of the unused basins.
Gina cleared her throat. “Bethany, how does Aamee feel her fundraiser went?”
Bethany looked surprised to be spoken to. As one of Aamee’s closest friends in the house, things had been frosty between us at best. But she’d signed up for this service opportunity at the beginning of the semester and, for whatever reason, hadn’t found a different one. Maybe Aamee had sent her as a spy.
Once Bethany recovered from her surprise, she said, “It went well.”
“Oh good,” Gina replied in a voice that was dripping with false enthusiasm. “I’d heard Aamee was nervous because she thought she didn’t raise much. I’m glad to hear that’s not the case.”
Bethany’s eyes managed to both flit in Gina’s direction and roll at the same time. “Why would Aamee be nervous? The party was packed.”
I wanted to point out that since Aamee hadn’t charged admission, a packed party meant nothing, but I managed to hold my tongue.
“Sophia’s auction will probably be packed too,” said Emma. “I can’t believe you got some of the football team to participate.” She looked like a kid who’d been promised a lollipop.
I was surprised too. Carter had come through big-time for me. When I’d explained my idea to him, he’d told me he’d get a few of the guys from the team, and he’d certainly kept his word.
He’d not only convinced the quarterback to participate but also one of the defensive linemen, Tim Long, who was scorching hot. He’d probably be able to beat Aamee’s fundraising total all on his own.
“Is your brother going to be in it?” Bethany asked.
“What?”
It hadn’t ever occurred to me to ask Drew to be one of the bachelors. The thought of some other girl touching him made my heart beat faster. The auction wasn’t intended for people to bid on guys they wanted to hook up with, but I wasn’t stupid.
Most of the girls bidding would be doing so because they had some level of interest in the guy they were trying to buy. And even though I’d explained the auction was for men to do small chores for the people who “won” them—and not some elaborate escort scheme—people were still going to bid with their libidos.
“Your brother,” Bethany repeated slowly, like I was intellectually impaired. “Is he going to be in the auction?”
“No. Why would he be?”
Bethany shrugged, but it looked too cavalier. This had been her mission, and she’d chosen to accept it. That Aamee would ask one of her lackeys to try to get intel on my event didn’t surprise me, but Bethany’s focus on Brody did. Or Drew. Whatever. I couldn’t figure out what her angle could possibly be.
“He’s obviously attractive,” Bethany stated as she finished drying her dog. “He’d probably bring in a good amount of money. I’ve heard quite a few girls talk about how hot he is.”
“He doesn’t want to.”
“So you asked him?”
Jesus Christ, is this chick majoring in interrogation techniques or something?
“No, I just know he wouldn’t want to.”
Bethany looked skeptical. “Even if it would help you with the fundraiser?” She turned her back for a second while she put the dog in his crate and then turned back to face me. “Unless, of course, there’s another reason you don’t want him to participate.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “And what reason would that be?”
She looked down and examined her nails. “A few of us were just wondering if you were maybe a little too…interested in your brother.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
She looked right at me. “You just seem…close.”
I was really getting tired of this shit. “How many times do I have to tell you guys? That was not me in that video.”
“So you’ve said,” she said dismissively.
“But you don’t believe me.” It was a statement because I already knew the answer. I hated that she wasn’t technically wrong.
She gave me a look that let me know she most certainly did not believe me. Which meant Aamee didn’t believe me either, and wasn’t that just a shitstorm sandwich on what-the-fuck bread?
Aamee was clearly hoping to get something to discredit me with, and I couldn’t give it to her. Not when this was so close to being over. Not when I was so close to defeating the big, bad bitch. So I did the only thing I could think of.
“I’m sure Brody would participate if it’s that important to you.”
Bethany simply smirked in reply as she took off her apron, hung it on the hook, and left the room.
I wasn’t sure if I’d called her bluff or played into her hands, but I had a feeling—no matter how I’d reacted to her accusations—that the cards had been stacked against me from the start.
“What the hell just happened?” Emma asked.
I wished I knew.
D R E W
“How’s everything been going, man?” Brody asked me, his voice sounding slightly tinny over the long-distance connection.
I relaxed back into the couch and propped my feet on the coffee table. “Not too bad. Classes are going well. I’m carrying all As.”
“Oh. Um, hey, I’m happy you’re doing well and all, but maybe you’re doing a little too well for…me. Like maybe some of those can come down to at least Bs? Cs would be better, but I could compromise with Bs.”
My brow furrowed. “I thought you wanted good grades so your parents saw that you were following through on your promise to do better.”
“Yeah, definitely. But better for me is passing anything. Acing every class will raise every red flag that’s ever been made.”
“Oh. Okay.” There was no hiding the disappointment in my voice. This was likely the only chance I’d get to go to college. I wanted to prove to myself how good I could be at it, not purposely fuck up my grades.
Brody hesitated a second before saying, “You know what? Ignore me. Get whatever grade you can earn. My dad’ll probably applaud whatever nefarious means he’ll think went into me acing the semester.”
“No, it’s fine. You’re the boss here. I’ll do whatever you need me to.”
“I need you to do your best.”
“That’s obviously not—”
“Drew?”
“Yeah?”
“Shut up and do your best.”
His voice managed to be stern and encouraging. It sounded very different from the exuberant frat-boy tone he’d always had when we’d spoken before. For the first time, I got a glimpse of what the grown-up Brody could be if he ever let himself grow up.
“Okay. Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.” The statement sounded more like a directive than an acceptance of my gratitude. “How’s living with my sister been?”
I allowed him to divert the conversation like he so clearly wanted to, even though this was a more uncomfortable topic for me. Brody might have backed down on the grades, but I doubted he’d be so magnanimous about me hooking up with his little sister.
“Fine.”
“Really? She hasn’t been a pain in the ass? I couldn’t imagine living with her.”
“Didn’t you grow up with her?”
“Yeah, but not in such tight quarters. We didn’t interact much, especially once we were both teenagers.”
The dynamic between Brody and Sophia baffled me. Granted, I wasn’t very close with my own sisters, but they were soul-sucking. Sophia and Brody were both good people. Both a bit reckless and impulsive in their own ways, but solid human beings. I wondered if they saw how alike they were. Brody obviously took his antics to much higher levels, but they were both wild cards with good hearts. But it wasn’t my place to get into that.
“It’s gone smoothly. No problems.”
“You must be a spoiled-brat whisperer,” he said, a smile obvious in his voice.
Despite the teasing tone, though, I couldn’t let the dig at Sophia lie. “Must be, since I’m talking to a guy currently gallivanting around Europe.”
Thankfully he laughed. “Touché.”
The snick of a lock sounded before the door swung open, and Sophia clomped in, looking a little damp and a lot exhausted.
“Speak of the devil,” I said into the phone.
She looked at me quizzically as she settled onto the couch beside me.
“Is she home? Put me on speaker,” Brody said.
I clicked the button and then said, “Okay, go ahead.”
“Hey, squirt.”
Her nose scrunched up as she rested her head on the back of the couch. “Ugh, what do you want?”
“I called Mom, so you can stop texting me reminders about doing it. I told her I was settling in well with classes and I just loved having you living with me.”
“Way to screw up the whole thing. She’s never going to believe you like having me around.”
He gasped in what I interpreted as mock outrage. “I am completely convincing. Hell, they still think I’m in college when I’m not even in the country.”
“This is true,” she conceded.
“How’s everything going with getting back onto so-whority row?”
“You think you’re really clever, don’t you? How long have you been waiting to use that one?”
The only response was Brody’s cackling.
“Ugh, I don’t have the mental energy for you. Have fun fucking your way through Italy or wherever the hell you are.”
“You really overestimate my stamina. I’m almost flattered.”
“I’m hanging up now,” she said.
“No, wait. Seriously. How is everything going with getting back into the house?”
Sophia looked perplexed, like she wasn’t sure if he was actually asking or making fun of her somehow.
“It’s going okay. I think I have a good shot at making it back in for next semester.”
“That’s awesome.”
Sophia’s face softened at his words.
“Because I was going to see if Drew wanted to stay for the rest of the year, and I figured I’d have a better shot at getting him to agree if he didn’t have to share the apartment.”
“And there it is,” Sophia said, her voice strong as if she’d been expecting his reasoning, but there was no missing the disappointment on her face. She got up and wandered into the kitchen.
“I haven’t made any definite plans,” Brody continued. “But are you interested in staying for another semester, Drew?”
I watched Sophia remove a bottle of water from the refrigerator and take a drink. I wanted to go to her, both because the sight of her head thrown back and her throat working was hot as fuck and because she looked like she needed a hug, but I also wanted to focus. What Brody was asking was important.
“Yeah, maybe. Just let me know, and I’ll see what I can work out.” I didn’t want to waste a ton of mental energy on the pros and cons of staying another semester until Brody told me what his plans were for sure.
“Okay, great. I’ll give you a call soon and let you know.”
“Sounds good.”
“Later, man. Bye, Sophia.”
She didn’t bother replying, but it didn’t matter. Brody hung up before either of us could’ve gotten a word out anyway.
I dropped my phone onto the table as I stood up so I could make my way to Sophia. She was setting the bottle on the counter when I reached her and slid my hands around her waist. I liked how she leaned back into me, allowing me to support some of her weight.
I pressed a soft kiss into her hair. “You okay?”
“Yeah, just sorority drama.”
“Anything I can do?”
She turned around and wrapped her arms around my shoulders. “First, you can kiss me.”
That was something I would gladly do. I lowered my face to hers so I could press our lips together. The kiss was soft and sweet at first, but as it typically went with us, our hands started to roam and our tongues tangled.
She ground her pelvis into my erection as I moved a hand up to cup her face so I could deepen the kiss. Christ, this woman did it for me.
Needing to catch my breath, I began trailing kisses along her jaw. When I’d made my way to her neck, I asked, “Was there a second thing you needed?”
“Yeah,” she replied, her voice breathless and turned on.
“Gonna tell me what it is?” I asked right before claiming her mouth again.
We hadn’t gone much further than kissing yet, but it felt like we were quickly approaching the next step…whatever that might be. I was definitely excited to find out.
She was the one to pull away this time, and I dropped down so I could suck on her neck.
“God, that feels good,” she moaned. “I…I need…”
I pulled back so I could look deeply into her eyes. “What do you need?”
She took a deep breath. “I need you to be in my bachelor auction.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
D R E W
It had been a long night at Rafferty’s. Well, truthfully, every night felt long when my day was filled with classes and helping Sophia with last-minute tasks for the auction. Wasn’t it enough that I’d agreed to participate? Did she really need my help choosing fonts for the signs she was planning to display? She could put them in Wingdings, and I probably wouldn’t have even noticed.
My commitment to it was there. It really was. I’d just never been the type to concern myself with small details. At least when it came to event planning. Which suddenly reminded me that I was supposed to be planning Cody’s birthday party, which was in about a month and a half. Maybe after the auction dust settled, I could rope Sophia into helping me. She’d offered, but too caught up in all the sorority stuff, we hadn’t talked about it further.
“What’s up?”
Max’s words stilled my wiping of the bar. He’d been sitting there for over an hour, so I knew better than to think his question was a casual inquiry about what I’ve been up to since I last saw him. He was asking me what was wrong because, clearly, I wore my feelings on my face like a gigantic banner advertising my most recent concern.
How I’d ever managed to maintain a lie as huge as my identity for a few months had been a sort of magic even Houdini would’ve been impressed by. Th
ough as Sophia had pointed out, our imaginary family might be coming to an end as soon as Carter slipped up.
I looked up from the spot on the bar I’d been scrubbing at even though I knew the stain was permanent. Sighing heavily, I left the rag on the bar and leaned against the steel fridge behind me. Crossing my arms, I wondered what part of everything would be easiest to fill Max in on.
“Well, I’ve been pretending to be gay, the majority of the student population thinks I’m fucking my sister, and I agreed to prostitute myself this weekend for Sophia’s bachelor auction.” That about covered it.
Max’s eyes had grown a little wider with every detail I’d revealed, and now he looked almost sorry he’d asked anything. He knew a little about my relationship with Sophia, but I’d left all the peripheral details out.
“Okay,” he said slowly. “That’s definitely a lot to deal with.” He was quiet for a moment while I guessed he was processing everything. “So is the auction really for people to bid on sex?”
“No,” I said with a laugh. Then I added seriously, “And no, you can’t come.”
Max laughed, his big belly jiggling with the sound of it. “Well, let me know if she opens it up to the public.”
“Even if it were open to the public, it wouldn’t be open to you,” I joked. “Seriously though, Max, I don’t know how I got myself into this mess.” I moved to the register to begin closing everything down for the night.
“I do. You wanted to better your life.”
Max’s statement was true, but so many things had changed since I’d initially agreed to play Brody Mason, it made me wonder if, when all of this was done, I’d have accomplished what I’d set out to. Right now, it just felt hectic and complicated.
Max slid off the barstool stiffly and pulled on his coat. “I’m sure you’ll figure it all out.” He smiled before putting some money on the bar and heading toward the door.
He’d said it with confidence, like he was in on some secret I wasn’t privy to. That or he had no idea how any of this would play out but wanted to assure me it’d be okay anyway.
I decided Max was a better actor than I was.
Never Have You Ever (The Love Game Book 1) Page 18
