Page 41 of Alpha Brock

Not surprising that she still needs to get ready- the girl is always cutting it close in the mornings. I loosen my arm from her waist and Astrid slides off my lap, bringing her cup to the sink and darting off down the hallway to her room. I watch after her as she retreats, and as soon as she’s out of eyesight, I turn back to the guys- and they’re both staring at me.

I raise my brows questioningly, playing it casual. “What?”

“Damn, bro, you don’t have to piss on her,” my brother chuckles, rolling his eyes.

I level him with a glare. “Fuck off.”

He laughs again, because Brent has to make a fucking joke out of everything. “Hey, no need to be so touchy. So did something happen between you two or what? You planning on filling us in?”

I take a sip of my coffee and swallow it down. “No.”

“No, nothing happened, or no, you’re not planning on telling us?” he challenges, waggling his eyebrows.

“Leave it alone, Brent.” I heave a sigh, rising from my stool.

“Fine, fine,” he murmurs, holding up his hands in surrender. Then he grins wickedly, leaning forward and dropping his voice low. “So how was she?”

I’m on my way to the sink with my coffee mug and I snap my head in his direction, shooting daggers at him through my eyes.

“Comeon, you can’t blame me for asking!” Brent snickers. “She’s been strutting around here for over a week in those little booty shorts, so if you got a piece at least tell me about it and let me live vicariously.”

I grit my teeth, clenching my fists. Trying my hardest not to react as I bridge the distance to the sink and set my cup inside.

“Jesus, Brent,” Jared sighs, bringing a hand to his temple and shaking his head. “You got a death wish or something?”

“What, mister unattached shouldn’t care if it’s just a hookup, right?” Brent slides his gaze from Jared back to me, narrowing his eyes. “Or does this one actually mean something to you?”

Why he keeps poking the bear, I don’t know, but he’s one dumbass comment away from getting a fist to the face.

He’s saved by the bell- or the beep, rather, of the oven as the timer goes off, signaling that the quiche is done cooking. Jared grabs some oven mitts and goes to take it out while I step aside, running my fingers through my hair and tying it back. Brent’s still looking my way, no doubt seeking a response to his question. He’s not going to get one.

The truth is, even if I wanted to, I have no idea how to answer him. I haven’t ever considered getting involved with a female since Annalise, but Astrid…

What the fuck is it about her? Her constant overly cheerful shit drives me insane. And she’s way too naïve and trusting. Way too fucking nice. So why am I so drawn to her? It makes zero sense, and it’s making me feel completely unbalanced and out of control.

I shouldn’t even let myself think of her as a possibility. In a week or two, she’ll be back in Denver, and all of this will be a distant memory. Or we’ll all be fucking dead. Either way, there’s no future here; there can’t be. I need to leave last night in the past and walk away.

Astrid strolls back into the kitchen in a pair of leggings and a loose sweatshirt, eyes sparkling as she looks over at me. “How was that for record timing?” She winks, glancing over to where Jared’s slicing the quiche. “Oh man, tell me we have time to eat quick!”

Damn she’s cute. We really should get going, but how the fuck can I say no to her?

“Go ahead,” I nod, and she squeals excitedly, shuffling over beside Jared as he starts dishing out slices of quiche.

I’m lost in thought when Astrid comes up beside me again, holding a plate out in my direction. I look down at it, confused for a moment before I realize that she has one in her other hand for herself; she brought over a slice for each of us.

I crack a smile, taking the plate from her appreciatively. “Thanks, Anna.”

Her eyes fly wide, and I immediately realize my mistake.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Astrid

I blink as I look up at Brock, his words registering. He didn’t just call me ‘Anna’, did he?

But the look of horror in his eyes tells me that he did.

Behind me, I hear Jared choke and Brent snort.

---