Page 95 of Resist Me

“Gee, I didn’t think of that. It’s not like I was born in 2006 and could use a phone before I could speak.”

“What has your panties in a twist?”

With a sigh, I grabbed a Gatorade from the fridge. “She’s supposed to be looking for a job but ever since I mentioned it the other day, she’s been conveniently missing when I look for her.”

“Maybe stop trying to be her dad.”

“I’m not, but she has to pay her rent, you know.”

Kai regarded me carefully. He was annoyingly good at reading a situation. If I needed help figuring something out, he was the one to go to, but I didn’t want that right now. I wanted to figure things out with my sister. That clearly wasn’t how she wanted to do it, though.

“She paid three months of rent,” Kai said.

“Yeah, with our dad’s money.”

“I mean, that’s up to her. She’s an adult. We all are. Even if it’s not how you want her to do it, she’s doing her part here.”

“But she’s supposed to learn how to take care of herself.”

“West.” He came up to me and put his hands on my shoulders, pinning me with his green eyes. “You can’t decide how she does things. If something bites her in the ass in the future, that’s gonna suck. It doesn’t change the fact that she has to make her own decisions.”

Dropping my forehead to his shoulder, I took a shuddering breath. He rubbed my back reassuringly.

“I just want her to be okay,” I said. “Because I can’t be with her forever. I don’t know where I’ll go after college.”

“Willow isn’t dumb. She knows how to take care of herself. Whether she does it your way, her way, or Elmo’s way, it’s up to her. Besides, I’m sure she’s just avoiding you because she knows you’re in mother hen mode.”

“I’m not in mother hen mode.”

“Mhm. Come on. Nobody uses that shitty basketball court, so we can throw the ball, yeah?”

I nodded. After shoving my feet into a pair of sneakers, I followed him out the door. It was possible I had too much time on my hands since football was over. I couldn’t wait for practices to start up again. My mind had a tendency to go nuclear when I was idle.

“When’s the last time you saw her?” I asked when we entered the court.

He gave me an exasperated look. “This morning before I went to class. She’s fine.”

“So, she just hates me.”

“No more sibling talk. Catch the damn ball.”

He threw it far and I had to backpedal. When it was in my hands, I considered holding it hostage until he answered more questions but knowing Kai, he’d probably tackle me until I agreed to his demands.

“Do you have something to wear for that dinner?” he called.

I threw the ball and shook my head. “Not yet. Can’t I just go in jeans?”

“It’s to commemorate the end of the season and celebrate the start of the next one. You’re the quarterback, so I’m gonna say no.”

“But will they stop me if I go in jeans? Like, is there a rule against it?”

“I’m sure Linc will love you in a suit.”

The thought made me bite my lip, not because he’d like it, but because he’d probably look downright dapper. He’d tame those curls and have them pushed back, but I’d ruffle them before we got there so that they fell around his ears. The guy had the sort of face and body that allowed him to pull off anything. He could show up looking like a badass quarterback or the well-groomed and posh pianist.

Kai was right, though. Linc would likely swoon if he saw me in a suit, which only reinforced my decision to wear jeans. He’d definitely give me that look as if he was done with my shit, yet he kept coming back, so I wasn’t convinced.

“You’re gonna be a problem, aren’t you?”

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