Page 5 of Brazen Mistakes

“What happened to reading romance novels and becoming an Olympic fencer?”

“I’m reading all the romance novels, and I’m still fencing.”

I try, again, to keep my anger out of my voice. “Then why drink?”

Mattie’s glare begs me to lose it. “I know you haven’t been around much, so maybe it’s slipped your memory. But youdoremember what it’s like living here, Archie, don’t you? You’ve been home what, three hours? And how many drinks are you up to?”

This is the fourth. Maybe. Wine service at luncheon makes it hard to keep track. I set the tumbler on the coffee table. “Damn it, Mattie. This isn’t about me. If you can make an international name for yourself, it makes it much harder for father to sell you off to whatever business associate he wants in a few years. You stand a chance of getting out of this mess.”

“You always said you’d find a way out for both of us, Archie. But here we both sit, hiding from the family, tied just as tight as always. So don’t lecture me. Anyway, I’m done with my sharing. It’s your turn.” She hands me back my phone.

I set it on the coffee table next to the nearly full tumbler. Father might be forcing me to be with the family more, but at least I’ll be able to keep an eye on Mattie while I’m around. “She’s my roommate.”

Mattie kicks me. “Full story, you sneaky bastard. With emotions, and worries, and actual things that happened. But if you’re fucking her, I don’t want details, because, gross.”

“Oh my God, Mattie! You’re a kid. Why would you bring that up?”

“I’m not a kid! I’ll be fifteen in less than a month. Plus, you didn’t see your face when you talked to her. If you’re not fucking her, I’ll freaking gnaw this bobble off my sweater.” She points to a red pom-pom on her arm.

God, I love winning. “Then I guess you lose. I’m not fucking her.”

“Bullshit.”

“Truth. She is, however, fucking all my roommates, except me.” When Mattie’s eyes grow to cartoonish proportions, I realize that might be too much truth for my fourteen-year-old sister. Shit. “But, like, they’re all chill with it.”

“Like, at once?”

Oh hell no. I’m not answering that one. I’m up and across the room, racking the balls on the pool table. “I don’t fucking know, Sparkles.”

She trails after me, her sleeve in her mouth. “But you want to.”

“Like fuck I want to get that close to my roommates’ dicks.”

She slaps my shoulder, then hands me a cue. A second later, she hands me a red pom-pom. “You win. But I expect thatthing back when you break and figure out what all the fuss is about.”

“Fuck off.”

“Keep it someplace safe. You’ll see.”

Chapter 3

Clara

Fat snowflakes plaster themselves to my face as I climb up from the river basin to Dinkytown. Snow for Christmas. It’d be magical if I was celebrating.

Instead, I’m sick to my stomach from running after the Bailey’s, John Wick is the only man waiting for me, and my to-do list has two items instead of a handsome collection of guys on it: wearing cozy jammies for the rest of the day and checking my much-neglected personal email account.

Two sold signs wave in the wind as I pass by a row of rundown party houses. Sucks to be those new owners. No college kid will take care of a place with holes in the porch and cracked windows.

Dinkytown is eerily quiet. Everyone’s gone home for the holidays. Catching sight of a gold envelope on the porch and a big box with Walker’s name on it, I scoop them up as I figure out how to unlock the door with the combo of my phone andthe passcode RJ sent, a tickle on the back of my neck urging me inside quickly. Just as I get it open, my phone rings, and I almost drop it from surprise.

RJ.

I feel like a puppet whose strings were just cut, drooping in relief. He didn’t forget me. He called me back. “Hey, you,” I chirp, locking the door behind me and setting Walker’s box on the stairs.

“Hi, sugar. Sorry I missed you earlier. What’s up?” Even RJ’s voice makes me feel calmer, less like a live electrical wire lying in a puddle on the ground.

“Not much. I was just a little confused about how the front door works. But I got a hold of Trips, so it’s all figured out. How’s your Christmas Eve going?”

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