Page 70 of The Roommate Remodel

Brax stands, and the fire shooting from his eyes looks like it might sear Leo’s eyebrows off.

Leo rotates behind Vale for protection. “Can’t you take a joke, man?”

“Not when the joke involvesher,” Brax growls.

Tate looks from the movie to us. “Isn’t this like a date-night movie?”

“Look at the company,” Vale points out. “Lucky dude. Maybe I should see if Sloan wants to watch a movie.” He spins around to find my sister.

Brax puts his hand out. “This isn’t a double date!” Based on the way Brax has his jaw set, he’s annoyed.

“Can we watch too?” Tate asks. “Or will that ruin your date?”

“Absolutely not,” he says, sitting on the bed. “Can’t we watcha movie without you assuming we’re on a date?” Brax’s words cut through the room like the sharp edge of a skate.

“You’re watching a kissing movie,” Tate explains, like a lawyer making a case. “And you had your arm around her.”

“Not anymore.” Like it makes a difference. I can feel the heat radiating off his body beside me. The places where he’s almost touching me.

“Looks totally platonic to me,” Leo says sarcastically.

If we’re going to keep this dating thing hidden, we’re totally failing.

“What about the rules?” Tate asks, crossing his arms. Tate would remember the rules even though I’m the one who saidNo girls in the bedroom.That’s before I even considered that something would happen with Brax.

I thought he despised me back then.

Brax crawls off the bed to face off with Tate. “Sheriff, she’s the owner.Shemakes the rules.”

Then Brax rounds the bed, forcing Tate to back up. “There’s also a rule about no parties, and that was broken tonight. Do you want to tell the guys downstairs to leave?”

Tate backs into Leo, who stumbles into Vale.

“Not really,” Tate says weakly.

Brax keeps walking them backward until they’re out in the hallway, then he stretches his arms across the doorframe, looking like he could snap it in two. “In that case, I’ll pretendthatisn’t happening if you leave us alone. See how this works?”

Leo chuckles under his breath. “Brax, you do a terrible job of hiding your intentions.”

“My intentions are not up for discussion,” Brax growls.

“Then how about the upcoming fashion show we don’t know about?” Leo asks. “Is that up for discussion?”

“Fashion what?” Vale’s head snaps toward Brax.

Brax turnsto me with a questioned glance.

“I didn’t tell him.” I turn to Leo. “How did you...”

“I saw it on your computer screen earlier,” Leo says. “Guess everyone around here has secrets, huh?”

“It’s not a secret,” I say defensively. “I was planning on telling everyone at tomorrow’s meeting.”

“So what else are you hiding?” Tate asks.

Leo steps toward me, but Brax keeps the way securely blocked.

“You’re pretty tight with Ice Queen Alex,” Leo says. “I bet she tells you everything.”

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