Page 71 of Bound By My Father's Best Friend

“Maybe.” Athena chuckled from the couch. “You’re crazy.”

“I am not,” I hummed.

“So, Sierra, since you’re sleeping with his brother, is Heather right? All the Patton genes are good ones?” Athena winked and sipped on her champagne.

“Athena, they’re both adopted,” I said.

She playfully rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean.”

“Don’t think she does,” Charlie said, lips curled into a smile. “Why don’t you explain it?”

Athena shot Charlie a playfully dirty look, then shoved a dessert into his mouth. “Shut it.”

“What?” Charlie said, mouth full of cookie. “I didn’t say anything wrong.”

“You’re trying to embarrass me,” Athena said.

Charlie finished chewing. “You’re trying to embarrass Sierra.”

“Yeah, but she’s cute when she’s all flustered.”

Charlie smirked. “So are you.”

* * *

An hour into the party, Sierra disappeared somewhere with Steven—probably to hook up. I sat on the couch with Sun, talking about how I wanted to bring her to Radiant at some point because we all knew she was secretly a freak.

“No,” Sun said, hiding behind her hands. “I’d be so embarrassed.”

“It’s not that bad. What are you into?”

Sun’s face reddened. “Heather!”

“Are you bullying poor Sun over here?” Mom asked, walking over with champagne.

“No …”

“Yes, she is,” Sun said.

After tsking, Mom sat on the couch beside us. “So … Sierra just disappeared onto the balcony with Hector’s brother. Are they …”

A giggle left my mouth because she loved the drama, didn’t she?

“Yes, they’re dating,” I said.

Mom shook her head. “What am I going to do with you girls?”

I followed Mom’s gaze to the balcony that they had supposedly disappeared onto and smirked. “Maybe you should give Sierra a stern talking-to. I’m sure she would love that and wouldn’t be em?—”

After arching her brow, she brought her drink to her lips. “She’d besoembarrassed.”

My lips curled into a small smile, and I caught sight of Hector chatting with Dad at the other side of the room, yet his gaze hadn’t left mine since I’d greeted him when he arrived earlier. Butterflies fluttered in my belly.

Hector tapped Dad on the shoulder and excused himself, gesturing for me to follow him right before he slipped into the hallway that led to the guesthouse. I cleared my throat and jumped up, not even caring anymore if Mom knew.

She’d keep her mouth closed.

“Well, I’ll talk to you later, Mom.”

---