Page 56 of So Close

“Don’t give up on what?” Chiara said from the doorway.

“Nothing,” Trey and Auburn said at the same time.

Chiara rolled her eyes. “Seriously, people? Do you know me, Auburn? That kind of shit never flies with me.”

Auburn looked at Trey, and he gave a slight nod of assent.

“Trey’s willing to sell me Beachcrest,” Auburn said. “But I still need to raise the money.”

“Why can’t you just finance her?” Chiara demanded.

Trey opened his mouth to answer, but a voice cut in before he could speak.

“Finance her for what?”

It was Mason, who’d wandered in from the barbecue.

“Hey, Mace,” Chiara said.

“Hey. I couldn’t take it out there.”

Auburn and Chiara both knew what he meant. Mason was—well, some people said he was shy. Some said he was quirky. Auburn thought he was the sweetest, most loyal human being on earth, and if the rest of the world couldn’t see it, fuck ’em. But parties were definitely not his scene. In general, conversation with humans other than his siblings was not his scene.

And yet Mason had once let slip that he was a regular and devoted user of Swiperight, which Auburn wondered the heck out of. How did you manage hookup culture without having to talk to strangers? Or maybe that was exactly why he thrived at hookup culture …

“Mason, this is Trey Xavier. He’s Carl’s grandson. Trey, this is my brother, Mason.”

Trey came forward, hand out for a shake, but Mason only acknowledged him with a slight nod, and Trey let his hand drop.

She’d have to explain her youngest brother to Trey later.

He leaned on the counter. “What are you guys doing?”

“Working on Auburn’s Bootstrapper page.”

“What does Auburn need a Bootstrapper page for?”

That was Levi, who suddenly manifested in the doorway to the office.

Oh,shit.

Chiara shot a look Auburn’s way. Which clearly said,You didn’t tell him?

Auburn closed her eyes and hoped her siblings would go away, but when she opened her eyes, far from having disappeared, they’d magnetically attracted Hannah, their youngest sister. “What are you guys all doing in here? The meat is coming off the grill, and it looks ah-maaaazing.” Then she caught the vibe of the room and froze. “What’s going on?”

No. This was not happening.

Auburn looked at Trey—who seemed shell-shocked at the sight of all of her siblings gathered in one place.

“Levi, Hannah, this is Trey. He’s Carl’s grandson. Trey, Levi is my big brother, and Hannah is the youngest.”

“I’m lots of things besides the youngest,” Hannah pointed out grumpily.

“The most beautiful, the smartest, and the least modest,” Chiara said, poking her little sister. Hannah poked back.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Trey said, shaking Hannah’s hand, and then Levi’s.

Levi was frowning. Hard. “What does Auburn need a Bootstrapper page for?” he repeated.

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