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Would she be my little sister if she wouldn’t annoy the heck out of me sometimes?

Gemma: You better not mess this up.

Sebastian: I won’t.

Gemma: Good. Because I like Lil, and she’s become a good friend of mine.

Sebastian: Has she said anything to you about us?

Gemma: No, she hasn’t. I think she’s unsure of how to bring it up or what to say. Just like you.

Sebastian: How did you figure it out?

Gemma: Seriously? I have eyes, you know? This is the first and last time I’m giving you the Big Brother bonus. Go talk with her. I think she really cares about you.

Sebastian: Thanks, sis.

Gemma: Oh, and Lil will be joining us for the weekend, so we need a bigger car.

Sebastian: Noted.

That’s perfect. Dad is off on a business trip that weekend. That means I’ll have my little princess all to myself without having to worry.

I make my way through the crowded hallway, dodging drunk idiots left and right. Where the fuck is Connor?

Sebastian: Where u at, bro?”

Connor: In my room. Why?

Sebastian: There’s a party going on.

Connor. And?

Typical.

I head back upstairs, taking two steps at a time. When I reach Connor’s door, I don’t bother knocking. I barge right in.

His room is a fucking mess, as usual. Clothes strewn everywhere, and empty pizza boxes piled in the corner. The only thing that has any semblance of order is his desk, with his multiple computer screens and whatever all these neatly arranged things are.

He spins around in his chair. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

I lean against the doorframe. “Remember that thing you got for me?”

“I thought you said that was Plan B.”

“Well, Plan A might have gotten messed up.”

“What’s going on with you two anyway? One minute, you’re all over each other, the next, she’s avoiding you like the plague.”

I clench my jaw. “We made progress.”

“So you’re together?”

“Are you gonna give me the key or not?”

He rummages through his desk drawer and tosses me a small silver key. “Here.”

I catch it, the metal cool against my palm. “Thanks, man. I owe you one.”

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