Page 6 of The Stud

“He was. The depiction?” My head bounces slightly side to side. “Some might saywatered downin comparison to his factual performance as an emperor.”

It’s her turn to look momentarily impressed. “And what would you say?”

“That I’ll tell you all of my thoughts over a couple of brewskies when we’re finished here.”

“No.” There’s no reluctance for Hoss to straighten her spine and flip the hatred switch back into the on position. “I don’t date hockey players.” My mouth isn’t even given a second to consider moving. “And wearefinished here.”

“You mean for now.” The glare I’m twitched simply encourages me to arrogantly grin wider. “Come Monday morning pracky, you’re all mine for the next six months.”

“Nah, I can probably find another job before then,” she denies while slowing back up, snarky smirk shifting into something much more vicious. “One where I don’t hate the person that I have to work with more than my medical condition.”

Chapter 2

Arden

One twin is always evil.

It’s her.

It’sdefinitelyher.

“No one careswhyyou’re adding frown lines to your face.”

See.

Evil.

“Mom and Dad aren’t going to justbuyyou a hockey team to make you smile,” sneers Audrey, my identical twin, from the opposite side of our parents’ wooden, backyard, brunch table. “Don’t be daft.”

“Don’t be fake British,” I childishly snip back while tossing the last of my avocado toast to Bear, my black and tan Tibetan mastiff, who’s in the chair beside me.

“Don’t feed the wolf at the table.”

“Don’t bring home the one from Wallstreet.”

“I don’t get it,” Audrey huffs in exasperation.

“And no one’s surprised,” is attached to a sardonic smirk.

“Arden,” our dad, Amedeo Hoss, struggles to scold rather than snicker, “be better.”

“I don’t know how that’s humanly possible…” levity lingers in my tone, “because that comeback was top cheddar.”

“It was-”

“Amedeo,” hisses our mom, Charlotte, from behind her mimosa.

“But,” he lifts a pointed finger at her prior to rotating it over to me, “I saidbe better, notdo better,mi pequeña rebelde.”

I’ve always been his little rebel.

And she’s always been his little princess.

Pretty.

Poised.

Perfect.

---