Page 13 of My Ex's Brothers

I change the radio in the car until I find a station I can settle on. It’s an eighties station, and I don’t know most of the songs, except for Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” if only because I’ve heard it at all the hockey games. Thankfully, Richard doesn’t try to fill the silent space with talking. Instead, I’m able to just relax, listen to the music, and breathe.

When we get back to the parking lot of the Bugle, he doesn’t turn the car off when he parks.

“Phone,” he says sternly, opening his palm.

“What?” I ask, blinking in confusion.

He huffs out an annoyed sound. “Phone. Now.”

The sternness of his voice is like velvet on my skin, flipping some internal switch inside of me that I didn’t know existed until this moment. I hand him my phone without thinking, wanting to obey if only to avoid getting snapped at like he snapped at Tara.

“Why?” I ask as he taps away at my phone. He doesn’t answer me. “Rich, why?—”

“If youdoneed something,” he says, letting out a deep breath. I watch as his eyebrows knit together as he contemplates his words. “If you need anything, Mia, I want you to promise me that you’ll call me.”

He hands me back my phone, and I stare at it for a moment.

“I—”

“Don’t tell me you’re busy or you can’t, or whatever bullshit excuse you’re trying to think of right now, Cinderella. Youwillcall me if you need anything. Got it?”

I want to argue with him. I want to tell him to fuck off, because no onetellsme what to do, not like this. Not in the way he is, insinuating that if I don’t listen to him I’ll regret it.

Part of me wants to push him to see exactly what would happen if I don’t listen, but the part of me that wants to listen, to obey him…that part wins out. She’s a horny little bitch, and it’s been a long afternoon, and she knows salvation is close.

“O-okay,” I say as I take the phone from his hand.

He doesn’t smile or nod, just grunts as he nods to my passenger door.

“Go,” he says. “We’ll be in touch.”

I settle my hand on the door handle and open it, feeling strangely warm and bothered that we’re saying goodbye. But I thank him for lunch and bid him farewell all the same.

I start my car up, instantly panicking as it muffles a strangled cry. It’s been doing this for weeks, and Dex didn’t want to get it checked out. He said I was holding the key too long, but I know the ignition is probably going. Another reason why I need this job. Replacing my overly used SUV is first on the list.

Thankfully, it kicks over on the third try as usual, and I blow out a breath of relief.

All the way home, I can’t stop thinking about the weirdness that has been this day. Dane and his smooth, sexy voice. Rich and his strange commands that make me feel flush…

The inappropriate thoughts about both of them that I know I shouldnot be having.

When I get back to Little Creek, I shake off the vibes and tell myself to forget about this afternoon. My interview is in the hands of the Bugle now, and the hardest part of the day is over.

I knock on the door quietly, and Dane opens it slowly. I’m greeted by the sight of him—shirtless—with a rag over his shoulder, which doesnothingto quell the desire building within my loins.

“Dane…um…” I bite my lip, my eyelashes fluttering as I try to process the sight of my ex’s twin in my doorway, looking…

Hot. He looks hot as hell holding that bottle with that rag, shirtless with that perfect tan.

He blinks, his cheeks heating immediately as he opens the door wider.

“Oh, shit, yeah, sorry…I uh…hope it’s okay I uh, hooked up your washer.”

“My washer…” I say. I hadn’t had a chance to do so, what with everything going on, but…

“Somebody ate her lunch a little too fast and we had an accident, but it’s fine,” he says, running his free hand through his hair. I enter my apartment, noting that everything looks…unpacked.

Organized.

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