Page 9 of Sincerely, Your Enemy

I have to admit I was a tad surprised when TJ texted me his address this morning. I knew he’d recently moved back home and out of the party house where he lived all freshman year, but I didn’t think his parents’ place would bethatfar away from campus.

A text from my landlord comes through right as I’m entering TJ’s neighborhood. He wasn’t picking up earlier, so I texted him a picture of the broken window, and he replied that he knows a guy who could come and fix it for a reasonable price tonight—of course, he’ll add the cost of the repairs to the rent, but what choice do I have?

I study my surroundings as I drive around the area. Houses with boarded-up windows and crumbling exteriors line the road, most of them covered in graffiti.

I always thought a guy as gorgeous as TJ would have the gorgeous house to match. He just has that “rich kid” attitude, you know? That constant, unimpressed expression on his face, as though he’s seen everything.

My assumptions about him are proven wrong when I turn onto his street and come to a slow stop before a gray bungalow with peeling paint and a rusted fence. Crazy how some of the pictures we paint in our heads couldn’t be further from reality.

What I can’t seem to figure out is why TJ would move out of the party house to livehere. Not only was the house he shared with Chance, Theo, and Everest much nicer, but it was directly on campus. TJ got a full-ride basketball scholarship to Duke. He has practice almost every day after class. I figured he’d want to spare himself the long commute to school.

As if that wasn’t intriguing enough, no one really knows why he moved out. When the guys asked him about it, all he said was that he had some things to take care of.

Not vague at all.

I’m starting to think being vague is his thing.

I asked him what he had in mind when he texted me that he knew how I could repay him, and he just said he’d tell me in person. I spent most of the night tossing and turning, wondering what to expect.

I inhale a sharp breath, keeping it in for a few extra seconds before releasing the air in my lungs. I don’t know why I’m so nervous. All I have to do is knock on his door, get my sister’s phone back, and leave.

Easy-peasy.

Maybe if I’m lucky, I’ll catch him in a generous mood, and he won’t remember that favor I owe him.

The porch creaks so loudly beneath my feet you’d think it’s about to cave. I’m seconds away from knocking when the door swings open and a brunette holding her keys comes bursting out of the house. I barely have time to step aside before she bumps into me.

“Shit, sorry,” she says at the sight of me, casting a brief glance in my direction before jogging down the porch stairs.

“Don’t worry about it,” I tell her, trying to make sense of what I’m witnessing.

Is this the right house?

This girl looks like she’s sixteen. Seventeen, tops. TJ might be a ladies’ man, but he wouldn’t hook up with a high school girl, would he? The thought sends a shiver of disgust down my spine.

“Kelsea, hold up!” a familiar voice says from inside the house.

The next thing I know, a shirtless TJ is stepping out onto the porch, creating a megaphone with his hands and shouting, “Honest to God, you put one scratch on that car, you’re not seeing graduation, you got me?”

Meanwhile, thisKelseagirl is unlocking the door of the black Camry parked across the street.

She rolls her eyes, pulling the door open and crashing into the driver’s seat. “Yeah, yeah.”

“I’m not fucking kidding, Kelsea.”

She lets out a mocking laugh. “For fuck’s sake, bro, calm your tits.”

Bro?

I had no idea TJ had a sister.

With that said, Kelsea slams the car door, fires up the engine, and takes off at full speed. I don’t get the chance to register what just happened before TJ notices me standing there.

“Oh, hey, Casey.”

I should be glad he called me the wrong name, really. It reminds me of what an epic dickwad he is—something I might be prone to forgetting when he looks likethat.

My gaze drops to his tan, sculpted chest and the black jeans sitting an inch too low on his hips, drawing the eye to his accentuatedVline.

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