Page 2 of Stick Work

But now, here I am, standing in my bedroom, the Jack and Jill bathroom between Elias and me doing nothing to muffle his voice as he tells his mother he’s bringing a woman home for Thanksgiving. Judging from his tone and the answers I’m hearing from his lips, his mother is drilling down, wanting to know all the details about this mystery woman.

This is going to be so much fun.

Not.

My phone pings and it’s my best friend, Sahara. We’re in a local play together and she and my brother have a thing. Which I’m totally okay with. Double standard? Hell yeah. He can date my best friend, and only friend outside of the WAGs, yet I’m off limits to his colleagues. Rude. But I think Sahara and Kalen are made for each other, and what she doesn’t know is that he’s currently on the way to her brother’s place to surprise her for Thanksgiving. Originally, we were supposed to visit Dad in New York, but Miles is sick, so now I’m headed to California and my big brother is headed to Connecticut.

Will I have to share a room—a bed—with Elias?

Ohmigod, sharing a bed, and not touching, tasting…that’s a special kind of torture.

I read Sahara’s message and let her know that Elias and I are just about to head to the airport. Yes, she knows how I feel about him. She’s the only one. Although, I’m not great at hiding the sexual storm inside me and can act a bit jittery around him. Maybe that’s why I’ll never be an Oscar-winning actress. Not that I want to be. But that’s the role I’ll be playing for Elias’s parents.

The door from Elias’s room to the bathroom opens, and I go still as heavy footsteps sound on the tile floor. Knuckles rap on my door, and I hurry and pull it open. The second I see Elias standing there, his big frame taking up all the space, my heart skips a beat.

Honestly, I’ve lived with my brother and Elias for a few months now, since moving here and starting college. You’d think I’d be used to the sight of the man, and not turn to mush whenever he’s nearby.

“Hey,” he says, and runs his fingers through his short, dark hair as equally dark eyes narrow in on me.

“Hey,” I return, and try not to sound breathless. I fail miserably, but like I said, I am not that great of an actress.

He looks over my head, an easy chore, considering the man towers over me, and at five foot eight, I’m by no means short.

“You still want to do this?” He arches a brow, and I get it. He knows I could hear his conversation. I do love that he worries about me, in a big brother kind of way. Okay, wait. I don’t mean I like that he thinks of me as a sister, I don’t. But I do love that he’s afraid his parents will judge me and subject me to an in-depth interrogation.

The thing is, I don’t really feel the stress. Simply because I don’t really need them to love me. Although, what’s not to love? Kidding. I just need them to buy into the act, that I’m perfect for their son and would be a great addition to the Ariti family. A star in the making that will reflect positively on their image. I assume it’ll work for a while, until Elias really does find the love of his life, someone his parents will wholeheartedly accept.

Until then, I’m buying the man some much needed freedom. Plus, I get a trip to California out of it—we’re leaving a bit early because of his schedule—and come New Year’s, a trip to Vegas. Oh right, I forgot to mention that he’s attending his best friend’s wedding in Vegas this year, and as his loving girlfriend, I get to attend. Now that’s going to be fun.

“Yes, I want to do this,” I respond when he looks back at me with deeply concerned eyes. I put my hand on his chest and the second I feel his strong heartbeat, I realize the mistake in my actions. The pulse in my neck jumps, and my entire body heats up. “We got this.”

“It will be a fast trip. We’ll be back for my game on the weekend before we know it.” He puts his hand over mine, and gives it a squeeze. “I really appreciate the help, Taylor. I owe you.”

“Yeah, you do.” That pulls a laugh from his throat. I grin. “I’ve always wanted a pony.” He laughs harder.

“A pony for a weekend with my family.” He shakes his head. “You are not asking nearly enough.”

“You sound like you don’t like them.”

“I do like them. A lot. Which is why I want to make them happy, give them what they want. They’ve been good to me, Taylor. I just don’t want them to upset you. They’re going to dig, to get to know you, to see if…”

He lets his words fall off, and I get it, there are things I don’t know. Things he and my brother have kept from me. As I think about pushing for an answer, I purse my lips and tap my chin, but when I do, and I notice the way his gaze strays, a strange kind of heat in his eyes, my heart lurches. He’s not…. interested, is he? Sahara insists he was, but I don’t know. I mostly act like a silly schoolgirl with a crush when I’m around him. He either doesn’t notice or is not going down that path, and that’s for the best. We’re both loyal to Kalen and neither of us would ever do anything to hurt him.

I guess it’s a good thing he’s moving out soon. A girl can only keep her sanity for so long, and my battery-operated friends aren’t cutting it anymore. What was I even thinking the other day, asking if he needed a roommate when he moves into his big-ass mansion?

Momentary loss of reasoning ability?

Wanting to get under my overprotective brother’s skin?

Wanting one single night alone with my brother’s best friend, even though I know I can’t go there?

All of the above?

Check!

“Well, think about what else you want for helping.”

“Okay, I’ll think on it.”

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