Page 151 of Can't Always Get What You Want

“Oh for theloveof Christ.”

Gio’s voice. Sharp. Disbelieving.Very muchinsidemy apartment.

My entire body locks up as Luca’s arms go stiff around me. We both whip toward the doorway in time to see Gio standing there, keys still in his hand, eyes wide as they rake across the scene:

Me.

On the couch with Luca wrapped around me like a second skin. Hard erection pressed into my stomach.

I shove at him, scrambling upright, nearly elbowing him in the face.

“Gio. What the hell are you doing here?!”

“What amIdoing here?” My brother gapes, eyes ping-ponging between the two of us. “What ishedoing here?”

Gio gasps, which is rich, considering I’ve literally walked in on him banging Austin more than once.

“Unbelievable,” he hisses, stepping inside my apartment like the righteous older brother of the year that he is. Points directly at Luca, who rises from the couch. “I warned the team to stay away from her and you swore youwouldn’t touch her,man. Did you think I wouldn’t find out you were sneaking around?”

Luca stretches casually. Leans left. Leans right. Bending. “Yeah—we actually didn’t think you would find out.”

He postures to appear taller, already towering several inches over my brother.

“You both fucking lied to me!” Gio inhales a breath. “On what planet is it ever okay to dry-humpmysister.”

Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!

Gio and I have one rule for one another and that rule is: Honesty, always. No matter how bad it hurts. Welp. Too late for that…

“Do you know how much I hate being lied to!” Gio bellows again, dragging a hand through his hair like he’s moments from combusting. “And frombothof you? The fuck!”

“Hey.” Luca’s jaw flexes. “Don’t put this on her.”

“Don’t you defend her right now—she’s not innocent,” Gio snaps, pointing a finger so close to Luca’s chest I take a protective step forward. “In fact, I blame most of this on her.”

“Well so do I!” Luca fires back, and I blink because—RUDE!

“I—what?” I sputter.

It’s as if I’m not even in the room as these two assholes continue arguing.

“She lies all the time,” Gio accuses, still jabbing his finger in Luca’s direction. “Once she said she didn’t steal my GameCube in high school?Lies.It was lies!”

Oh lord.

“Shelied to metoo!” Luca shoots back. “She told me she wanted joint custody of our giraffe cup and she hasn’t asked to see it once. Not a single time. That’s basically reckless abandonment.”

Oh for the love of Go?—

“What the hell is a giraffe cup?” my brother demands.

“None ya fucking busin?—"

Then—without warning—Gio lunges at Luca.

It’s not subtle. There’s no buildup. Just a full-on, limbs-flailing, “YOU’RE GONNA REGRET THIS” kind of lunge that sends both of them crashing sideways into the coffee table.

“Jesus!” I squeal, doing my best not to panic. “What are you doing? Both of you, get up!”

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