Page 6 of Complete Me
I’m the youngest of five and the only girl. Comes with its perks, but mostly it just comes with a pack of overbearing meathead brothers who love me so suffocatingly much they want to keep me as sheltered as possible.
Did I mention I’m a virgin? Twenty-two and never met a guy strong enough to want to cross them. I’ve never been worth the effort to any man I’ve pursued. Once they find out I have four older brothers, they run away screaming. And while that’s probably for the best, I’m not asking for a marriage proposal, I’m asking for a hookup. For fun. For experiences. For freedom.
It seems like everything works against me—four older brothers and a small-ass town that makes it nearly impossible to keep anything from them. As much as it pains me to put distance between us, if they don’t start backing off, I’m going to have to move to plan B—leaving Aspen Ridge and starting a life somewhere new. Someplace no one knows me, and the suffocating expectations and protection from my brothers don’t exist.
I yearn for freedom, to meet new people, and forge connections that are real and raw. I want experiences and to soak upeverything life has to offer. As much as I love Aspen Ridge and my family, I’m exhausted of being their “baby” sister. I’m desperate to find friends and a man who looks at me as Kinsey.
I had friends growing up, but once we hit middle school and boys suddenly became interesting, my friends all had heart eyes for my brothers. Our family name and well-known business make them town royalty, and combined with their looks? It’s a recipe for heartbreak. While they never went for any of my friends, it still stung to have the girls I thought liked me for me, only want to use me to get closer to them.
“Don’t you boys have work to do? Families to go home to?” I ask, ready to shoo them out of my apartment so I can finish unpacking alone and finally soak up some independence and quiet. They all took the day off to move furniture that Carter’s boyfriend, Finn, gave to me, into my new place.
It’s a studio with a small kitchenette and a bathroom, so I couldn’t fit much, but the queen-size bed from my room at my parents’ house, coupled with the small loveseat and coffee table, is perfect for just me. It’s not like I’m going to be entertaining here, as much as I like to threaten my brothers otherwise.
Liam looks down at his watch before removing his backwards hat and running his hands through his sweaty hair. It’s the dead of summer in Washington, and my new apartment—like most places here—lacks air conditioning. I make a mental note to run out and purchase a fan or two.
“I need to go pick up Charlie from Hailey and Graham’s. Hannah is slammed at Bean Haven. You good here, sis?”
“I’m good. Squeeze her for me.” Charlie is technically Liam’s stepdaughter, but he’s been helping raise her since the day she was born. His wife, Hannah, has been in my life since I was a toddler, and I’m so happy they finally figured out they were supposed to be together. I’ve never seen him happier since making those two girls his.
It’s been a crazy year for our family as each of my brothers has found their soulmates, and I love it for them more than anything. I hope I can find the same someday. Living this life alone would be exceptionally lonely. I’d love to experience what Sawyer has with Ivy, or Dallas with Blaire, Liam with Hannah, or Carter with Finn. Until a man comes along who is strong enough to stand up to them and realize I’m worth it, I’ll continue to live vicariously through the romance novels I’ve gotten lost in since I was a teenager.
“We’ll head out, too, let you unpack and do your thing.”
“You mean video chat with Piper and have a bottle of wine by myself?” I quip, self-deprecation leaking into my tone, doing my best to make him feel a little guilty.
“Kins . . .” Sawyer says as if he’s the one who is exasperated.
“Sawyer . . .”
“I love you. I’m sorry it’s so suffocating, but you’ll thank us someday.”
“Yes, I’ll be sure to thank you when I’m a spinster that has to move in with you and your family because I haven’t found a love match of my own.”
“Want me to find one for you?”
Dallas snaps his fingers loudly, pulling our attention to where he’s leaning against the small counter in my kitchen. “That’s a good idea, shithead. You don’t have ’em often, but I’ll give you this one. We can set her up on dates!”
“Nope. No! Not happening. I let you do that one time! It was a nightmare!”
“Only because you walked out!” Sawyer snaps back.
“Ugh! Are you insane? He was twenty minutes late, then spent the entire time talking about how he got drunk during spring break and got crabs!”
Dallas busts out laughing, and I hide my smile with myhand. “That’s right! Crabby Calvin! Hopefully he got that cleared up.”
“Okay, I admit, not our finest pick, but we can do better. I have faith, Kinsey-Kins.”
“Don’t call me that. And this isn’t Bridgerton! You can’t pick who I’m dating and going to marry. Get out of my apartment, you freaks!” I laugh.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Sawyer says as I shove him toward the back door. “No one said anything about marriage.”
“No dating at all then!” Dallas adds.
“Yeah? We’ll see about that.”
“Well, you idiots have really done it now,” Carter says mockingly, only slight concern lacing his tone.
“Yep. Way to go, you two. Now I’m going to date even harder.”
