Page 55 of Hale Yes
“Of course.” Then I ask, “Why don’t you just change for dinner at your parents’ house?”
Her eyes round as if I’ve said the most ridiculous thing ever. “I can’t show up wrinkled. My mother would comment.”
Yeah, fuck her mother. What kind of bullshit is this where a kid can’t show up at her parents’ house in less than pristine condition? Hell, my family’s net worth is in the eleven digit range, and I could show up at either of my parents’ houses looking like a hobo, and no one would say a thing. It’s not like tonight is some formal event. We’re just having dinner at their home.
“I showed you the sleeping quarters earlier. You can change back there,” I tell her, angling my thumb toward the rear of the plane. When she rises, I stop her with a hand on her arm. “Nicolette, wear your hair down tonight.”
It’s a demand as much as a request, and she inhales deeply and stares into my eyes for a long moment before nodding. Nicolette mentioned her mother not liking her hair down during our first not-date, so I’m basically daring the woman to say something in front of me. I’ll shut her ass down real quick.
As soon as she’s gone, my phone rings, and I see it’s Phoenix FaceTiming me. “Hey,” I say when I answer.
“How’s my favorite twin?” he asks with a grin.
“All good. How about you?”
“If I was any better, vitamins would be taking me.”
I laugh. “What’s up?”
“I was calling to see if you wanted to go to the first Dragons game with me. Dad got us a suite.”
“Yeah, that sounds good. I’m excited to watch them play, especially now that I’ve met Jordie. Is Reecie excited?”
“Thrilled. I got her the cutest little jersey, and she’s been wearing it around the house.” His eyes narrow and search the screen. “Are you on the Falcon?”
Shit.
“Yeah, just a weekend trip,” I answer vaguely.
“Cool. Business or pleasure?”
What I wouldn’t do for some pleasure with the woman who’s probably half-naked at the back of this plane right now. But I don’t say that.
“It’s… pleasure, I guess. Like I said, it’s just for a couple days.”
“Where you headed?”
“Uh, New Jersey.”
“What’s in…” He stops, his eyes turning shrewd. “Ohhhh, New Jersey, as in where Dr. Bell is from?” The teasing, musical tone of his voice annoys me.
“It’s not like that,” I huff. “I’m helping her out with a toxic family situation.”
“Helping how?”
I sigh and drag my hand down my face. It’s always been difficult for me to lie to my brother, so I reply with a mumbled, “I’m pretending to be her boyfriend for the weekend. Like I said, it’s just to help her out.”
I stare into the very smirky face that’s a replica of mine, except Phoenix perpetually rocks a bit of scruff where I’m usually clean-shaven. With a spark in his blue eyes, he looks like a kid on Christmas morning receiving this little tidbit of information.
“I bet you’re going to help her out. I saw how you looked at her that day of the photo shoot.”
Should have known I couldn’t get anything past my twin. Lowering my voice, I say, “She’s attractive, okay? That doesn’t mean anything is going to happen. I actually have some self-control and don’t find it necessary to stick my dick in every good-looking woman I come across.”
“You came across her already? Damn, dude.” As I mentally kick myself for walking right into that one, Phoenix leans forward and whispers, “Like on her ass or her tits? Ooh, or did you forget a condom and have to pull out and jizz on her stomach?”
“I never forget a condom,” I snap. “I don’t trust anyone enough for that shit, and I’m not getting trapped in a relationship because of a baby.”
His smile dims a little. “Not every pregnancy ends with a relationship, Helix.”
