Page 16 of Official

XANDER

“You’re in Maui with my sister? What the fuck, dude?” Teddy’s voice echoes through my phone’s speaker.

“I believe the locals sayonMaui,” I say, a touch of sarcasm in my response because I just love to push his buttons. That’s what friends are for, right?

His loud sigh is heavy, and it sounds more like static crackling from an old TV. “When were you two planning on telling me?”

“Now?” I lean my hip against the bathroom counter.

It’s been two days since Sam and I landed on the island. Two days of sunny paradise. We’ve spent so much time on the beach that I’ll probably never be able to wash the sand and salt out of the crevices of my body.

And it’s pure fuckingbliss.

I’m here with a good friend. Aside from the online shitstorm she’s ignoring, she’s drama-free, unlike Zoey and some of the other women I’ve gone out with over the last year.

Sam is also funny and easy to talk to.

We’re the perfect traveling pair, which bodes well for me, especially. I needed this break from reality as much as she did.

“Are you sleeping with her? I swear to the universe and beyond, if you say you are, I will tell every woman in Hollywood that your dick is smaller than a cornichon. Better yet, I will cut your dick off and feed it to you. I will—”

“Shit, man.” Chuckling, I wipe the mirror with the heel of my palm to clear the fog from my hot shower. “No need to do me any harm. We’re just here to blow off steam and nothing else. You know I don’t think of her that way.”

“You’re still a guy, though. And we always think with one body part. It’s why you were fired, remember? It’s also why I’m in a clusterfuck myself and stuck between two cougars. They’re playing tug-of-war with me, and I can’t lie—it’s a damn turn-on.”

“What’s the clusterfuck, then?”

“They found out about each other and are making me choose.”

“I thought you were just messing around and that they agreed it’s for fun. Are they saying they want more?”

“I guess they think with one body part too. Except they’d rather eat carbs than share me.”

“Didn’t think you had anything against carbs.”

“I don’t. Hell, the more, the better. But these rich housewives make it a competition to see who can lose more weight postdivorce.”

“I can see why you’re so attracted to them,” I deadpan.

“You should worry more about yourself than me,” he clips. “I will bury you in Davy Jones’s Locker myself if you lay a finger on my sister. Christ,” he mutters. “I just watchedPirates of the Caribbeanwith Bianca’s kid niece. I’m really losing it here.”

“I promise I won’t send you over the edge—Sam is off-limits, and you have nothing to worry about with us. Chill.” I pick up my phone to end the call, but add, “Oh, and I’ll remember your vivid imagination when I need help with revenge plots on the show.”

“I’m your man. As long as you keep your fucking word.”

“Always do.”

The call goes silent once he’s clicked off, but Teddy’s warning continues echoing in my head.

I run a hand through my hair, slinging water droplets onto my bare shoulders. It reminds me of earlier when Sam flung her long hair backward as she came out of the water.

She turned several heads and caught the attention of countless men, married ones included.

I couldn’t blame them, either. There’s a reason she’s so successful doing what she does—she captures people’s attention easier than a crab snaps its claws.

I meant what I said to Teddy about her, but I’m not blind.

Although she and I always have a chill and fun time together, I don’t think of Sam in any sexy scenarios. Not because she’s not hot as fuck, but she’s always been my best friend’s sister. My own friend, even.

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