Page 1 of Amor Prohibido

ONE

JAX

“Are you coming tonight, Jax?” Darren asked, his voice muffled from under my kitchen sink. He lay on his back, head in the cupboard, trying to fix the blocked pipe.

“Uh, where?” I wasn’t really paying attention since Callie and I were in the throes of girl-talk.

“Phat Slims. It’s just a few welcome home drinks for Jace. You knew he was moving back, right?” Darren shouted so there was absolutely no way I wouldn’t hear him.

Fuck! He’s the last person I want to see.

Even after three years, his words still stung. They couldn’t be unsaid, and the damage couldn’t be fixed or forgotten, no matter how much I wished for it. I hadn’t seen or heard from Jason since our falling out. I had successfully avoided him thus far, and I’d be damned if my winning streak came to an end now.

Callie eyed me, waiting for a reaction. Her and Darren had been dating for just over a year, and recently moved in together. Thankfully, she hadn’t been therethatnight and witnessed the destruction. Darren and Jason had verbally fought it out and, after sobering up and cooling down overnight, they’d mended their rift quickly. However, Darrendidissue a clear warning: fuck with his little sister again and Jace would end up in a shallow grave.

“That would be a negative, brother,” I called to Darren. “It’s as if you’ve forgotten about what he did.”

“You two both gave as good as you got. And you’re both too stubborn to see it. Fools, the both of yas.”

I frowned hard, then cut my attention to Callie when she flicked my knee.

“Jax, c’mon, chick. It’s been three years. And besides, I’ll be there too.” She nudged my side and winked.

“You have no idea how bad we hurt each other, Cal. It’s past the point of repair.”

It still ate me up and consumed me when I let it, but my stupid pride stopped me from admitting it was all my fault.Ihad instigated the argument yet was holding a grudge against him because of what he’d said in retaliation. And the worst part? I’d crushed on Jace ever since I could remember. I had no clue when he became more than just my brother’s best friend, but those feelings amplified once I hit the teenage years. The night of our fight not only left my self-esteem in tatters, but my young, fragile heart torn and shredded as well.

“Done!” Darren exclaimed from within the kitchen cupboard. He emerged, wiping the grime from his face with the bottom of his shirt.

I caught a gross eyeful of abs and dark hair that disappeared under the waistband of his jeans. Callie saw it too, and I didn’t miss the way her pupils dilated, and her cheeks flushed.

I smirked and called her out. “Save it for later.”

“I’m not even sorry. God, he’s hot, isn’t he?”

I feigned a gag. “No, he’s not. And that’s a terrible question to ask your boyfriend’s sister.”

She threw her head back and laughed, then eyed my brother again. Darren’s caramel skin tone, dark brown eyes, and lush lashes were a crime against all women. Combine that with his lean, muscular physique and dashing white smile, he was the Colombian version of Prince Charming.

He flashed Callie a grin, then glared at me. “All fixed, J. Don’t pour fat down the pipe; it blocks it.”

“I know, and I’ll remind Lozza. Thank you.” I sighed in relief; thankful I wouldn’t have to call out a plumber then be charged fifty million dollars for the pleasure.

“I owe you for that.”

He pondered my reply for a second. “Yeah, you do. Come tonight and we’ll call it even.”

“What?”I cried. “No. Anything but that. I’ve told you already, I’m not coming tonight. End of.”

“You’re coming,” he snapped. “We’ll be here to pick you up at seven. Be ready to go, or I’ll carry you to the car in what you’re wearing at the time.”

It wasn’t an empty threat either. He’d threatened me with the same thing last summer, but I’d dismissed it. He turned up all right, and I spent the rest of the night sitting in a karaoke bar wearing PJ shorts, singlet top, and scuffs—which Callie had ‘thoughtfully’ grabbed from my doorstep on the way out. It was a thoroughly mortifying experience, and one I wasn’t prepared to repeat underanycircumstances.

Callie giggled at the memory. “Want me to grab your scuffs now to save us time at seven?”

“The only reason I’d be packing a scuff is to whack your ass with it,” I warned through my laughter.

Darren glanced at his watch as he snapped it back around his wrist. “We’ll see you in four hours. Be ready or suffer the consequences.” He smirked and leaned in to peck my cheek.

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