Page 17 of The Tangle of Awful

“Oh, hey, Hugo.” Willa walks into the kitchen, cheeks crimson and a sweet smile on her pretty face. “Didn’t know you were coming over.”

Callum’s whole demeanor changes when he sees his girlfriend, losing the grumpy face and adopting a goofy grin instead. He tugs her to him, wrapping her up in his protective embrace. Bitterness claws at my stomach.

I’m jealous of my brother’s happiness.

That makes me an asshole of epic proportions because he of all people deserves it after the hell he went through with Dad. And I want him to be happy. I truly do.

But it also reminds me that my love life has been less than stellar. My first true love and the mother of my child betrayed me. My second love was guarded, so when Neena started doing the same shitty things I’d been put through once before, it was easier to cut off my feelings.

I’ve never had such sweet love, though.

Not like Callum and Willa.

Aubrey’s sweet…

I down the rest of my coffee before offering Willa my signature politician grin. It feels forced, but I’ve forced it enough over the years that I can make it appear natural.

“My stepdaughter’s come to live with us,” I say to Willa. “She’s about your age. Doesn’t know anyone aside from our family around here. Might be good for her to have a friend.”

Willa’s face lights up. “I’d love to meet her.”

“Bring a suit. The pool will be nice this afternoon.”

I manage not to stagger out of Callum’s house despite my limbs feeling much looser thanks to the Stagg Jr. Since it’s warm out this Saturday, I decide to go for a run. The house is quiet, so I quickly change into my running clothes.

I barely make it down the road toward Park Mountain, where several trails climb up the rough terrain through thick trees, when I realize running after nearly getting shitfaced isn’t one of my best ideas. I’m drenched in sweat, dizzy, and about to puke before I even reach the first trail.

Ignoring the nausea, I push through, choosing to focus on both the campaign and some cases I’m knee-deep in. It’s enough to distract me for nearly an hour. The run helped to sober me up, that’s for damn sure.

Once back inside, I down two water bottles in a row, sweat pouring off me in buckets despite the chill of the air conditioning. I’m considering a third when I hear the sounds of bare feet padding across the floors and into the kitchen.

The empty bottle in my hand hits the floor with a noisy clatter. Meanwhile, all I can do is stare, my jaw slightly unhinged.

Aubrey in a tiny, barely-there black bikini, golden-blond hair piled up loosely on top of her head, eyes hidden behind oversized sunglasses.

Don’t look at her, pervert. Don’t fucking do it.

Unable to stop, my gaze travels down her front, lingering at her full, round tits. Her nipples are hard, straining through the thin fabric, and her bellybutton ring shimmers in the sun. My mouth waters for a taste—just one tiny lick of one of her pebbled nipples would be enough to satisfy this monstrous craving I have for her.

“I could have gone running with you if you needed a partner,” Aubrey says, voice chipper and seemingly unaffected by my blatant gawking.

“I, uh,” I stammer. “Next time.”

She grins at me as she saunters my way. Her scent invades my nostrils and I have to fist my hands to keep from grabbing onto her narrow waist to pull her to me.

“Is this for me?” She points at the third water bottle sitting on the countertop beside me.

All I can do is nod, fixating on her mouth so I don’t check out her tits anymore. She leans forward, brushing said tits against my sweaty arm. A rough breath escapes me. I’m barely holding onto any shred of control around Aubrey. The temptation is fucking real.

“Thanks,” she murmurs before stepping back. “I’m going for a swim. Care to join? You look as though you could use to cool off.”

Is she flirting with me or am I just an old man with wishful thinking?

“Not done with my workout,” I grunt. “Maybe later.”

She shrugs and then turns on her heel, leaving me alone with my raging hard-on. I’m staring after her, eyes glued to her plump ass that’s hardly covered by the black material, when I hear voices.

There’s no hiding.

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