Page 26 of How to Lose a Lass

I pretend I have no idea what Aidan's upset about. Why? Just because. I'm sure Aidan "had a poke" with my sister several times last night, so I have every right to give him a hard time.

Calli aims her gaze at Don Juan. "Let's not overreact."

Strictly to maintain my I-don't-give-a-shit attitude, I get up and face my sister and her lover, with the sofa between us. "Hey, didn't think you'd be back so soon."

My sister rolls her eyes at me. "Duh. Figured you wouldn't be sucking face with Aidan's sister if you thought he was about to come home."

Aidan swerves his gaze to Calli and mouths, "Home?"

Her eyes flare wide. Her lips fall open. Her gaze flicks between me and the Scot.

Now I feel like punching someone---preferably a man with a Scottish accent. "You two are living together. I knew it."

"Not the way you mean. He sleeps here."

"With you."

"Honestly, we've already had this conversation." She tugs her shirt down, though it didn't need to be tugged. That's one of her tells. When Calli gets nervous because she's hiding something, she fusses with her clothes. "Aidan is not my boyfriend."

Aidan and I both snort and smirk at Calli. Hey, look at that. We finally agree on something. Jamie snorts and smirks too, though I wouldn't have expected that. She's on my side? I think so, which is kind of strange.

My sister lodges her hands on her hips and tries to scowl at us.

But we all glance at each other, nod, and then smile at Calli. Her shoulders slump, and her arms go slack.

Jamie springs off the sofa, clasps my hand, and puts on the biggest, brightest, phoniest smile---aimed at Calli. "Gavin's not my boyfriend either, then."

"Are all you Scottish people so snarky?" Calli asks.

Aidan throws an arm around her shoulders. "You like it. From me, at least."

Jamie looks at me, her smile becoming genuine. Then she faces Calli. "Would you mind if Gavin was my boyfriend?"

Calli's mouth falls open again, and I can tell she wants to say that yes indeed, she would mind. But my sister isn't stupid. And I'm sure she can tell how much I like Jamie. On top of that, Calli knows it would be hypocritical for her to demand that Jamie stop spending time with me when she's been shacking up with Aidan.

Surprisingly, he reaches that conclusion first. "It's all right. Let them have their fun."

I raise my brows. "Fun? I like Jamie a lot. It's more than a good time. Not like you and my sister, who've been having sex while she says you're not her boyfriend. At least I'm upfront about it."

Calli winces.

Aidan stiffens, narrowing his gaze. "Upfront? You snogged with my sister while I was away."

"You want I should do it in front of you?" I smirk. "All right, I will."

Then I drag Jamie into my arms and crush my mouth to hers. She dissolves into a human puddle, held up by my body. She moans a little, just enough to make my libido kick into high gear, and I struggle to tamp down my lustful instincts.

Aidan growls. Seriously, he does. "Why dinnae ye just tear her clothes off right in front of us?"

No, I would never embarrass Jamie like that. So, I release her. Jamie's cheeks have turned a sweet shade of rosy pink. She bites her lip and avoids looking at me.

Aw, shit. I did embarrass her. I hadn't meant to do that.

Calli rushes over to wrap an arm around Jamie's shoulders and pull her away from me. "Both of you, stop harassing the poor girl. Gavin, quit trying to annoy Aidan. And you Aidan, let your sister live her own life. At least she's not in Chicago trolling the clubs. My brother is a good man." She throws a reproving look at me. "Most of the time."

Aidan and I bow our heads. Yeah, we both behaved like asses. I peek up at Jamie, with my eyelashes as cover.

Then I hear her whisper something to Calli. "Will you be my honorary sister?"

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