“He’s thoughtful. He takes care of me. Even when there’s no one watching.” To the point that he’s trying to help me to get a kiss from Connor. But that’s a different story and I’m not ready to share it with Luke just yet. The fact that Connor seemed to go out of his way to avoid kissing me on the lips, is playing with my mind. Every time I think about how much he held back, my insecurities rear their ugly head.
But Luke has no idea about that, and right now he looks like the cat that got the cream. “Ha. I knew it. My boyfriend radar never fails. Some men, like my Shane, will sleep around just because they haven’t foundtheone. But once they do? They’re perfect partners. So, did you and Jamie…?”
He wiggles his blond eyebrows and my face goes from warm to blazing hot. “We did.”
“I knew it!” Luke slaps the steering wheel, a look of triumph in his eyes. “And?”
“And what?” I pretend to be none the wiser about what he wants to know.
He rolls his eyes. “I demand details. I gave you three simple rules, Bexie-Boo. I know Jamie ticks the boxes of at least six feet tall and the six figures bank account. What about the third and most important box?”
I turn to look outside the passenger seat window. “I’m not telling you about that.” And I’m definitely not telling him that Connor more than measures up, too.
Luke has always been a very patient, generous man. But he’s the nosiest person I’ve ever met. “Hell, no. Bex, I gave you my room. I hooked you up with a great job,” he gestures toward the art center outside. “I’m helping you rebound. The least you could do is tell me if Jamie’s cock measures up.”
It’s my turn to roll my eyes. “When you put it that way… and by the way, I don’t get it. You two have been playing hockey together since freshman year. Are you seriously telling me that you’ve never seen his dick in the locker room?”
“We have a state-of-the-art locker room, thank you very much.” Luke explains. “It was built with privacy in mind. The showers have partitions and it’s part of the school’s anti-hazing policy to demand modest conduct in the locker room. We all use towels when we change and no one walks around with their dick out. I didn’t see Shane’s cock until our first date.”
He realizes his mistake when I giggle.
“What?” he asks, straightening his back in the driver’s seat.
“Nothing.” I smirk. “It’s just interesting that you saw his dick on your first date.”
I swear to God, I have never managed to make my outgoing, confident twin brother blush until now. “Are you slut-shaming me?”
“No.” I promise. “I’m just messing with you. And I can’t exactly judge you since I slept with Jamie and our relationship isn’t even real.”
Luke calms down. “It’s obvious that you two are becoming good friends. And you’re attracted to each other. If that isn’t the definition of a relationship, I don’t know what is.”
Hope is a terrible thing. It makes you feel like what you want might be within your reach. But I know a thing or two about how soul crushing it is when reality forces you to adjust your expectations.
“I’m just enjoying hanging out with Jamie for now.” I say more for my own benefit than for Luke’s. “I’m not thinking about the future.”
I open the passenger door and slip out of the car without looking behind me. I know what kind of look will be on my brother’s face if I do.
Luke still believes in fairy tales and in the happily ever after, and I love that about him.
Life has taught me that it’s not that simple. That people can rarely be taken at face value and that almost everyone has an agenda.
How could I think otherwise when my own father only loved me for what I could bring to his business?
This fake relationship with Jamie is a win-win for both of us. He gets the help he needs to change his image and I get a place to stay. He’s also helping me to overcome the trauma inflicted by my ex. He makes me feel safe and wanted.
The chemistry between us is just something to sweeten the deal. I take a deep breath when I enter the building of the new art center. I’m here to help the Zetas, the volunteers, and employees to get everything ready for the grand opening in a couple of hours.
I should focus on doing a good job and stop thinking about Jamie’s body. His strong but gentle hands, his skilled, wicked mouth. The way we fit together. Since that first time last week, I’ve spent every night in his bed. He makes me feel good. But he also makes me feel safe. He’s patient and lets me call the shots. Next time we’re together, I want to ask him to be on top. I know I’m not going to panic again.
When I think about sex, it’s Jamie’s blue eyes I see now. He replaced Kurt’s cold violence with trust and respect. Connor is a different matter. I like him too, but things with him are more complicated.
This is why I have to be careful and remember that my relationship with Jamie isn’t real and has an expiration date. And Connor might not even like me, since he didn’t want to kiss my lips.
“Hey Bex,” Candace beams when she sees me. “Can you help us decide where to hang the last few decorations?”
I take from her one of the crepe paper flowers we’ve been making all week. “These should go over there, behind the table where the Dean is going to speak.”
“Right.” The Zeta president agrees. “I told Fiona and Hillary, but they insisted you said they should go over there, above the window.”
