“Now I see whatall the fuss is about,” Gabriel said, as he plopped himself down onthe couch. The twins had alltheir shit unpacked and put away by Wednesday, so the livingroom was, once again, livable.
“Yeah,” Michaelagreed, as he sat down on one of the armchairsin the room. “That girl is smokin’ hot. Shedoesn’t need makeup with that lickable little beauty mark she hasby her eye.”
“Watch it,” Igrowled.
Aiden clapped me onthe back as he passed me on his way towards the kitchen. “Relax,Mase. They’re just fucking with you.”
“Uh, actually,I’m not,” Gabriel countered. “That girl isGrade-A…Ow!”
I slapped himupside his head as I passedthe couch and followed Aiden into the kitchen. “I don’t need yourcommentary review on her, Gabriel. I just needed you two to knowwhat she looks like so neither of you hits on her, making me haveto kill you.” Gabriel snorted. He knew I knew theywouldn’t.
It was about six monthsafter I had first seen Shane that I finally accepted that I wasfucked where it came to that girl. I spent most of my life notfeeling much of anything for people, but every time I saw her orwas near her, curiosity, concern, want, desire, possessiveness,protectiveness and lust like a motherfucker assaultedme.
I had known shewas different, but I had been hoping the feelings she invoked wouldgo away with time. But they hadn’t. All they did was end upbecoming a full blowobsession.
Itwas then I confided in Aidenand we did whatever we needed to do to find out all about her. Itdidn’t take long to see that Shane did nothing outside going toclass, going to work and studying. She had only one friend, and ifshe dated, no one could tell.
Granted, had she dated,it probably wouldn’t have gone well for her, and it sure as fuckwouldn’t have gone well for the poor bastard who dared ask herout.
She wasminewhether she knew it ornot.
Aiden hadgrabbed a bottled water out ofthe fridge and then leaned back against the door, looking at me.“Are you sure you’re going to be able to last until you graduate?”he asked.
I didn’t blamehim for asking. That little visit to the bookstore wasn’tnecessary. I could havepointed her out to the twins a million different ways, but forsome reason, I had wanted to rattle her. “I’ve managed for threeyears, already. What’s a few more months?” I shrugged myshoulder.
He wasn’tbuying itand, apparently,neither were the twins, as evident when they both walked into thekitchen to join in on our little heart-to-heart. “I think the girlis beautiful,” Michael chimed in. “ItispossibleDad will overlook her pedigree and just be happy for…okay, forget Isaid anything.”
We allstood silent as Michael pretty muchnailed it on the head. The only reason I’ve kept my distance forthe past three years is because our father would lose his shit ifhe knew I was interested in a girl who didn’t come from money orinfluence.
Now, don’tget me wrong, I couldn’t givetwo fucks if my dad liked Shane or not. But my problem lies in thefact that he still holds the purse strings to our future. If heknew where my mind was, I had no doubt he would threaten me any wayhe could to put me back onto the path he’s envisioned for me, andthat would include the money he was paying for my education andBuchanan Industries.
The true issueat hand was that Shane had me so tied up in knotsI’d give up Buchanan Industries to bewith her. There were three other sons who could take theconglomerate just as far as I could, so I had no conscience aboutwalking away from it. I couldn’t, however, walk away from mydegree. I needed my degree from Blaineview to step into my father’sshoes at Buchanan Industries. And I’d definitely need it if I wasforced to carve a different path for myself because of Shane…or,rather, because of my father, who was a stuck up, snobby, elitistwith no conscience. And, while I loved my mother very much, she wasweak and no help to any of us. She was a constant disappointment tous.
“Okay,” Gabriel said,breaking the silence. “What’s the plan, then?”
That was easy. “Withyou two fucks here now, you can help Aiden keep an eye on her,” Ianswered.
“So, what? Like westalk her?”
Isighed. “No, Gabe, you don’t stalkher. You just pay attention if you see her around.”
“That sounds a littlebit like stalking, Mase,” Michael countered.
I threw my hands up.“Then, fine. Stalk her,” I snapped.
Michael archeda brow at my shortness. “Yourealize that none of this is normal, right?”
I archeda brow back. “Do you think I give afuck?”
He smirked. “No, butshe might,” he replied.
“Meaning?”
Michael let outa small, condescending laugh,and I wanted to punch his face in for it. But I didn’t because Iloved my brother. “Come on, Mason. It’s one thing for Aiden to keepa lookout and for you to go all stealthy ninja stalker on her, butdo you really think that girl is not going to noticefourfucking Buchanans suddenly everywhere sheis?”
“He’sgot a point,” Aiden agreed. “I mean,it’s easy to keep tabs on her because she’s been taking a lot ofthe same classes we have, but Mike and Gabe have no reason to benear her.” He snorted. “And let’s face it; they’re kind of hard tomiss, Mase.”
I ran myhands through my hair knowing theywere right. Shane would know something was up if she caught wind ofbeing surrounded by Buchanans suddenly. A part of me wanted to pullher aside and tell her everything from the first moment I saw her,but I couldn’t bring myself to approach her with my nonsense andfamily drama.
