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Wyatt nudged her over and took a seat. “One, I’m going to give you hell for calling me that. Two, I've got one more week of winter break. How could you forget? And we’re supposed to jog together this morning. Was your night that wild?”
“I’m not discussing my night with you.”
“I guess that means you got lucky.”
“Oh my god. Can you be a normal little brother for once?”
“Afraid not,” he said. “Who’s the lucky guy? Why didn’t you tell me you were dating? You tell me everything.”
“I tell you almost everything.”
Wyatt rubbed his chin thoughtfully, ignoring the line Abby attempted to draw. “Do I know him? Wait, a minute. Is it Damian Coldwell …? Fuck!”
With an aggravated growl, Abby sat up. Umm … language!”
Rolling his eyes, Wyatt scoffed. “I’m nine-”
“Nineteen,” Abby said. “Yeah, yeah. I know. Look, bro, I’m not in the mood to talk.”
Sitting back, Wyatt rested his chin in his palm. His brows puckered thoughtfully as he studied Abby, making her laugh. “You’re not even aware that you always mimic dad’s gestures perfectly, are you?”
He sighed. “Do I? Well, if the old man was still alive, he’d be worried about you, Abbs. Do you have any idea how miserable you’ve looked for the past few days?”
“I’m still in mourning, Wyatt. Of course, I look miserable. We can’t all shove our grief to a far corner like you can, or not feel anything at all like mom.”
“Bull … It’s more than that. Something is up with you. You’ve been acting just as shady as Celeste. Now you’re dating Coldwell, the man who supposedly ruined dad.”
“I never said I was dating him.”
“Then who were you out with last night?”
“Hey, you’re not my parent. You don’t get to interrogate me.”
“Abby …”
“Fine. I was with Damian.”
Wyatt threw his hands up. “It makes no sense. You of all people should hate him. You worshipped the ground dad walked on.”
“I do hate him,” she said.
Realization lit Wyatt’s eyes. He was too quick and too smart for his own good. Shaking his head, he let out a humorless laugh. “Don’t do it, Abby. Whatever mother, or rather, Cruella Deville, wants you to do, don’t do it. Let her do her own dirty work.”
“Wyatt you don’t understand …”
“There’s nothing to understand about intentionally trying to hurt someone. You’re supposed to be different. We’re supposed to be different. It’s always been you and me, and now you’ve joined Team Evil. What the hell, Abbs?”
Abby felt lower than low having her younger brother look upon her with disappointment. He knew what she was doing, and she was beyond embarrassed. “There’s a chance that we can get daddy’s company back, Wyatt. Maybe even keep the house and the cars, everything.”
“What do you care about this hell hole? You don’t even live here.”
“I care because of you. You deserve everything that dad would have left you if things hadn’t gone south with his business. If Coldwell hadn’t taken everything from him. What I’m doing is for you, Wyatt.”
He shot up, his fury taking her by surprise. “Yeah, you keep telling yourself that. Whatever helps you sleep at night. I’m going for a run. Alone.”
“But we run together. Wyatt!”
The door slammed, and Abby was left sitting in stunned silence. Wyatt’s reaction to her scheming with their mother left her rattled. To know that her teenage brother had higher morals than the rest of the family combined was not all that eye-opening, it was good, but she couldn’t turn back now. She was on her way to having Damian wrapped around her finger. Before dropping her off, he’d said he wouldn’t mind seeing her again. She spent the entire night with him and would most likely have a repeat of their steamy night, soon. How many women could say the same? None by what she’d heard about him.
Once she took Damian down and got what belonged to her family back in their hands, she’d smooth things over with Wyatt. Now, it was time to put her new life as a femme fatale on pause to get back to regular Abby for her job interview. Luckily, she was able to leave before Celeste or Elaina realized she was there. No way could she stomach sharing the details of her night with either of them. At least her apartment would give her the privacy and solitude she needed to regroup. After a spectacular night with a man she was supposed to despise, her emotions were all out of whack, and the last person she wanted to witness that was her judgmental mother.
