Page 96 of Filthy Rich Brother's Best Friends

I laugh. I have no idea what I’m doing. All I can think is deflect, deflect, deflect. “I wasn’t aware pants were required to eat breakfast at someone’s house.”

I know I'm making no sense, but this is all I’ve got right now.

“You really don’t see how this looks?”

“To who? You?” I shake my head. “You’re acting like I strolled home naked with a scarlet letter on my chest. It’s a jersey.”

“You’re missing the point.”

“No, I’m ignoring the point. Big difference.” I walk to the counter, snatch my bag off the stool, and sling it over my shoulder even though I’m not leaving yet. “I don’t need your approval, Wes. I’m not fifteen and you’re not my father.”

“He’s my best friend, Lola! And he’s not exactly known for being a one-woman kind of guy. Jesus fucking christ.”

“I spilled something on my clothes, asshole! Let it fucking go. You came here to talk about the studio. You want to talk about the studio? Fine. Let’s talk. But I’m not discussing my wardrobe choices or who I may or may not be sleeping with.”

His expression tells me he’s definitely not finished with this conversation. But, he can tell by the tone of my voice, that I absolutely am.

“I’ve been hearing things,” he sighs. “About the studio. About you needing help. And instead of calling me, you’re what? Just handling it?”

“I’m taking care of it.”

His jaw clenches. “No, you’re not. You’re hemorrhaging staff. Clients are jumping ship. There’s a rumor going around that you’re about to sell.”

“It’s not true,” I snap. “It’s just uninformed people saying stupid things.”

His expression softens slightly, but that doesn’t make me feel better.

“You should’ve told me,” he says. “I would’ve helped you. I still want to. Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because I can handle it,” I insist.

I check the time on the oven clock and swear under my breath. “I have to go. I have a class to teach and I’m going to be late.”

“This conversation isn’t over, Lo.”

“Fine, then let’s press pause and we’ll pick it up later.”

I take the steps two at a time and throw my hair into a bun while I’m walking down the hall. I pull on a pair of leggings, grab my sports bra, and shove my feet into the first pair of sneakers I find.

Wes is still in the kitchen when I come back down. And now Blaire has joined him.

I freeze and my stomach flips. Every alarm in my body starts going off. Blaire is smiling that fake, polite smile she pulls out when she smells blood in the water.They’re talking about something but I can’t hear what they’re saying.

Wes’s jaw ticks before glancing at me briefly and then looking back at Blaire.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Chapter 30

Reid

This day has been dragging by like the DMV line on a Monday morning.

I’ve been waiting for the fallout since Lola stepped off the porch this morning in my jersey and nothing else. I was halfway out the door after her when Wes’s car pulled into her driveway, just as she was about to walk into her house.

I thought the whole thing would detonate before they even walked into the house.

I waited around hoping Wes would leave so that I could talk to Lola about what went down. But Lola stormed out first, got into her car and drove off like a bat out of hell. I had plans to go in with her today. That clearly wasn’t happening now.