Thalia nods, a soft smile on her face. “It would. If I make it…” She trails off, looking at Theo. “If we both make the team,” she amends.
Theo pulls her onto his lap, his grip possessive on her waist. He presses kisses across her jaw, then up to her ear. The love between them is magnetic. I can’t look away. Not because I’m being nosy, but because I want that. I may only be nineteen, but I know what I want.
A man that loves and looks at me like Theo looks at Thalia.
“Wewillmake the team, Piccola,” he rasps, his voice filled with certainty.
Before Thalia can respond, a deep voice cuts through the moment.
“Jesus Christ, Rhodes. Can you put my sister down already? No one wants to see your PDA.”
My head snaps over my shoulder, finding Evan. He’s glaring daggers at Theo. Thalia just laughs. Theo rolls his eyes. He is used to Evan’s passive aggressive behavior towards him.
“So predictable.” Theo sighs in exasperation. “You’d think after all this time, you’d be used to me.” He grunts, pulling Thalia closer. “Guess not. Don’t like the view? Then don’t look, Maxwell.”
Evan’s snarl is visible, his jaw tight, his nostrils flaring. And then his gaze flicks to me for the first time tonight. My breath catches as I stare at him. I smile, my stomach somersaulting.
“Hey,” I breathe out.
He barely glances at me. “Have you seen your brother?”
Seriously?
My eyes narrow. He ignores me all night then, when he does acknowledge me, he asks about my brother.
I don’t fucking think so.
“I’m doing great, thanks for asking.” I say, my voice filled with sarcasm.
Evan’s eyes narrow, his jaw tightening as he stares down at me. Irritation flickers across his face but despite the cold look he’s throwing my way, I love that his attention is finally on me.
“That’s great, Anais. Really.” His tone is flat. “Now, have you seen Harrison?”
“Oh, did you lose him while you were busy with Ms. Supermodel?” I ask, my tone filled with fake sweetness and my lips twisting up into a mock pout.
I hear laughing behind me. Evan’s jaw tics. “Always such a damn child. Little brat.” He mutters, turning on his heel. And just like that, he’s gone.
I sigh, my body deflating as I watch him go.
But no matter how much he pretends I don’t exist, I won’t stop.
If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll make Evan Maxwell see me.
Chapter 1
Evan
6 Months Later…
“Anais will be interning with us this summer.” My father announces as he saunters into my office.
I freeze, my head snapping up. I must’ve misheard him. No way he’d allow the little brat to work here, even for an internship. My head cocks as I study him. And by the look on his face... I heard him loud and clear.
“No,” I grit out, jaw clenching.
Dad’s eyes narrow as he lowers into a visitor chair. “What do you mean,no, son?”
I sigh, and rub a hand over my mouth, trying to ease the tension in my jaw. Anais Lauder. My best friend’s little sister. A royal pain in the ass. She’s a brat, one I don’t want around. And worse, she’s persistent. I see the way her violet-grey eyes light up when they catch sight of me. It’s been going on for years and, no matter how disinterested I am, despite her being far too young for me, it hasn’t deterred her one damn bit.
