Page 36 of Filthy Twisted Devil

I muster up the strength to say, “I know how he is. You don’t have to worry about me, Brin. I’d never expect Luke to have feelings for me. Hell, I’d never even expect him to want me physically.”

“And that has nothing to do with you,” Brinley says quickly. “Any other guy would be dying to hook up with you. You’re the hottest, coolest, smartest person I know. Luke is just…well, he’s a flake. That’s all I mean.”

“I know.” I twirl my fork in the pasta. “I know exactly how he is. Really, Brin, you don’t have to worry. I absolutely do not have feelings for Luke.”

“If you say so,” she says, obviously still unconvinced. “If anything changes, though, press the exit button. Because apart from it being bad for you, it would really suck for me. Losing my best friend to my brother…it would be hard, you know?”

I do know. Seriously, if anyone knows about spotlight-stealing brothers, it’s me. My whole life, people just saw me as an accessory to my big brothers. I get wanting to have a friendship that’s just yours.

“Don’t worry about it, Brinley. Even if Luke and I somehow stumble into a field of lust pollen and we have to fuck or we both die, I’ll perish for you. I’ll always, always, always pick you over him.”

She snorts. “Yeah. That’s my obvious concern. Magical lust pollen.”

My phone beeps with an incoming call—Jasper. I dismiss his call immediately.

“Sorry. Jasper was calling,” I tell Brinley.

“You should probably check your texts, then. I’m sure they’ve seen the Toronto Tea post by now, too. I’m sure they’ve got plenty to say.”

I groan. “Wish me luck.”

“I do, Eden. I really do.”

She hangs up and I switch to my texts. Jasper has sent an article: The Most Annoying Things Couples Do At Restaurants, According to Servers. Hint: Save the PDA for the Bedroom. Of course, he managed to find a passive aggressive article to make his point. Reed sends me the Toronto Tea post with the flame emoji attached. He follows it up quickly.

Reed

Sarcastic emoji, for the record.

Wade, of course, ignored the post altogether, though I don’t doubt for a minute he saw it.

Wade

Call Mom.

Eden

I talked to her this morning.

Wade

Fine. Then call tomorrow.

I put down the phone and sit back in the kitchen chair, staring at my now-cold dinner. I don’t feel good about that call with Brinley. I lied when I told her I didn’t have feelings for Luke, and it was way harder than it should have been. Of course, she didn’t believe me.

I wouldn’t believe me, either.

15

LUKE

Ialmost slip in the shower when I hear the elevator doors beep. Normally, I keep my floor locked for elevator access unless I swipe my access key. I must have accidentally reset it.

Unless Ryan bribed the doorman.

Shit.

I turn the water off and throw open the shower door, grabbing a towel to wrap around my waist. Ryan moves fast when he’s in prank mode. Even taking a minute to dry off might give him the opening he needs. I run down the hall, water dripping from my hair, my damp footprints leaving a path behind me.