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It took me a second to form a response, my mind still reeling from the knowledge that my brother and his friends were familiar with a BDSM resort, Foster’s resort. I took a long pull off my beer, trying to beat back my racing thoughts. “I guess I’m ready.”
Wyatt smoothed invisible wrinkles from his slacks. “You don’t sound too enthusiastic.”
I shrugged. “I’m ready to be a vet. Just maybe not so ready to go back home. Living here has kind of grown on me.”
Jace grabbed a handful of chips from the bowl in the center of the table. “So stay. There’ve gotta be animal practices here that’d be happy to have you.”
I sighed and reached for a few chips as well. “There are. I got offered a great position at the place I’m working at now. But it’s not that easy. My dad’s been grooming me to take over his practice since I was old enough to spell dog. He’s held the spot for me and is counting on me being there.”
Wya
tt frowned, his dark blue eyes evaluating me. “I know what that’s like. I never followed any other path than my father’s footsteps. I think he may have had a CEO-in-training plaque attached to my crib.”
“So you understand why I have to go,” I said, shoving a chip in my mouth in an attempt to choke down the morose feelings that were trying to well up.
Jace sniffed, but kept his opinion to himself.
Wyatt leaned back in his chair and set the envelope in his lap, his thumb still playing over the wax seal. “I know that I enjoy what I do and that I’m better at it than anyone else in my family’s company. But I also haven’t done much else in my life besides work. I’ve spent a lot of time doing what’s been expected of me and have passed by many unbeaten paths that maybe I should’ve tried.”
I looked down at my beer, the words landing solidly on me.
Wyatt glanced at Jace. “Sometimes forging your own path is the way to find what you’re really looking for. Look at this guy. I thought for sure he’d end up in prison or worse—on reality TV. But turns out he’s found his way to a pretty happy life.”
Jace smirked. “You’ve still got a shit ton more money than I do, though.”
Wyatt laughed. “Well, there is that.”
I smiled, the response automatic, polite, but my head was already chasing a thought I couldn’t quite tear myself away from. I hauled myself up from the chair. “I’m going to see if Evan needs any help.”
But when I walked back into the air-conditioning, I was on the hunt for someone else. My brother’s muffled laughter drifted from down the hallway. I turned on my heel and headed that way, mission in mind.
But when I reached the end of the hallway and caught a glimpse through the partially open door to one of the bedrooms, I froze in place. Andre’s arm was wrapped around Evan’s waist, and his face was buried against her neck, kissing it. Evan’s eyes were closed, her head tilted back with an openmouthed smile.
“Stop,” she chided. “I didn’t get any icing over there.”
His other hand drifted beneath her skirt. “What about here? Should I take a taste and find out?”
My beer dropped to the floor, making a racket but not breaking. Andre reared up, looking toward the door as lager fizzed across the floorboards. I wanted to yell, to turn around and escape, but I was locked to the spot, outrage boiling up and over.
“Marcela.” Andre strode forward.
Evan stayed back, biting her lip, worry in her eyes.
Andre pushed the door wide and reached out to me, but the touch snapped me out of my stunned state. I shrugged off his hand. “What the fuck are you doing?”
I never cursed like that, especially around my family, but nothing else fit the situation or the blind anger racing through me. My brother, the one who made his living on making sure people did the right thing, was screwing his best friend’s girl?
“Cela, listen,” Andre said, raising his hands like I was a dog that could bite.
“He’s your best friend, Andre! Your best friend. How could you do this?” I asked, wanting to shake him, to throw things that would injure.
He closed his eyes, took a breath. “Evan, give us a minute, okay?”
Evan nodded and hurried past the two of us, giving me wide berth.
“I don’t need a minute,” I said, watching Evan walk away. “Nothing you can say makes this okay.”
I tried to turn so I could leave, but Andre did grab for me this time, capturing my wrist and tugging me into the bedroom. “Hold up. Sit. We need to talk.”
