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“Fuck off,” I bite out in frustration, the situation I’m in overtaking me. Finn enjoys taunting me with her. She’s gorgeous, with dark curly hair that makes my fingers tingle to tangle in them. “She’s a good girl.”
He nods solemnly. “I don’t doubt that, Cass,” he says before taking one of the chilled bottles and snapping the cap off.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I throw back easily.
My brother arches a brow at my defensiveness, and I realize it too late because Finn chuckles while shaking his head. “That.” He points at me. “This whole hero complex you have. You literally warn guys away from her, but you won’t make a move.”
“She’s…”
“Too young?” he finishes before I can say it. I’ve spoken about Kaly more than I care to admit over the months. “Perhaps you need to forget the girl who’s your friend,” he says as he uses air quotes on the word. “Focus on women who want you, because trust me, brother,” Finn slaps me on the back before he leans in to continue, “there are a lot of them.”
“Sure,” I tell him, but even as I say it, I know it’s a lie. No matter who I have in my bed, my obsession with the pretty girl will always be at the forefront of my mind.
The sun is shining on a new day.
The house is ready for tonight, but I don’t think I am. The black hoodie and jeans hang against my closet door, taunting me about what I’m about to embark on. Creed is a crazy motherfucker, so him coming up with this idea doesn’t surprise me. And the rest of the guys seem excited about it, so I guess I’ll have to go through with it.
My phone buzzes on my bedside table, and when I pick it up, I find Kalyn’s name lighting up the screen. It’s our new ritual, messaging each other in the mornings. She’s struggling with the loss of her grandmother, and if I can offer some form of solace, I’m happy to be there for her.
I open the message.
Kaly: I’m heading into town today before the party. Want something?
She’s added a smiley-face emoji at the end, and I can’t stop the smile that graces my expression. There’s still a playful side to Kalyn, despite her heartbreak. She’s stronger than she gives herself credit for. I tap out a reply to let her know all is set, but I don’t tell her about the game because she doesn’t need to know.
I decided that I would do this with the guys, but Kaly can spend time with her friends while I’m out running through the goddamned forest with my brothers. I consider the Havens family.
We’ve known each other for a long time, and they’re good guys. Each of them coming to Thorne Haven from different backgrounds to create a family unit which couldn’t have been easy, but they did it. Each of the brothers were adopted at various ages, but their bond has grown strong over the years. Creed was only thirteen when he came to Thorne Haven, where Brody was ten, and Keirin was eight.
I’m not sure about the younger boys' original families, but from what Creed told me, it wasn’t all sunshine and roses. Sighing at the ideas of what they've been through, I shake off the dark thoughts that have taken hold of me and swing my legs over the edge of the bed to stand. Sunlight is already streaming through the blinds, and when I open them, I’m momentarily blinded.
Downstairs, in the garden, I spy the staff working on getting a dancefloor set up on the lawn. The grass is covered with tiles which will be removed again tomorrow. The backyard has been turned into a small nightclub with strobe lights set up to illuminate the sky. Large speakers are set around the open space so guests can hear the music from wherever they are in the garden.
Usually, my father oversees the preparations of all parties at the house, but there are rare occasions when we’re all home, and we go all out. No expense is spared because we can afford it. Also, we love having the town talk about the parties for weeks after.
It’s part of the allure of attending a Thorne event.
I head to the bathroom to freshen up before I make my way down to breakfast. I find Joy making eggs and bacon, with Finn at the table and Damien at the coffee machine.
“Hey, sleepyhead,” Damien greets when I step into the room and grab a mug. “You ready for tonight?” I know he means the game, but I try to ignore what’s going to happen.
“Yeah, the party will be good.” He only offers me a smile at the response. Damien knows I’m more of a homebody than he and Finn, especially our younger brother. But there are times he’ll push me out of my comfort zone. This is one of those times. “Joy, that smells amazing.”
