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“What’s wrong with me, Pixie?”
She snorted.
“You’re so full of wisdom, you know that?”
Maybe she should stop talking to dogs and talk to Janine instead. But what could she say?
I can’t stop fantasizing about a guy, but I’m dating his best friend?
Classy.
Maybe getting somewhere with Ambrose would clear Banner from her mind and replace him in her fantasies. Yeah. That sounded good.
She took out her phone and texted Ambrose this time. Can’t wait for next weekend. What should I wear?
That should start the ball rolling.
Chapter 14
“You look like shit.” From his perch at the breakfast bar, Rook watched Banner breaking eggs into the frying pan. The kid didn’t look much better, with his hair tousled and unkempt and dark circles under his eyes. Should he start turning off the internet after midnight so that he would sleep more?
“Watch your language.” Banner frowned at the eggs as though they’d personally offended him.
“You’re the one who taught me how to cuss.”
“Point taken.”
He was glad to have his brother as a distraction for the weekend, even if he was too perceptive. He tried not to look at the breakfast bar, but it was hard to avoid with the kid sitting there.
Banner had been avoiding that part of the kitchen because it made him think of Kate. It reminded him of dragging her out from under the counter and defiling her on the kitchen floor. The way she’d looked at him, the softness of her skin, her scent, the tickle of her hair on his face when she was near. The Kate in his mind kissed him, and he could almost hear the crumpling of his pathetic heart.
For weeks he’d been trying to tell himself that it was for the best. That she deserved to have her own desires satisfied instead of being forced to submit to his, that he didn’t want her anyway—even that the despondency he felt would make him a better artist. It was all fucking bullshit. He wanted her back. He wanted to be selfish and drive over to Ambrose’s house and drag her out of there. To remind her who owned her.
But he didn’t.
Instead, he suffered through calls and visits from both Ambrose and Kate, singing each other’s praises and thanking him for introducing them. They were perfect for each other. Kate was the best submissive Ambrose had ever trained. Ambrose was exactly the kind of Dom that she’d been looking for. He was smart and funny and charming, and if she gave the asshole one more compliment Banner was going to have to hate him out of principle. That would be terribly inconvenient seeing as how he’d promised himself the Kate thing wouldn’t affect their friendship.
A man shouldn’t dread hearing from his best friend, but every time his phone rang lately, it got Banner’s hackles up.
They were probably fucking like bunnies, and if Ambrose had figured out how to tap into her submissive streak, they had to be deliriously happy.
“Are the eggs supposed to be smoking like that?”
“Fuck.” Banner slid the ruined food into the compost bin and started over.
Rook came around the counter and took the spatula from his hand.
“Here, let me.”
Silently, Banner handed the task over and sat on the counter.
“You need to talk to someone. I know you don’t want to tell me what’s going on, but you’re a mess. She was hot and awesome and you hooked her up with Ambrose. Dumb move, but whatever, it’s your choice.” Rook flipped the eggs, then put bread in the toaster. “What you’ve done here is end things with a girl you’re crazy about and make it so that you can’t cry on your best friend’s shoulder.”
“What do you suggest I do, then, Dr. Clarke?” Maybe the kid had been spending too much time with his therapist.
“Seriously? You’re asking a fourteen-year-old gay kid for his opinion on your hetero, twenty-something love life. That’s pretty sad. I’m in love with a guy. I’m probably not your best bet for advice.”
When the toast popped, Banner buttered it, and Rook slid the eggs onto the plates. They were a well-oiled machine.
