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“How do I know you really visited her?”
“Maybe because she told you? Maybe because you could hear my voice but stayed in bed anyway? Maybe because there were extra dishes in the sink?”
“Why didn’t you fucking stay until I got up if you were really here then? So that I could see with the two eyes in my own head?”
“I had classes to attend!” I squeak my retort. “A degree I’m trying to finish. A degree that I was studying my ass off for beside the most beautiful pool I’ve ever seen while sipping on a strawberry banana smoothie with extra whipped cream.” Mirth appears in my tone as I tease, “Now, does that sound like a woman being kept against her will?”
“Sounds like a chick being brainwashed by two types of bananas, ya feel me?”
“Tomas.”
“Gimme your address.”
With my cellphone tightly fisted in my hand, I push down the lump of trepidation that’s rapidly growing in my throat.
I don’t like the demand.
Especially after all the comments he’s been making.
Tomas isn’t a perfect big brother, but he’s loyal and fierce as fuck when he thinks I can’t handle myself. Sadly, that’s been the story for most of my life. He’s never believed I was strong enough to protect myself, hence why he was constantly punching guys who pulled my pigtails in grade school and teased me in middle school.
Never mind that some of them did it because they actually liked me.
His overbearing way of behaving is the reason I almost didn’t have a prom date.
Tomas means well.
Like, I know he means well, but it doesn’t change the fact that he’s trouble.
And trouble is the last thing I need in my paradisaical existence right now.
Dietrich’s overly obnoxious and very sudden throat clearing catches me completely off guard. I hastily propel myself into an erect position causing the textbook I was studying to launch from my lap towards the pool. In a frantic juggle not to drop my phone but still catch the reading material, I sort of yell the direction of my falling device at the same time I screech, “I’ll text you later, Tomas!”
“Zel, I want pic-”
Thankfully the book falls into my extended arms while Dietrich effortlessly catches my cell in his palm.
Butler or magician?
Tomas’s voice can still be heard yelling through the receiver prompting me to collect my phone and end the call without saying another word.
His stare continues to remain unamused. “Perhaps you should tend to your gentleman caller-”
“It’s my big brother…”
“-before I review this evening’s itinerary?”
I give my hair a nervous twirl, bite my bottom lip in contemplation, and quietly promise, “It’ll only take a sec.”
Dietrich momentarily turns his attention elsewhere leaving me to peacefully tap out my current address along with a line about being out for the entire evening and most of tomorrow, too.
While a busy man, I can say Elias always carves out time that’s just for us in his busy schedule.
Sometimes for playing in the sheets – which always has me too tired to move for hours.
And sometimes for playing out of them – like when he took me to play put-put after realizing it was too embarrassing to have me on the actual golf course.
The instant I’m finished texting, I cautiously glance up at the butler I’m pretty sure loathes my presence.
