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“It could be better, I’ll give you that,” I admit, my phone vibrating in my pocket. “Are you good from here, or do you need me to walk you over?”
“Nick’s outside,” she says with a smile, sliding her phone back into her pocket, mine growing more insistent by the second. “He’s just dropped Taylor off so we can walk together, but thank you for the offer.”
The external doors loom as my phone goes quiet, finally. It’s his shoulders that catch my eye, his gaze focused on something in the opposite direction. He’s broad and strong, but so willing to hand all that strength over, yet, as he moves, the energy is off, and I suddenly realise it’s Nick and not Jacob, not that my dick seems to care much.
With Ivy’s gentle softness on one side of me, and his overbearing presence ahead of us, I could be a happy man. I’ll take his brother’s subservience, no matter how much of a brat he likes to be, but to break the straight one would be truly delicious.
I know, I know, it’s cliché as fuck wanting the straight brother and his girl as well. I should be happy with the man I’ve got. And I am.
Ivy and I have a connection, an understanding, something more than just the desire that simmers between us whenever we’re nearby. And Nick? Well, he looks exactly like his hotter-than-sin twin brother, only he won’t bend for me.
What can I say? I like a challenge.
“Thanks,” he grumbles, his attention focused solely on Ivy and the smile she’s got for him, despite the words being for me.
“I’ll chat to you later?” she confirms, looking at me.
“Of course.” I smile, leaning in to kiss her cheeks, her hand coming to my arm briefly before I step back, leaving the two of them to go to their class.
My hand is in my pocket, dragging the stupid vibrating thing out even as I watch them walk away, but as I take in the name flashing on the screen, my heart sinks like a stone.
Shit.
“Hey,” I say, answering the call and turning away from them, unable to look at the light and the future whilst taking this call.
“Don’t ‘hey’ me, boy,” he clips. “Do you know how many times I’ve called you?”
Nope. I didn’t check. I just took this call before you tried to murder me down the phone, or worse.
“Sorry, I’ve just come out of class,” I reply, shoving down the caustic response I’d like to give him.
“Yes, a very nice bit of skirt you were entertaining there too,” he says smugly. “It’s a shame that’s not your colour on her wrist though, isn’t it?”
Double shit.
“Yeah, about that…”
“Don’t bother with your fucking excuses, boy.”
Moving away from the main building and the people milling around there, I head towards the driveway and back to the house, glad I didn’t drive today. This is not a conversation I need echoing around an enclosed space, even if I would be alone.
“Did you know about the exercise at the weekend?” I ask, choosing my words carefully as I navigate down the driveway.
“Parents don’t get updates on the inductions until after,” he says, and I’m not sure whether he means until after we’re out, or until after it’s over. “But you’re still there.”
“Obviously.”
The lack of belief would be insulting, especially considering the amount of pressure he’s put on the point, but it’s not surprising. The bar is set high, always has been.
“Have you seen anything of your boys recently?” he asks, that deep throaty chuckle a warning I’ve come to heed.
I suddenly realise the sarcastic remark that slipped from my tongue, the warning clear.
“No,” I reply, my hackles raised as I look around. There’s nothing but trees on either side, dark, dense and alone.
“Interesting.”
“I thought you were sending them on a new job or something?” Not that he’d give me any details about it. No, they were intentionally removed from me and anything to do with me.
