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“Huh, really?” I glare at Colin. “Your stepbro didn’t mention this.”
“I can’t keep track of all the stuff he does,” Colin says.
Ash approaches Colin. “So cute when you pretend not to know everything about me.”
“Hey, baby bro, you think you could help my dumb jock buddy with Thermo? Apparently, he sucks at it.” He grins, just eating this moment up.
“Well, that’s funny because I need you for TaskFrat, and I guess if you aren’t going to help me…” Ash starts for the door.
I’m about to suggest I step in when Colin says, “Fine. You make a mockery of me tonight, but then you help my friend with Thermo. Deal?”
Ash’s brow creases. “You help me with them for the rest of the year, and I’ll do it.”
Colin chuckles. “Fine.”
“Sucker. I would’ve done it for free.” Ash spins Colin’s cap around and lowers the bill over Colin’s eyes. “Now come on.”
“What’s the challenge?” Colin asks as he fixes his cap. “Last time I helped you, I wound up naked, crawling through a kiddie pool of Jell-O.”
“You can’t blame anyone but yourself for going commando. And we won’t know the challenge until we get there, so throw on some briefs, and let’s get going.”
“Can I have ten?” Colin asks.
“I can give you twenty. You’re welcome to come watch, Troy,” Ash says, with a not-so-subtle wink and a smile.
“Thanks, but I have something to tend to.”
He and Colin agree on where they’ll meet up before Ash heads back out.
“Dude, I think your adorable stepbrother might have a crush on me,” I say as I toss him the ball.
His gaze wavers. “I will neither confirm nor deny it.”
I laugh. “Has he told you that? Wow. I would never tell Atlas anything he could use against me.”
“I didn’t say he told me anything,” Colin cleverly replies to keep from disclosing what I’ve already intuited from his obvious stepbro.
“It’s cute seeing you keep his little secrets. You guys are proof that stepbrothers can get along. I don’t know why mine has to be such a fucking asshole.”
“Come on. You guys have known each other for…what, like five years?”
“Six. And lived under the same roof for four of them.”
“That’s a long-ass time. You may get under each other’s skin, but you can’t tell me you don’t have your own things. Maybe some secrets you keep for each other?”
My thoughts return to high school, seeing Atlas around the halls, that cocky grin as he reveled in knowing I was wearing the lacy panties. I’d never wanted to resort to physical violence as much as I did every time he looked at me, loving that he was theonly one who knew the dirty secret that represented his victory over me. Even thinking about it all these years later stirs my rage, but just as quickly, I reminisce about the day I got to enjoy the same satisfaction as he walked around after I’d marked his ass with my name…like he was my property.
Yeah, we do have our little secrets, but I doubt they’re the same as the sort Colin and Ash would keep.
“Why are you making that mischievous smile?” Colin asks.
“What?” I ask, my cheeks warming. “I was just thinking about some of the shit we got up to in high school. It wasn’t all bad, I guess.”
“You guys talk plenty for as much shit as you give each other.”
“You and Ash give each other shit.”
“Eh, it’s different.”
