“Clive Hart? Seriously?” Vincent’s annoyed voice brought my attention back to him. “Of all the people you could’ve chosen, you chose to date Clive Hart? I told you he was a fuckboy and I meant it. Don’t fall for his nice-guy act, Lettie. It’s broken a lot of hearts.”
“I’m not dating Clive,” I said, trying to wrap my head around the new and unexpected development. I didn’t know there were people so invested in rugby players’ love lives. “We went on one date. That’s it.”
“Then whose shoes are those?”
Fuck. I realized my mistake too late.
“Uh…” I scrambled for an excuse. “I—I have a friend from RAB over. We were going over something for Lorena. You know, that school showcase I’m an understudy for? He spilled something so he’s taking a shower.”
“I don’t hear the water running.”
My brother was usually an idiot. Why did he have to be so observant today of all days?
“I guess he’s lathering,” I said. “He’s very, um, thorough with the soap.”
Vincent’s eyes tapered in suspicion. He didn’t believe me for a second. “Are you sleeping with him? I just want to have a talk.” He started toward my bedroom.
“No!” I grabbed his arm. “I told you—he’s showering.”
“I can wait in your room.”
“No. You are not going to storm in there and embarrass me.” I released him but put myself in his path, blocking him from the door. “I’m an adult, Vince. While I appreciate your concern, I can do whatever I want with whoever I want. I don’t need to run it by you first. You don’t see me interrogating you about every girl you’re seen with.”
“That’s not the same.”
“Why not? Double standard much?” I shook my head. “I know you’re worried about me and you don’t want to see me get hurt, but I promise I know what I’m doing.”
“Do you?” Vincent’s mask of anger fractured, revealing slivers of worry underneath. “You haven’t dated anyone seriously since Rafael, and we know how that ended. You were inconsolable after the breakup. I don’t want to see you in that place again. Ever. It was…fuck, Lettie. It was a scary time.”
My indignation melted at his agonized expression. For all his bluster and overprotectiveness, he really did have my best interests at heart, and he was right. The early post-breakup days had been mired in darkness. Between the accident and the abrupt end of a three-year relationship, there’d been times when…
I swallowed. “I get it,” I said, more softly this time. “But I’m not twenty-one anymore. Let me handle my relationships as I see fit, okay?”
Vincent stared at me for an extra beat before he let out a resigned sigh. “Fine. But if anyone fucks with you, tell me and I really will get the team to jump him.” He eyed the trainers again. “So are you sleeping with your colleague? Who is it? Is it serious?”
“Vincent.”
“Just curious.” He cracked a small smile. “Anyway, I didn’t come all this way just to yell at you about Clive—though this conversation would be a lot longer if you really were dating him.”
I figured as much. Vincent was as capable of yelling over the phone as he was in person. “Do you have another PR thing in the city?”
“No. Coach wanted to check in with me since I, ah, backed out of the training sessions with you and Donovan. Dad’s doing fine with the nurse now, so I’m actually returning to London earlier than expected. I’m staying through the weekend, then I’ll go back to Paris to wrap up loose ends. But I’ll be training with you again starting the Monday after next.”
I suspected there was more to the story than he was sharing, but I was too stuck on his last sentence to delve deeper. I’ll be training with you again starting the Monday after next.
That meant Asher and I had even less time together than anticipated.
“Oh. How nice.” My words squeaked with surprise. “I mean, yay! Can’t wait.”
If Vincent noticed my pitiable attempt to feign enthusiasm, he didn’t mention it. “The upside is, I can keep an eye on Donovan. I can’t stand that guy.” His mouth twisted into a grimace. “At least you’re not sleeping with him. I’m sorry, Lettie. I know it’s your love life, but if he was the one in your bathroom right now, I’d smash his face into the wall.”
My high-pitched laugh sounded like it was supercharged with helium. “Me and Asher? Haha. That would be something. Anyway.” I pushed him toward the exit. “Let’s catch up later. I don’t want my colleague to see you when he gets out of the shower, and—oh!”
The pizza delivery guy beamed at us when I yanked open the door. “Sorry I’m late,” he said with the kind of pep only a uni student desperate for extra cash could scrounge up. “There was an accident, so traffic was a nightmare. But never fear! Pete’s Pizza’s state-of-the-art warming bag ensures your food will taste as fresh as when it left the oven.”
“Great.” I pushed my brother into the hall and reached for the pizza. “Thanks—”
The delivery guy cut me off with the remainder of his spiel. “Can you please confirm that you ordered one large pepperoni pizza with a side of garlic breadsticks for Ash—”
“Yes!” I shouted. Asher had placed the order under a pseudonym, but he’d stupidly used his real first name. “Thanks so much. Have a great day. Vince, I’ll call you later. Bye!”
I grabbed the pie, waved, and slammed the door in two stunned faces.
I stood there, pulse pumping, until I heard their footsteps fade. To be safe, I peered out the window and waited until Vincent’s car disappeared down the street before I turned and set the pizza on the coffee table.
“Smooth.”
I jumped at the unexpected voice and whirled around, my poor heart rate spiking to the top of the roller coaster before plummeting with relief.
I placed a hand over my chest. “God, don’t scare me like that.”
Asher stood in my bedroom doorway, dressed and scowling. Logically, I knew he was the only other person in the flat, but my nerves were shot from dealing with my brother. Every little thing set me on edge.
“Smash my face into the wall?” Asher had obviously overheard Vincent’s threat. “I’d like to see him bloody try.”
“Tone down the testosterone for a moment and focus,” I admonished. “Do you know how close of a call that was? If our timing had been just a little off…”
“He’d beat me up? Please. I’d wipe the floor with him.” Asher snorted, but his frown released with a sigh at my warning glare. “Fine. I’ll behave.”
