The Entitled (The Entitled Duet #1) - Cassandra Robbins Page 0,108
that is. Hmm, could it be because my best friend is being a jerk?” When I glance out the window, gray skies stare back at me. “You know I don’t find the baby thing funny. I don’t even like you joking about it!”
“Lighten up, Tess. Reed cares about two things: you and him. If you don’t want kids, believe me, the man will be more than happy not to share you,” he says in between bites.
“You think so?” My voice betrays my insecurities.
Brance stares at me like I’m insane. “Are you eating or not?”
“I can’t eat.” I reach for some grapes. “Do you want me to fit into that gown you have me wearing tonight?”
He appraises me up and down again. “You’re right. Coffee and fruit for you.”
“So…” Taking a breath, I try to prepare him. “I need you to rethink your negative vibes about Reed’s grandfather’s party tonight. Lana is going to need you.” I’m trying my best to guilt him.
He snorts, forking in the last of the omelet and pushing back the plate. “There is nothing negative about me not going to that party tonight. It’s positive all around.”
“No, it’s not.” The thought of my mom and my dad being at the same place nearly makes my chest break out in a rash.
“Please… I need you! So does Lana. She is going to be humiliated. And I can’t be in two places at once.” Sliding close to him, I clutch tightly to his shirt.
“Tess? Let go of my shirt. I’m not Reed, so stop whining.” He cups my face. “I’m trying to get away from the one percenters. The Saddingtons are old money. It goes against everything I’m striving not to become. I mean, come on, wasn’t Reed’s great-great-great-grandfather a duke or something?”
“Fine.” I pull away from him, grabbing my rubber band from my wrist to tie up my hair. “Just let me have to handle everything.” Dramatically, I wave my hands. “You know my mom is going to go insane when my dad walks in with Lana. It’s going to be a complete slap in the face for her. Not that I’m her biggest fan, but even I have to say it’s humiliating.” I open the refrigerator for a bottle of water.
“This is not our problem. Lana needs to tell Robert to fuck off. I told her that too.” Taking the bottle from me to open it, he looks at his watch again. I almost kick him.
“Stop looking at your watch. We have plenty of time before we have to meet her.”
Brance sits back down. “The truth is they are going to eat her up. I have no desire to see a bunch of entitled fat fucks humiliate her or your mother.”
“Exactly, Brance.” I slap the counter. “That’s what they’re going to do to her. My dad is being a dick all around. I know he wants my mom to sign the divorce papers. But bringing his mistress to this party? This could be awful.”
He’s silent, then looks at the ceiling, closing his eyes.
“Goddamn it, Tess.” He shakes his head and throws his hands up. “Fine, I’ll go! For you and Lana. It’s going to be a shitstorm.”
Squealing, I throw myself into his arms, kissing his face.
“Now what’s happening?” Reed startles us with an amused glare. He’s back from working out in the custom gym he had built downstairs. My eyes greedily sweep over his sweaty, shirtless body, his gym shorts low on his hips, his six-pack pumped after two hours of punching the bag. He walks up behind and pulls me tightly to his chest.
“Reed, you’re all sweaty,” I say, twisting around.
“You like me sweaty. I was hoping we would be alone.” He arches a dark eyebrow at Brance, starting to pull the tape off his hands, keeping me locked in his hot embrace.
“Sorry, Pumpkin.” Brance smiles. “Tess has somehow manipulated me into going to your grandfather’s birthday party tonight.”
Reed looks at me, then back at Brance. He nods approvingly. “Actually, you probably should come.” He roughly throws the tape away, not saying anything else.
Brance rubs his temples. “Fine, but both of you owe me. Please put a shirt on your chest—it’s distracting me,” he snips.
Reed laughs. “I’ll do better than that. I will remove myself from your view. I need Tess for a moment.”
Brance’s eyes get big. “Is that your subtle way of telling me you’re going to have sex with Tess? Classy, Reed,” he says dryly.