own way.
For me, it was contacting the Dean of Admissions to curtail my med school application, then trying to secure me a fellowship at the top Emergency Medicine hospital in the country. For Callie, she fell in line with their wishes for law school because that was always what she wanted to do, but they did not hesitate in voicing their displeasure when she married Jonathan in her own way, on her own terms, and in her own time. In Cam’s case, they tried to stop him being deployed. Yep, their arrogance and strive for control knows no bounds.
“Offered her money to quit stripping.”
“Wait . . .” He bursts out laughing, like honest-to-God, bent-over-in-your-chair, bust-a-gut laughing. “You’re dating . . . a stripper? Fuck, I wish I was a fly on the wall to see Annabel’s face when she found that out.”
I chuckle; I can’t help it. When he puts it like that, of course it sounds hysterical. “Okay, first thing’s first, she was a stripper but part-time. She started working at the club years ago to get herself out of debt and even though she doesn’t need the money anymore, she was still doing one shift a week here and there. Secondly, she’s also a hotel manager.”
“Are we talking about five-star luxury here or dingy daily-rates?”
“Five star on The Loop.”
“Still, Cade, a stripper?” he says, chuckling again. “And I thought I was the bad twin.”
“You are the bad twin. I’m the good-looking, successful, obscenely well-hung twin.”
“Dream on, Carsen.”
“So what are you gonna do?”
“About the parents? What do you think I’m gonna do?”
“I know what I would do, but you? You’re the unknown quantity here.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve never seen you with Abi so I don’t know how things are with you two but she’s been in your life for longer than any other woman you’ve gone out with, and you even introduced her to Cruel and Cruella, that says a lot of things, but the loudest of those is that she means something to you.”
“She does. I’m in love with her.”
“And that, Brother, makes me fucking over the moon for you. But I don’t want you to let them get their way and scare her off.”
“That’s not gonna happen,” I reply tersely.
“Then fucking put them in their place, Cade. It’s been long enough. Someone needs to make a stand. And I’m not talking about Callie marrying Jon behind their back because yes, that took balls, but she pandered to them when she gave in to the ‘small wedding in the backyard’ bullshit.”
“This campaign has made them crazy.”
“Sounds like it’s making them worse than their normal selves, and they were already bad to begin with. They’re our parents, and yes, part of me has to love them, but at the end of the day, you, Callie and Jon mean more to me than they ever will. You’ve gotta just man the fuck up and call them out on their bullshit.”
“Damn I miss having you around.”
“Oh, I miss you too, schnookums. Don’t worry, you’ll be seeing me in a couple of weeks.”
“Looking forward to it.”
“In fact, do me a favor? Wait until I get home before handing Mom and Dad their asses on a platter. At least then I’ll get to sit back and watch.”
“You’re terrible, you know that?”
“Hello? I’m the bad twin, remember? You’re the good boy, the hot-shot doctor, whereas I’m the bad boy, badass soldier. You’re the Captain America to my Ironman.”
“Are you saying you’re bionic now?” I scoff.
“Maybe I am. Maybe I’m immortal, too. Just means you’re stuck with my ass forever.”
“You’ve been chasing me since conception.”
“That was me trying to step out from your huge ego.”
“That’s just one of my attributes that enters the room before I do.”
“Cock humor—is that what it comes down to?”
“When does it not?”
“Too true. Okay, I better get off this phone before my C.O. hands me my ass.”
“Just over three weeks and you’ll be home.”
“Yep,” he says, a huge grin shining back at me.
“Stay safe, Cam.”
“Stay sane, Cade.” The call ends mid-laugh, and I lean back into the couch, my mood lighter than ten minutes ago.
Three weeks to prep myself for Operation Claim Back. Taking back the power and making sure my parents know exactly what I think about them messing with my life, with both my brother and sister at my back for moral support.
One thing I know for sure. If it comes down to choosing between Abi and them, I’ll choose her.
Every. Single. Time.
I’m a nervous wreck. Why am