me. But if you want to beat me in a game, I have Monopoly lying around somewhere.”
Blake makes a face of disgust, but his friend perks up in his seat. “Oh, I haven’t played Monopoly in ages. Let’s do it.”
I glance at Charlie. “What do you say?”
She smirks. “Oh, it’s on. And so you know, you’re going down.”
17
TROY
Andreas corners me as soon as I enter my bedroom. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I’m looking for my Monopoly game, in case you haven’t noticed,” I reply, annoyed. He’s pissing me off with his attitude.
“Right. I’m talking about the little foreplay between you and Charlie. When did you flip, man?”
“Foreplay? Are you crazy?”
“I know what I saw.”
“Uh-huh. Yeah, only your depraved mind would think anything dirty from a polite conversation.”
“Whatever. Well, while you look for your game, I’m going to work out.” He disappears through the door.
I don’t stop him. It’s better if Andreas doesn’t join us downstairs. He’s in an antagonizing mood and needs to chill out on his own.
It takes me five minutes to find the old board game. The box is falling apart, held together by tape. It belonged to Dad. I found it in a donation bin in his garage, though I’m not sure what prompted me to rescue it. I don’t think we’ve ever played it as a family before my parents split up when I was fairly young, soon after Robbie died.
I run my hand over the top, getting sentimental over nothing.
Screw this. I’d better get back to the living room before I fall into a dark hole of memories and can’t get out.
When I pass in front of the gym room, I glance inside. Andreas isn’t there.
Where the hell did he go?
I get my answer right away when I hear his booming voice coming from downstairs. Son of a bitch. He must have changed his mind about working out. I wish Danny were here to serve as a buffer. Usually, the two of us can keep Andreas’s mercurial mood in check much easier.
“I found the game,” I announce from the top of the stairs.
“Oh goodie,” Blake replies sardonically.
His rude comments are beginning to get to me. I can’t fall for his goading though. I’m trying to stay on Charlie’s good side. Fighting with her no longer appeals to me—unless we’re sparring in the bedroom.
Jesus. I think Andreas’s way of thinking has rubbed off on me.
We get ready to play the game. The L-shaped couch can’t fit all of us, so I grab a folding chair from the closet beneath the stairs and set it right across from Charlie. I want to look at her all night. I hope my cock behaves. She’s not even all dolled up tonight. Her clothes are casual and cover most of her body. Her hair is in a ponytail, and she’s wearing her big glasses. Still sexy as hell.
The first few rounds of the game are fairly uneventful, everyone busy trying to acquire as many properties as possible. It’s only when a few of us start to build houses and hotels that things get interesting. Andreas is currently spending time in jail. It’s Charlie’s turn now, and she’s about to pass through my side of the board. I have three properties, all with hotels, and a mode of transport. Basically, it’s a minefield.
I lean back in my chair, grinning like an idiot.
“Come on, roomie. Daddy needs more money for his empire,” I say.
“Daddy?” She quirks an eyebrow.
I shrug a shoulder.
Charlie rolls the dice, then lifts her fist in the air when she gets double sixes. “Yes! Take that, sucker.”
She blows past my properties, not landing on any of them, to my utter disappointment.
“I’ll get you next time.”
“I’m happy in jail. I never want to get out.” Andreas chuckles, looking pointedly at Jane. He almost went bankrupt after he landed on one of her properties with two hotels.
“Sorry.” She chuckles.
He holds her gaze for a moment, almost as if he’s in a trance.
Ah shit. My worst fear is happening before my eyes. Jane is totally on his radar now.
I toss a handful of peanuts at him. “It’s your turn.”
“Hey, I’m not cleaning that mess.” Charlie points at me, furrowing her eyebrows as if she were mad. But her eyes dance with glee.
Something has definitely changed between us since that kiss. I wouldn’t call our banter foreplay, but it’s definitely toeing the line of flirtation territory. I hate to concede that Andreas was right. I should stop, erect a barrier between us,