My Brother's Billionaire Best Friend - Max Monroe Page 0,65
on what changed your old-man ways?”
Old man. That’s the second time I’ve heard that in the past twenty-four hours, and of course, the sheer mention of it makes me think about Maybe and our kiss…again.
My chest tightens with the unease of a man who knows he’s in the wrong, but Thatch keeps right on talking as though there isn’t a vise closing in on me every second. “Is it the summer air? A new diet? Or, maybe, just maybe, the motherfluffing girl I knew you were already lusting after!”
“All right, you assholes. No need to spell it out any further,” I respond on a heavy sigh. Having to deal with my conscience is bad enough. Being interrogated by Thing 1 and Thing 2 is just plain cruel. “I thought you’d shaken your Gossip Girl addiction, Cap.”
No doubt he’s spent the early part of his morning gabbing like a damn drama queen.
“Now, now, there’s no need to bring Gossip Girl into this,” he snaps. “If I hear you talking bad about my girls Blair and Serena, consider our friendship over.”
I roll my eyes and Thatch chuckles.
“I’m a Vampire Diaries man myself,” Thatch comments insanely. “But let’s not stray from the important shit.”
“You’re right, dude.” Cap nods. “And the important shit is that our good friend Milo here is playing with fucking fire.”
“I am not playing with fire.”
I am. I most certainly am. But sometimes denial is just a hell of a lot easier than facing reality head on.
“You’re so full of shit, and we all know it.” Cap eyes me shrewdly. “You, the man who loathes socialite parties, were at one. Last night. With a girl who just so happens to be our good buddy’s little sister.”
I start to open my mouth to try to explain, but apparently, he hasn’t hit his fucking word count for the conversation yet.
“Wait. I forgot to add the most important detail of all,” he rambles. “Our good buddy’s off-limits little sister.”
Son of a bitch. His words shouldn’t bother me, but they do.
Guilt had already found its way into my veins this morning. Now, that infection feels so pungent, I fear I’ll go septic.
“We’re just friends,” I deny with a thick tongue. “She asked me to go to that party with her last night, so I did what any good friend would do. I met her there.”
“Oh, okay,” Thatch responds. “You met her at the party. Nothing more. Nothing less, right?”
“Right.”
Thatch snorts. “Yeah, okay. And Cassie’s the Virgin Mary.”
The word virgin lands in my head like an arrow. God, what a fucking mess I’ve gotten myself into.
“Don’t forget that you spent the whole night standing out on the balcony with her, drinking and laughing it up like you were the only two lovebirds at the shindig.”
“Lovebirds!” Thatch whoops wildly.
I might kill Cap. Surely, no one would miss him, right?
“Or that you drove her home,” Cap continues. “Can’t forget that either.”
“It’s nice to know that you were so invested in my whereabouts last night,” I deflect. “I know you get upset when I don’t give you all of my attention, sweetheart, but there’s no need to stalk me.”
Cap grins. “I can’t deny I’m still pissed at you for not taking me to lunch, but that is not the subject at hand, brother. But, hey, two points for your efforts in deflection.”
An annoyed laugh escapes my lungs. “What do you want me to say? Evan asked me to help Maybe get a few interviews with publishing houses in the city. Which I’ve been doing. And yes, I’m friends with her. I went to a party with her. I took her home. Pretty sure we’ve covered it all.”
“Wait…” Thatch chimes in. “How long have you been helping her with the whole career thing?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “A few weeks.”
“More like over a month,” Cap kindly offers, the prick.
“Does it really matter?”
“I knew there was something different about you when I saw you at the gym!” Thatch smiles like a fucking loon. “Goddamn, I’m good.”
“You saw him at the gym?” Cap asks, and Thatch nods.
“Damn right, I did. The Supercock could tell something was different. It was pinging all over the place.”
“Not sure I like the thought of your dick having feelings about me.”
Thatch ignores me and booms on. “And now, it’s safe to say that Little Miss Maybe was the reason.”
“Damn, you two could turn anything into something,” I grumble. “It’s a true talent.”
They both laugh like what I said is the most ridiculous thing they’ve ever heard.