head, before turning to face the wall. “And don’t peek.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t look at you naked until you ask.”
“Ha!” I toss my bikini top at the back of his head. “You’re delusional if you think I’ll ever ask for that.” I quickly pull on a pair of panties, before slipping on some jeans. I go to reach for my bra next, but quickly cover my breasts when Madden turns around, holding my bikini up by the strap. “I’m not done yet. Turn back around.” He balls up my bikini top in his hand and turns back around. “And give that back.” Without a word, he tosses it over his head and I catch it, quickly stuffing it into my suitcase before pulling on a loose T-shirt. “You can turn around now.”
Turning around, he places a cigarette between his lips, keeping his eyes on me as he lights it. Why do I find that so hot?
“Are we good now? Did you get your anger and frustration out from me kissing you earlier?” He walks over to open both bedroom windows. “I know you’ve been holding it in since earlier. That’s why I pushed you to let it out.”
“Really, Madden?” I throw my messy hair up and walk over to snatch the cigarette from his lips. “I already told you I was ready to play this little game. I don’t need any more pushing. Let’s get this night started so we can get it over with. The sooner we can go to bed, the better.”
Before he can say anything, I put his cigarette out on the window ledge and toss it to him, walking away.
The moment I’m free from Madden, I press my back against the door and place my hand over my racing heart, mentally begging it to slow down. I don’t know why he has the ability to work me up so much or why I’m allowing him to do it.
“…whatever, Jess. Just stop…” Alana’s voice coming from the kitchen has me standing up straight and moving closer to hear better. “…I’m getting Madden back before this weekend is over. I saw the look on her face when he kissed her. She looked just as surprised as I was. It’s bullshit, Jess. He’s fucking with me. Trust me. He’s not in love with her.”
Jess says something that I can’t make out, before Alana comes back with a “Screw that” and storms outside, slamming the door shut behind her.
I wait a few seconds before pushing away from the door and making my way down the hall to join Jess in the kitchen.
“Hey, babe!” Jess holds a cup out to me the moment she sees me coming. “Made you my specialty drink. Hope you like it.”
“Thanks.” I nod and grab the cup from her. “What was that about?”
She shakes her head while sipping from her cup. “Nothing to worry over. Just Alana being Alana.”
She’s wrong. It is something to worry about and I need to change that.
“Let’s join the others outside. The boys are gathering wood for the bonfire and I’m sure Madden is tuning up his guitar to play for us.”
“To play for us?”
“Yup!” She loops her arm through mine and begins walking me outside. “Madden always plays for us on Friday nights. It’s been his thing for as long as I can remember. If you think he’s hot on stage, just wait until you see him in the light of the fire playing his acoustic. If you’re not completely in love with him yet, you will be.”
Yeah, cause that’s what I need. Another reason to be attracted to my boyfriend’s brother.
The memory of the night I caught him playing his guitar in his brother’s living room creeps in, reminding me of how badly I wanted to stick around and watch that intimate moment. It was stupid, and luckily is was ruined by a text from Alana. At least, lucky for me… him, not so much.
I still remember the look in his eyes when she ruined him for probably the millionth time since she first broke his heart.
And that look—the one etched into my brain—is going to get me through this night as his girlfriend. Fuck Alana. She broke him. This—me playing pretend with mister cocky rock star—is all her fault to begin with.
Once outside, Jess unloops her arm from mine and motions for me to take a seat in the chair beside her. Alana is across the fire pit once again—no surprise there—in the perfect place to keep her