“I’ll make the popcorn,” I tell Morgan, who nods and makes a run for the living room, way too many snacks huddled up in her arms. I hear her turn on the TV and launch herself onto the couch.
Minutes later, I’m resting the popcorn bowl on the low table and leaping next to her. We’ve just started arguing on what to watch when the front door swings open.
I stop breathing.
Please don’t be Blake.
Relief rolls over me at Zoey’s signature tune: heels ruining my mother’s hardwood floor.
“Where you at, bitches?” she calls.
“Where we always are. The couch,” Morgan hollers.
Zoey smothers a chuckle, making her superstar entrance. My gaze travels up her outfit. Her straightened black hair flows down her shoulders, completing her killer outfit: purple top, tight skirt, high heels. Zoey’s gorgeous. There’s no denying it.
She’s also in excellent shape from doing extreme hot yoga every single day—I tried once and thought I was going to die in a puddle of my own sweat. Zoey’s also that friend who can engulf the entire menu at McDonald’s and still be a size zero. I assess her flashy attire, then my gray sweatpants and tank top, then Morgan’s oversized hoodie and leggings.
Yup. We look homeless.
“That’s your outfit for movie night?” Morgan beats me to it.
Zoey cocks an eyebrow. “Yeah. Problem?”
“Can you even sit in that thing?” I chortle.
“Sure I can.” She does just that, wedging herself between Morgan and me with apparent difficulty. Then she point-blank betrays herself. “So… Where are your brother and his boys?”
Ah.
That’s why.
Girl, this isn’t your “movie night” outfit.
This is your “get with Kass’s brother” outfit.
“Not here yet,” I reply. Maybe I shouldn’t have told her they’d be here tonight.
Morgan puts the pieces together. “Wait, does that mean… Blake is going to be there?”
I give a faint nod.
“And have you talked to him since…”
“Not really. I mean, I’ve texted him. Four words. ‘Come get your shit.’ I had a box full of his crap in my room.”
“And did he? Come get his stuff?” Morgan asks.
I shrug. “No. Never even replied. I threw it out.”
“You know what you need?” Zoey chimes in, grabbing a handful of Jolly Ranchers right out of the bag. “A rebound.” Her eyes light up as if a stroke of genius just hit her, and she shrieks, “No, no! You need to hook up with one of his friends.”
I almost laugh. Me? Dealing with men again after what just happened? What is she on?
“I’m good. I don’t see Alex like that.” I cuddle up to the fluffy pillow next to me.
Zoey rolls her eyes. “Not him, dumbass. Hottie Blondie.”
I crinkle my nose at the nickname Zoey likes to give Will, Kendrick’s real best friend—my brother would deny it with his last breath if you asked, but we all know Will is his ride or die. Blake is a close second.
“Will?” I snort. “You can’t be serious. Dude flirts with the entire planet. I don’t even think it’s possible to be special to him.”
“So? I’m not telling you to marry the guy. Just have some fun.” She wiggles her eyebrows. “I’m sure it would drive Blake crazy.”
“Which would be a good thing if I gave a crap what Blake thinks. I just want to move on.”
“Fine.” She throws a cherry Jolly Rancher into her mouth. “But you have to admit, Will is hot.”
I catch myself picturing him. Jaw as sharp as a knife, toned body from working out five days a week with the guys, deep ocean-blue eyes, dirty-blond hair. I’m not blind. Objectively, Will is way up there in the looks department, but I’ve never seen him that way. Was too busy being annoyed by his existence.
“He’s okay, I guess. Not my type.”
“Okay? Okay?” She’s scandalized. “Are you insane? He’s stupid hot, like in a damaged kind of way. I bet you he just needs someone to pierce through that tough exterior of hard muscles and sarcasm.” She releases a devilish smirk. “Hell, if you’re not up for it, I am.”
“What happened to wanting Sean back?” Morgan points out.
“He hasn’t called since we broke up. I’m done waiting. Time to start living again.” Zoey shrugs.
I know I should be happy for her. I’ve been waiting for Zoey to let go of Sean’s toxic ass for ages, but I also know it means she’ll be chasing her next prey soon.
And in this case… her prey is my brother.
Or Will.
Both terrible choices, really.
The front door opening lures my attention away from Zoey’s not-so-secret agenda. What sounds like an entire classroom stumbles inside my kitchen.
Laughter, bickering, shuffling.
There’s no escaping it this time.
The boys are here.
“You fucking moron.” His laugh destroys every last shred of hope in my body.
Blake.
He’s here.
Of course he is.
He just couldn’t sit this one out.
Kendrick, Blake, and Will materialize in the doorway a heartbeat later. I’m assuming Alex couldn’t make it. Blake stops laughing the second he sees me.
Refusing to acknowledge his presence, I zero in on the ceiling, the floor, the family pictures crowding the walls—every goddamn thing in the room but the dark-haired guy boring holes through my skull. Somewhere along my weak, desperate attempt to pretend he doesn’t exist, I lock eyes with Will.
It must last like three seconds, if that.
Shit, Zoey’s right.
He is hot.
And not just in a damaged way.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Kendrick snaps at me. “I told you we need the TV tonight.”
“Cute, you think I actually listen to you.” I offer him a shit-eating grin, to which he replies by tilting his head to the right and planning my murder. I know my brother, and right now? He’s a mere impulse away from cursing me out. Clenched fists, flaring nostrils—an outburst is imminent.
That’s when he notices Zoey.
His fists unwind. “Zoey, hey.”
“Kendrick. Long time.” She bats her eyelashes at him.
Ugh.
“What are you guys up to?” Funny how he asks about us but only speaks to her.
She twirls a piece of her hair around her index.
“Watching a movie. Wanna join?”
“Sure.” Kendrick’s reply is instant.
Blake’s jaw falls.
“But we were supposed to watch the ga—”
Kendrick stares dagger at him. I call it the “Cockblock me and I’ll kill you” look. Blake clamps his mouth shut, gaze straying to the floor. Meanwhile, Will is mentally calling him a pussy—I can tell just from the mocking grin on his face.
“What are we watching?” Kendrick asks, taking a seat alongside Zoey—no surprise there. Morgan is on Zoey’s left, leaving one last spot between Kendrick and me.
When I realize Blake and Will are the last two standing, I regret telling my mom a four-seater couch would be enough after Dad left with half the furniture. I notice Blake eying the empty space next to me, and my entire body contracts. He wouldn’t. He dares a step forward, his intentions clear as day, but Will beats him to the punch, filling the seat by my side.