Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 164705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
He separated his private life from work, school, and sports in ways I never could. It gave him an edge on me.
But I didn’t care about not being the auspicious brother.
I just wanted us to get along.
I hopped into the pontoon after Seb, slid the key into the ignition, and revved the motor, tilting the throttle lever forward. The boat raced onward, slicing the clear turquoise water like a knife.
Seb rolled his sleeves up and got us beers from a little fridge underneath one of the benches. He popped the caps with his thumb and passed me one. I took a slow sip, squinting at the horizon on our way to the island adjacent to the lake house.
“Isn’t it boring, boning the same girl all the time?” Sebastian flung his elbows over the railing. “Like, don’t you want the variety?”
“Not really. There’s more to life than getting your dick wet, Seb.”
Briar Rose and I had only done it once, but I’d known eons ago that it would just her for me. I didn’t need anyone else. Why would I? I only had two hands, and I needed them both to hold on to her.
“Yeah, I know.” He took another pull of his beer as the pontoon zipped through the lake. “There’s also rowing and barbecuing.”
I let out a snort and shook my head. “Awful.”
“Speaking of awful …” He clapped my back from behind, grasping my shoulder with a smirk. “I have bad news.”
Uh-huh. I knew that face. It was the face of an asshole who took pleasure in ruining my day. Seb had a mean streak. He kind of reminded me of Romeo in that sense. Ruining people’s day for sport. As an unapologetic bonus.
I groaned. “What is it?”
“So, while you were in Europe, I wanted to creep on one of the girls I’m dating on Instagram …”
Girls. Plural. Jesus. I wasn’t judgmental, but goddamn, my brother was a total player.
I felt my jaw ticking. “Okay.”
“I always end up accidentally liking one of their photos from, like, 1588 or something.” He chuckled, taking another swig of his beer. “Trust me, there is nothing more humiliating than knowing someone got a notification of you liking their shit from before they hit puberty.”
I stared at him hard, not even focused on the path ahead to the island. “Right. And?”
I had a feeling I knew where this was going.
“So, anyway, you left your iPad lying around in the common area, and I figured it wouldn’t hurt if I checked her profile through your Insta account. So, I did.”
“Seb …” I warned.
“I accidentally liked one of her pictures in a bikini on the beach – told you my fingers are not to be trusted around hot girls – and she immediately DM’d me. Well, you.” He snorted. “Only, I forgot I was using your profile, so I started talking to her.”
“Sebastian Leopold von Bismarck.”
“We hit it off quickly.” He chugged more beer, ignoring my rising anger. “Suddenly, like, a dozen notifications popped onto my screen, and I realized she was liking all of your photos. Only I thought they were my photos. So, I started liking all her photos back. And leaving comments.”
“Comments?” I barely moved my fucking jaw, it was so tight. “What comments?”
Briar Rose and I checked each other’s social media every day. No way would she miss it in the long run.
“Nothing too intense. I complimented her on her workouts and genetics. Stuff like that.”
“You said she was hot,” I clarified.
“Smoking.” He sighed. “I mean, she factually is.”
“You little shit.” I cut the engine and set the beer down on the deck, then proceeded to grab the collar of Seb’s shirt. “I have a girlfriend. She is likely going to see this, if she hasn’t already. How could you be so fucking careless?”
I plastered him against the steering wheel. The metal burrowed into his back. I didn’t care.
“Jesus, take a fucking chill pill. Just tell Briar Rose what’s up. She’ll understand.” He tried to wiggle out of my hold, but I was taller, bigger, stronger. “Or I will. It doesn’t matter. She knows you’d never cheat.”
“This was a violation of my privacy.” I shoved my face in his. “You can take the fucking ranch house. You can manipulate Dad into giving you the Lamborghini. Do all this petty shit. I don’t care. But don’t you dare mess with my relationship, Sebastian.”
“Booooring.” He shoved me off him, making a snoring sound. “You think you’re such a fucking hot shot because you have a steady girlfriend?”
I stumbled backwards, the back of my legs hitting the seat.
Seb paused to finish off his beer. “Get off your high horse, dude. Half the charm is that you don’t have to put up with her ass on a daily basis. She lives on the other side of the world.” He flipped me the finger, turning back to the steering wheel. “I said I was sorry.”