AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Most days when he stays over, I walk into the room making as much noise as possible just to annoy him, but this morning, I simply don’t have the energy, so I head to the fridge quietly.
I open the door and sigh at the emptiness. A teeny bit of orange juice taunts me in its glass bottle. It barely a sip left. Why did I put that small bit back?
Probably because you can’t afford to waste it.
“Your refusal to ask for help is getting ridiculous,” Jagger’s deep voice grumbles from the sofa. “I’ve seen homeless people with more food.”
“I’m fine.” I grab the juice bottle, not bothering with a glass for such a small amount, and turn it up. Then I turn to him, a little panicked. “You can’t tell anyone.”
He huffs, rubbing his hands roughly over his face. “Yeah, I’m going to buy food, so I don’t starve when I’m here.” He grumbles as he sits up and stretches. My heart still pounds, knowing he’s avoiding answering me. His eyes cut my way, and he shakes his head. “I won’t tell anyone, Casey. I don’t like it, but I can’t say shit. Not like I’m accepting money from anyone, either.” But he doesn’t need to. He has a trust fund and a job.
“Yeah, but you have a trust fund and a job to pay for yourself.” I toss the empty juice bottle in the trash, then remember the recycling bin Lily still checks, so pull it back out and take it to the sink. While my back is to him, I decide to ask Jagger something, not wanting to see his face when I do. “So-um,” I stammer as I run water into the empty glass, “did you know Graham was staying at your dad’s?”
“Yeah, I knew. Why?”
“I-uh… I went over there the other day to talk to your dad, and he was there. I figured he’d get a place of his own.”
He doesn’t answer, and when the silence is too much, I spin around to face him. He sits on the sofa, arm stretched across the cushions, watching me. “What?” I ask, squirming under his scrutiny.
“Nothing.” The corner of his mouth twitches a bit as he drags a hand over his jaw.
“Come on. It’s not nothing. Tell me.”
“It’s nothing, Casey. Except if I didn’t know any better, I’d thinkSunflowerwas still crushing on Prince Charming.” He burst out laughing, and my cheeks turn red. The jerk found my journal from when I was fifteen with Graham’s name written all over the pages, but he knew without it. It wasn’t a hard stretch to assume, considering I followed Graham around like a lost puppy for years.
I guess he sees my embarrassment—how could he not—because he quickly sobers, standing from the sofa, coming to me. He tosses his arm over my shoulder in a brotherly hug. “I’m just teasing you, Case.”
I shake my head, pushing him away. “It’s fine,” I lie. “I did have a crush on him when I was a kid. No big deal.”
“Just when you were a kid? So, you’re like completely over it?”
“Completely.” I nod. When his brow furrows, it’s on the tip of my tongue to ask, but I decide against it. I’m not sure I want to know what it’s about. My fingers wrap around the straps of my bag and lift them over my head. “Okay, I have to go. I assume you’ll be slutting around this weekend and won’t need my sofa.”
“I promise to keep all the hoes at my apartment.” He raises three fingers as if he were a scout when we both know he failed the test before he was sixteen. Jagger wasn’t just a loner. He was a bad boy loner.
“It’s much appreciated,” I deadpan, rolling my eyes.
“Anything for you,Sunflower.”He pats my cheek, patronizing me, then laughs as he walks to the door. Before he closes the door, he turns back around, “Are you having girls’ night tonight?”
“Not if I can help it.”
He nods, tapping the door twice, then leaves, and I wonder…
What was that about?
Graham
Aknock at the door lifts my attention from the multiple computer screens in front of me. I glance at my watch and realize it’s almost seven. Working this late isn’t unusual for me, but today has been especially long, with multiple video conferences to put out fires for both the label and my other businesses. I’m fortunate my contract didn’t dictate I relinquish all my other positions to focus solely on this one, but I suppose they knew that would never work.
I yell come in as I lean back in my chair, rubbing between my eyes. When I drop my hand, I see my brother strutting across the room. My eyes open wide in surprise. “The prodigal son returns?”
“You stay away foryears,and I’m the prodigal son?” He sits in a chair in front of my desk, stretching his long legs in front of him.
“Hmm. Yeah, but I haven’t been avoiding you for two weeks.” I stand and walk around the desk, then lean against it with my arms folded. My finger waves around his face. “How do you get through airport security with all that metal?”
His gaze flits low for a brief moment before he meets my eyes with a smirk. “I’m guessing the same way you do.”
Touche.“Why have you been avoiding me, Jagger?” I ask, getting right to the point.
