Page 24 of Filthy Rich Brother's Best Friends

I don’t stop until I’m safely in my room.

I shut the door behind me and press my back to it. I’m shaking as I push the hair back from my face.

I made a scene. In front of everyone. And for what? Because I let Reid push my buttons? More than that, I said something incredibly cruel to him for no reason. I deserved the retaliation.

I squeeze my eyes shut and tell myself to breathe. In. Out. Again. But it doesn’t help. I still feel like I’m going to explode. I’ve barely gotten my breathing under control when there’s a knock.

I swallow and open the door a crack.

It’s no surprise to see Jude standing on the other side. He has a beer in one hand, the other shoved into his pocket. He offers me a soft smile with absolutely zero judgement.

I almost cave and invite him in. But I think better of it.

“You and Reid have a history, huh?”

“Not the way you think.” I sigh. “Look, I’m sorry?—”

“You have nothing to be sorry for. And it doesn’t have to be weird. Unless you want it to be.”

I nearly cry. Instead, I give a tight nod and mutter, “Thanks.”

He doesn’t try to come in, which I appreciate. Honestly, he doesn’t seem to expect much from me and I’m not sure how I feel about that.

“I’m next door if you need me.”

I watch him head back downstairs. He pauses at the landing and gives me one last look. There is so much kindness and understanding in that gaze it makes my heart stutter.

That somehow makes all of this worse.

I close the door before I do something I can’t take back. Then I plop down on the end of my bed.

I want to wallow, but I need words of wisdom. So naturally I call Harper. I had texted her earlier about the shit happening over here and she insisted I call her when it was over.

She answers on the second ring. “You survived the cookout?”

“No,” I whine. “I didn’t.”

“Uh-oh.”

I take a shaky breath. “My one-night stand and my brother’s two best friends live next door.”

There’s a pause.

Then she laughs. Loudly. She’s laughing so hard I wouldn’t be surprised if she pees her pants.

“Harper.”

“What?” She giggles. “I’m still waiting on the punchline, because that sounds like the beginning of a really raunchy joke. Or, even better, the beginning of a really raunchy romance.”

I drop back onto the bed and throw my arm over my face.

“I’m going to die.”

“You’re not,” she says. “But if you do, leave me your shoe collection.”

I groan into my sleeve.

“It’s going to be fine, Lo-lo. And, if it’s not…well at least it will be documented on the socials by your airhead roommates.”