Page 85 of For One Night

“Get your ass out of the bed and be ready. We’ll be there in twenty minutes.” Lachlan pressures me.

“I’m not going. I need my beauty sleep.” I rub my palm into my eye.

He laughs. “We both know it’s too late for that. I got all the good genes a long time ago.”

“Yeah, yeah. So I’ve been told,” I mumble as I sit up in bed.

He exhales. “It’s a cookout. There is free beer, and we’ll give you a ride so you can drink as much as you like.”

“It’s hot, and I don’t need to get drunk today.” I stand, stumbling to the bathroom. “If I decide to come, I can walk to their house.”

There’s a rustling on the other end. “Lenny, come to the party or your brother’s going to cry. If you make your brother sad, I’m going to beat you.”

“Good mornin’, lass.” I grin. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

Maisyn pauses. “Which part?”

“Either would make my day.” I chuckle.

“You’d like that, huh? Whips and chains.” She giggles as the phone is filled with noise.

“Don’t talk to her about that shit, man,” Lachlan grumbles.

“I can’t help that she knows who the better twin is.”

“Get dressed, we’re coming over.”

I scratch my beard, staring at myself in the mirror. “I’ll be over in a bit. I need to wake up and grab a shower.”

“Brush your teeth too. That shit you eat is nasty.” He laughs his ass off as I hang up.

“Joke’s on you, the last thing I ate was Lola, and she was fucking fantastic.” I scowl with the memory of her squirming beneath me.

I drag ass into the shower. The water’s hot and feels great rushing over me. Sometimes, the thought of it washing everything away makes me feel better, though, it doesn’t last long.

After drying off, I wrap the towel around me so I can trim my beard and brush my teeth. It also feels nice to allow things to hang and air out. I lay out my clothes and pick up my glass from last night.

I gather everything and walk downstairs, cleaning up as I go. An hour later, I decide to dress and head out to the party. Instead of driving, I walk down the beach just to clear my head.

I hear the music and laughter before I can see the house. I open the gate to the back yard, slipping in before I’m noticed. Lachlan stands with his buddies, and I already feel out of place.

“There’s the man!” One yells, giving me a fist bump as I join them.

Lachlan studies me, and he immediately knows something’s off. “Something’s wrong?”

“He doesn’t have a beer, that’s what it is.” Walker, Lachlan’s attorney, tosses me one.

“Thanks.” I catch it, popping the lid.

“How’s single life?” Riley wiggles his brows. He’s Walker’s brother.

I nod, taking a swig from the bottle. “Good, single.”

Lachlan’s forehead creases. “Living the life, right, brother.”

“Lennox, have you met Brannon?” One points to the guy walking up.

“I haven’t.” I offer my hand. “Good to meet you.”