“Yeah, I’m thinking you stay with Raven and me tonight. Did you drive?” Jett stares at me with a frown.
“I’m fine,” I growl, swinging my gaze to his.
“Raven, why don’t you have Iain bring the car out front.” Jett shakes his head at me, then looks down at his wife warmly. Much like Tess, she’s staring at me as though I’m a rare and special creature in a zoo.
“Yeah, I think you might be right.” She nods.
“I said I’m fine.” I grimace at Jett.
My brother just grins. I swear to God, does everyone just want me to kick their ass?
“Brett?” Tess’s voice makes me slowly turn to her stunning face. I used to hang out with her when she first moved to LA, before she got back with Reed. Nothing ever happened romantically, but she’s a good friend.
“Raven and I were thinking.” She cocks her head at me, as if making sure I’m listening to her.
“Yeah?” I prompt.
“Well, since we already know you’re gonna get the Nobel Prize, we thought we would throw a party in Stockholm… you know, after the ceremony. What do you think? Get a huge place, we can all hang out, and you can do all that extreme sport stuff you love. I know Luke and Lilly would love it.” She looks so sincere that for a second, I don’t even compute what she’s saying.
“You do know you two just jinxed me, but sure, whatever, I don’t care,” I tell her as she laughs.
“Oh dear, maybe he does need to stay at your place.” Tess looks at Jett.
“Okay, Iain is out front,” Raven announces.
“Good seeing you, man,” Reed says.
That’s followed by a muffled, “Oh my God, I think Brett met someone,” from Tess.
I’m about to explain I have not when Raven loops her arm with mine.
“Ready?” She smiles up at me. Jett’s hand on my shoulder annoys me, and I shrug it off.
“Raven, tell your husband to go. I’m getting another drink.” Stopping midstride, I narrow my eyes on Skylar and David Staple standing in the corner, talking like fucking rats.
“Jett? How much time would I get if I beat that man to a bloody pulp?” I point at David as Raven grabs my arm to bring it down. David’s eyes widen, but he keeps talking to Skylar.
“Let’s go,” Jett hisses, and I grin at them.
“Lay it on me. I’m right here,” I call out to both of them, who simply stare, although Skylar smiles.
“Goddammit,” Jett snaps. “I swear to God, Brett, walk away. You’re bringing attention to us.”
I ignore him. All sound in the room seems muted, and I smile back at her and let out a laugh. Fuck them all. The way I feel right now, I could take this whole room down.
ALEXANDREA
Blowing out some air, I pull into the driveway of the address Raven gave me and wait as a man in a dark suit walks over to my car and motions for me to roll down my window.
“Jesus,” I mumble, plastering on a smile and lowering it down. “Hi, I’m here for Raven?” Leaning forward, I try to peek around him and up at the lavish gate. God, what if this is the wrong house?
“Raven Powers? She asked me—”
“Name?” He cuts me off.
“Oh, I’m Alex, or Alexandrea, but everyone calls me Alex… so…” I let my voice trail off as his lips twitch.
“Drive up and park to the right, Alexandrea Carter.” He moves back as the massive wrought-iron gate opens.
“Oh, thank you,” I croak and power the window back up. That’s odd. I know I’m nervous, but I did not give him my last name.
“Okay.” I swallow and ease my car up the driveway, only to be greeted by a mansion. Like a real Beverly Hills mansion. When Raven called me this morning asking if I’d like to hang out and maybe go shopping, I jumped at the chance. I mean, I have no friends now that Jordan is showing his true colors, and after yesterday with Brett in his office… I shake my head. I can’t even think about that. At this point, I’m getting dangerously close to throwing away all my hard work and dreams of attending CAU and transferring to UCLA. If I did that, Brett and I could be together. But just because I’m obsessed with him doesn’t mean he feels the same way. I know he wants me, and sometimes I catch him looking at me in a way that leaves me breathless. But as far as us actually talking about where, and if, this is going anywhere… yeah, neither of us has gotten that far.
I put my car in park and bring the visor down to look at myself. I have no money to be doing any of this, but I can tag along with Raven while she shops. I’m wearing more makeup than usual because Raven is drop-dead gorgeous, and I guess I’m trying to pretend I fit in. I take another calming breath, then exhale and slap the visor up, pull my ponytail tighter, and swing my door open.
God, why am I so nervous? I shake my head, as if that can get rid of this feeling of dread. Grabbing my oversized black leather satchel, I lower my large Chanel sunglasses and pull down my short black dress before I take the stairs.
Brett wasn’t kidding when he said his brother was rich. This place is unreal. My eyes take in the massive property. It’s like it should be on the cover of Architectural Digest or something; it’s that impressive. After walking up the stairs, I’m greeted by a massive pot of flowers next to the door. I ring the doorbell.
The door opens to a stunning Raven, dressed in cute black dress slacks, heels, and a black spaghetti strap top. “Hey,” she says.
My first thought is how will we shop with her in those heels?
“I love your bag.” She gives me a hug. “Come in. I’m ready. I just need to tell Jett I’m leaving. Not gonna lie. I’m thrilled to be getting out. Last night was ridiculous.” She rolls her eyes and motions for me to follow.
I look around. It’s an open-floor plan with pale-yellow walls and giant windows, large glass French doors along with a whitewashed brick wall and an ornate fireplace and mantel.
“My bestie was supposed to fly in today, but had a business emergency to deal with, so she canceled.”
I follow, wishing I knew Raven better and could stop her to look at all the art hanging on the walls. Is that a Jackson Pollock?
“I’m thrilled you called. With school and… everything, I haven’t really gotten out of Malibu and Santa Monica yet.”
She turns, waiting for me to catch up before we step out into a backyard that should make me speechless with its desert rocks, succulents, and drought-resistant flowers. There’s a huge outdoor kitchen and bar built to my left by the pool, along with what looks like hundreds of tiny bistro lights hanging over it, several cabana-style couches, a long table filled with a platter of fresh-cut fruit, bacon and eggs, and what looks like a large pitcher of Bloody Marys.
“Okay, you two, be good. I’m off to go shopping.” Raven glides over to Jett, leaning down to kiss him as he looks up from his phone and smiles at her, then stops.
My eyes dart over to the man sitting next to him.
“The fuck?” Brett and Jett say at the same time, and if this wasn’t happening to me, I’d laugh at their shocked faces.
“God, language.” Raven kisses Jett as he grabs her wrist when she goes to move away.