I glare at Penelope, my mom’s back to me.
I don’t know why I’m so angry. I told her to clean up, and she did, but I can’t seem to swallow the bullshit.
Lola walks to them and gives P a hug as my mom releases her. “I’ve missed you, Penelope.”
“I’ve missed you too, Lola. You look good.”
Lola’s eyes scrutinize Penelope. It’s subtle, but I can see her going over every detail.
Does she see it?
Three Years Ago
I walk down to the kitchen, my guest from last night long gone. I kicked her to the curb less than five minutes after I came.
She was hot but boring.
When I hit the last step, I see everyone else has already beat me here. Penelope and Colt are playing grab-ass and fighting over the cereal box. Asher is busy with his cellphone at the kitchen table and shoveling cereal into his mouth. Even Lola is here. I’m not sure when she got home. I don’t think she stayed the night last night.
She’s sipping some fancy coffee as she smiles at me. “Morning, Linc.”
I scratch my head, thinking I need a haircut as I walk into the kitchen. “Mornin’. When did you get here?”
“This morning. I figured with Mom and Dad gone for the weekend, I should check in and make sure you guys didn’t burn the house down.”
Colt gives in and hands the cereal box to P, kissing the top of her head, and she smiles like she won the world’s toughest battle. I roll my eyes and go to the fridge, grabbing the orange juice and a glass when I hear my mom’s voice in my head telling me not to drink from the carton.
“No fires. Couple of orgies though.”
Lola rolls her eyes as I take a drink from the orange juice and feel P’s eyes on me from her spot next to Colt. I meet them, my lips sliding into a smirk I can’t help.
Seeing her watch me from the doorway last night was the most erotic moment of my life. And I thought I’d seen some shit already.
I couldn’t see her well in the dim light, but I could feel how intensely she was watching me fuck Chloe.
I can’t stop seeing her eyes locked on mine as I slid inside another girl. She wasn’t repulsed. I saw how rapidly she was breathing, the rise and fall of her generous chest seared into my brain.
She was turned on.
I can’t help but wonder if my brother benefited from the little show I put on. Penelope does everything she can to look away from me, turning her body away and addressing Colt, handing him the box. “Thank you for letting me have it first.”
He tickles her side playfully and takes the box. “You can have anything of mine.”
Penelope looks slightly uncomfortable by his words as she carries her bowl to the table and sits next to Ash. She’s wearing a tank top and little shorts that she wasn’t wearing last night.
What’s that about? Trouble in paradise?
I shake it off and walk over to my brother, grabbing the box from him just as he finishes pouring it in his bowl.
Nah, can’t be. They’re the perfect fucking couple, always giggling and touching each other.
Though, I’m glad Penelope finally gave in and moved in. I know she’s safe here.
“Help yourself, Linc.”
“Don’t mind if I do.” I grab a bowl and pour myself some breakfast as we all move to the table, even Lola, who isn’t eating.
Colt and Penelope are sitting next to each other, but something seems off. She seems on edge.
Did she tell him about watching me with Chloe? No fucking way.
Does she feel guilty?
I lock eyes with her again and watch her shift uncomfortably as she clears her throat and looks down at her cereal. That could definitely be it.
Jesus, P. It’s not like we fucked.
I don’t get her. When it’s just her and me, which I admit is rare, she’s different. She doesn’t seem so pristine. I like seeing the small cracks in her. I enjoy hearing her curse and not sit up straight.
I like when she tells me to shut the fuck up or to stop being an asshole.
This porcelain puppet is boring.
“So, P, did I hear you sneaking past my bedroom door last night?” I take a bite of my cereal and look over at her casually.
When she looks up at me, there’s a glare plastered on her pretty face, one that makes me smile.
“Linc . . .” I turn to my brother at his warning.
“What? I’m just curious if it was P or if Asher is already getting some action.”
Asher just rolls his eyes and ignores me. Although he’s fourteen and has the strong silent-type thing going for him, it won’t be long before he’s getting laid.
“Drop it,” Colt says with a rare pissiness.
We made up quickly after our little fistfight the day Penelope came to our house and screamed at me. We never stay mad at each other long, but he’s definitely in a mood today.
“What?” I nod at Lola who is sitting next to me. “We’re all practically adults here. I think we can joke around about shit.”
Lola smiles as she rolls her eyes. “Will you stop being a jerk? You’re embarrassing them.”
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. You might be surprised to know that I myself had company last night.” I place my hand on my bare chest and joke with my sister.
She feigns shock, making an O with her mouth and placing her hands on her cheeks. “Say it isn’t so! My brother is now a man.”
I laugh as she lays a playful punch on my shoulder. “Damn straight. Now the question is, is our little brother?”
Penelope shifts in her seat. She’s not laughing, and neither is Colt. “Linc, your dick is going to fall off some day if you don’t start being more careful.”
I roll my eyes at Colt but then rest my gaze on Penelope. “You should have seen the girl in my bed last night—fucking gorgeous. Perfect tits.”
I see a flicker of anger in Penelope’s eyes as she stands up from the table and walks to the sink, not saying a word. Come on. Say something.
It’s like a drug, pushing Penelope’s buttons, watching her squirm under my thumb and come unraveled, showing the real her.
She rinses her bowl in the sink and looks over at Colt. “Are you ready?”
He nods and stands up, shoveling the last bite into his mouth. “Yup.”
“Where are you two going?” I try to sound like I don’t give a fuck, but it doesn’t work.
Colt rinses his bowl and places it in the dishwasher. “For a jog. You want to come?”
I shake my head. “Nah.”
He nods as Penelope walks to the kitchen door and opens it, looking over at Lola. “Will you still be here in an hour?”
Lola nods, and they say goodbye, leaving. Soon after, Asher goes back upstairs, leaving Lola and me alone.
I take another bite of cereal and chew silently as Lola watches me and takes a drink of her coffee, looking suspicious. “Is something going on with you and Penelope?”
I nearly choke on my cereal. As I recover, I look at her, trying to determine whether she’s serious. I didn’t expect that from Lola. “What?”
“Don’t give me that, Linc. You couldn’t stop looking at her.”
“She’s my friend too, not just Colt’s girlfriend.”