Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78007 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78007 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“Nice, huh?” she asks, before I can answer her other question, so maybe she wants me to look? I still don’t because I’m not sure, and also, I’m still a little annoyed at her first query. “You are, right? Tyson’s brother?”
If I got a dollar every time someone asked me that…well, let’s just say I wouldn’t be struggling to make ends meet. Southern California is crazy expensive, and a college beach town like San Luco? Think expensive and then double it, and you’ll be close. “I am,” I reply, trying not to let my frustration show.
I moved here last February, and people are still questioning me about Ty. My half brother has made quite the name for himself with the FU population, and we all know how people love a juicy story. Discovering that tech giant Montgomery Langley has an illegitimate son he sent money to provide for but didn’t claim for the first twenty years of his life made quite a splash. Not that he claims me now—or I guess, he tries to, but I want nothing to do with him.
“He’s hot,” the girl says.
What the fuck. All this, and it has nothing to do with me? She just wants me to know she’s attracted to him?
“I’m hotter,” I reply because it’s true and that’s just how I roll. Ty and I are way too similar for brothers who didn’t grow up together. If someone had said the same thing to him, he would have answered exactly how I did. “Also, he has a boyfriend.”
“Ugh. He’s still with that grumpy guy who graduated in June?”
I can’t say she’s wrong about Brax, but the need to defend my future brother-in-law pulls at me. Brax is a good guy who treats Ty well. They’re crazy about each other. I might not have any relationship experience—because me and trust aren’t real tight—but I know two people who are meant to be when I see them, and that’s Ty and Brax. “If you’re waiting for them to break up, it’s never gonna happen. They might mix like oil and water, but somehow that shit works.”
The look in her green eyes changes to smoldering. “What about you?”
The back of my neck prickles with annoyance. “Yeah, call me crazy, but not really feelin’ being second choice to my brother. Did you want something to drink?” In some ways, it’s the story of my life. I’m not mad at Ty about it. His dad’s choices aren’t Ty’s fault. I’ve loved getting to know Ty. It’s why I moved to San Luco, and we have a better relationship than I could have hoped for, but I’m also not fond of being anyone’s second choice. Our dad chose to be in Ty’s life and not mine, so there are complicated feelings there. But Ty also grew up with a bunch of expectations on him. The reason he didn’t graduate on time is because he was originally going to college for computer science just like his dad. I’ve never had someone pushing their wants on me, but the one thing I do want, which actually is computer science, I won’t take because I won’t allow myself to be like Ty’s dad.
“Bummer,” she replies. “I’m good on the drink, though. Have a nice night.” She tosses a wave over her shoulder.
Gwen, the head bartender, steps up from behind me. “That was shitty,” she says, making my cheeks heat. I hate that someone else overheard it.
She pushes her pink hair behind her ears and gives me this concern-filled mom look that says she knows that bothered me. While she’s only a few years older than most of the people who work here, she definitely has that caretaker vibe mixed with don’t fuck with me.
“It’s not a thing,” I reply.
“Ty gets it too.”
The thing is, I know she’s right. People ask him shit about me too, but that’s not the point. “Neither of us should get it.” People need to learn to mind their own business. I’m not an idiot, though. I know the chances of that happening aren’t high.
“The world doesn’t really work that way.”
No, it doesn’t, and I also don’t want to talk about this, don’t want to act like it matters more than it does, so I try to find a joking way to ease out of the conversation. “You agree with me, though, right? I’m hotter.”
“Totally.” Gwen winks, and I laugh, before we both get to work, knowing that Shenanigans is going to be getting a whole lot busier soon.
Brax and Ty both put in a good word to help me get this job. Brax used to be a bartender here before getting a tech job after graduation. Ty works here now as a busboy part-time while he’s in school. He doesn’t have to because our dad—his dad—helps him with money, but I refuse to take any from him, so a job is on my must-have list.