Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 99736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Brody laughs as if I’m joking, but it’s totally the truth. “I … uh …” He mumbles something I can’t hear.
I lean in closer. “What?”
“Never mind.”
I frown.
“I was going to say I have a guest room if you get stuck, but—”
“Not a good idea.” The worst, actually. I don’t even know why he’s offering. We barely know each other thanks to me running away from him every chance I get.
“Figured. Can’t even get you to agree to a date, so wasn’t getting my hopes up at an offer to move in with me.” He flashes that grin—the cocky, I’m so sure of myself grin that I both hate and am jealous of.
I used to have a grin just like it.
We wouldn’t survive five minutes living together. Or, at least, I wouldn’t. But there’s something, even if it’s only a small part of me, that doesn’t dismiss the idea immediately. Living with him would still be better than living with a stranger. And living with a stranger would still be better than begging Law and Reed to move in with them.
They’re still honeymoon-phasing, and the last thing they need is me hanging around.
Plus, I promised Law I wouldn’t rely on him so much anymore.
He’s done so much for me. He takes me to my appointments if I need that extra bit of help in going. He checks in with me constantly to make sure I’m still going okay. He used to break up with guys for me because I never had the nerve. The perks of having an identical twin.
I’d been depending on him for five years, and it needed to stop. That’s why I decided six months ago to try to stand on my own for once.
Living with Brody would be an anxiety nightmare, but the same could be said about any of my other options. At Law’s, I’d be worried about slipping back into old habits. With a stranger moving in … I shudder. Big bucket of nope on that one.
I find myself saying, “I’ll think about it.”
Brody’s as surprised by my words as I am.
2
Brody
Anderson Steele is the quirkiest hot guy I know.
I’ve seen the way he acts with his brother; I know he can socialize like a normal human being, but he’s different with me, and I can’t figure him out.
He’s more on edge around me. Colder, maybe.
I don’t get it, because I’ve seen him checking me out, which is confusing as fuck when he keeps saying no. I don’t know why, but I kind of like it. He’s a challenge, and it’s no secret I love those. I’m not one to usually go for the thrill of the chase when it comes to guys, but Anders is different.
He intrigues me.
You’d think after six months of trying and failing to get him to even agree to go on a date with me, I’d know when to admit defeat, but I’m a sucker for punishment. In my professional and personal life it seems.
I guess I have a thing for wanting attention from men who don’t want to give it to me.
Can anyone say daddy issues?
“Moving in is one way to ensure I’ll stop asking you out.” I take a sip of my scotch, which now tastes sour going down. It may stop me from chasing him but won’t stop me from wanting him.
Hmm, maybe it’s not such a great idea to offer him my spare room.
“That’s the secret? Why didn’t you tell me six months ago? I would’ve moved in right away.”
“Ha, ha.” I nudge him with my elbow, and he flinches. What is with this guy and being jumpy?
At first, I thought it was a mutual attraction thing, but now I’m legitimately wondering if I scare him. Which is the most ridiculous thing in the world. The worst I do to guys is ghost them, and that’s usually by accident.
I’ve only been able to do casual relationships since my career has been my focus. I work at one of the busiest criminal law firms in Brisbane, and I have the added pressure of being the son of a name partner. It’s hectic.
I moved to Brisbane to go to uni and follow in my absentee father’s footsteps to somehow get his attention. Because that sounds so healthy and all. But my last six years has been filled with law school and then trying to prove myself.
I date, and I’ve played up the commitment-phobe angle in the past, but the sad truth is nothing ever has the chance to become serious because I’m always busy. I work around the clock, and I’m generally too exhausted to go out. In the past six months, my occasional catch-up with Reed is all the socialising I’ve done.
I’m not scared of a relationship; I just don’t have the time for one. But Anders seems scared of me for entirely different reasons, and I wish I could say it turns me off, but honestly it makes me want to know more.