Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 81843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Renn rolls his eyes. “Will you just think about it? I can get everyone on board but you.”
I sigh and watch my brother squirm like a little boy in his seat.
Renn and I have never been wildly close—mainly because I was the kind of person he liked to pester, and he was the kind of kid I wanted to throttle. I wanted to read books; he wanted to kick a ball at my face. So I’d challenge him to combat or a test of physical fitness, and all he’d run was his mouth. Despite being a physical phenom, he knew I’d kick his ass.
But it’s different now—for all of us. Gannon gets the calls about finances. I get the calls about safety and logic. We all call Bianca for strategy sessions, and Tate provides entertainment. Ripley is always there to ride for any of us.
But Renn has seemed to turn to me even more over the past few months. He had me help upgrade his security system. He wanted my advice on what car was safest for Blakely. He had me help him hang a television in his living room—something he would’ve paid someone to do a year ago. Now that he’s married, he’s suddenly Mr. Fix It … with my help.
I want to blow him off, but the look on his face stops me. I can at least hear him out … then tell him no.
“Would you manage it?” I ask. “Does Blakely’s brother want to be involved? If so, what roles do you and Brock want to play?”
“We want to be involved. We don’t know much about running a professional sports organization, but that didn’t stop Gannon from buying the Arrows.”
I roll my eyes. “Which is why I suggest holding off for a while. Let’s consolidate what we already have and give ourselves time to breathe.”
“But I can’t breathe. That’s the thing. I need something to do, or Blakely is going to kill me.” His bottom lip sticks out. “She told me yesterday that if I didn’t find a hobby, she’d get a job.”
“What about your charity program?” I ask.
He makes a face at me. “I have a lot of energy, Jase. And you don’t know what it’s like being married.”
“Of course, he doesn’t,” Tate says, snorting. “Jason will never be married.”
The tone, coupled with the assuredness of his statement, hits me sideways. I set my fork on the edge of my plate.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I reach for my glass.
“It’s pretty self-explanatory, isn’t it?” Tate asks. “You’ll never marry and know what having a wife is like. Period.”
“What makes you say that?” I ask.
Renn leans forward, resting his elbows on my table, and grins. Heathen.
“I’m sorry,” Tate says, amused. “Is there something I don’t know? Did you suddenly decide to be social enough to meet a woman, ballsy enough to do something as crazy as fall in love, and then have the guts to agree to be with her for all of eternity?”
Renn’s grin widens.
My cheeks heat as their gazes fix on me. I’d blame it on the wine, but I’m pretty sure it has more to do with the questions than the two drinks of alcohol.
My brothers and I have never discussed my relationship status, mostly because I avoid discussing anything too personal with them. Even if they didn’t require every moment to be about them, I still wouldn’t talk in-depth about how I feel about women or my private life. Giving them too much information is akin to handing them the knife to torture you.
And they would because they’re assholes like that.
But something about their quick assumption that I don’t have the guts to be married irks me.
I take a long drink and absorb their amusement. Then I do something I never do. I let them get to me.
I sit back, narrowing my gaze. “What makes you think I’ll never get married?”
“Seriously?” Tate asks, on the verge of laughter.
“Yeah, seriously. I’m dying to know why you think I’ll never have a wife.”
“Do you want the list or a quick synopsis?” Tate asks.
I lift a brow.
“For the record,” Renn says, his eyes darting between us. “I’m the Switzerland here. If you two start fighting, I’m taking no sides. Only videos so the family can enjoy watching Tate get pummeled.”
Tate gasps. “I’m hurt.”
“You will be if you fuck with Jason.”
“You have such middle-child energy,” Tate says, glaring at Renn.
I sigh. “Can we get back to the topic at hand? I have shit to do tonight.”
Tate rips his attention from our brother and turns it on me. “If you’re serious and have never realized that you’re not marriage material, let me break it down.”
“Here we go,” Renn mumbles, scooting away from Tate.
“You’re hardheaded as fuck,” Tate says. “You’re used to being in control … of situations, airplanes, and corporations. We don’t help your hero complex because we defer to you, too.” He groans. “Of course, we can’t help it because you generally know how to do everything, and Foxx is the only person I might call before you in an emergency.”