Page 11

Duke’s ten-year-old twins, Marz and Major, are cute as hell. They bring just the right amount of playfulness into Sienna’s life.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to swing it today.” I don’t mention that the only reason I can’t make it is because I don’t want to be within a few feet of her boyfriend’s brother. “I’ve still got quite a bit to pack before I leave, but we’re still on for Wednesday at Flora, right?”

“Of course. You think I’d let you leave for several months without saying goodbye?” Sienna gasps on the other end, her tone evidently offended.

“I didn’t know if mom duties held more weight than best friend duties,” I joke.

“No way. No one comes before you.”

“Don’t make me blush. Duke may get jealous when he realizes I can take you away from him.”

“Impossible,” a stern answer chimes in the distance. I chuckle to myself. He makes it so damn easy.

“Alright, girl, have fun at dinner. I’ll see you Wednesday.”

Two subtle beeps end the call, and a few miles later, I’m at my apartment. I’d love to see her as much as I can before I leave, but I can’t risk seeing Jett.

Pulling up my messages, I scroll through the several unknown contacts—all men, I’m certain. I give my number to anyone when I’m drunk. Give myself to anyone who’s willing to take. You’d think I’d know better than to put so much effort into the opposite sex, but if I take matters into my own hands, no man will be able to hurt me.

Settling on a random named Collin, I respond with a simple:

My apartment, 7:30. Don’t be late.

It’s been two years since my world went numb, and only a few weeks later, I saw the light again for just one night.

A kind of hope I haven’t been able to find since. One I know is a fluke, and one I’ll spend every day pretending meant nothing.

CHAPTER 3

JETT

“How much longer are you going to pretend you’re some nepo baby who doesn’t have to work?”

My strict-ass older brother breaks the steady silence from the other end of our dinner table.

Sundays are routine at my parents’ house. They have been since before I could remember, and they’re typically supposed to be about anything but work.

Duke clearly didn’t get the memo.

“Is that what I’m considered now? I’m flattered?”

I quirk an eyebrow, and my dad’s shoulders rise in a silent laugh in the seat beside me. I often joke to lighten the mood, but this isn’t funny. I hate the way his words crawl beneath my skin.

He would wait until our mother and his girlfriend get up to plate dessert to nail into me about my two-year-long vacation from flying.

I don’t feed into his answer further. I just stare.

Some of us don’t plow through life at a hundred miles per hour like he does.

I’m at the end of my self-inflicted sabbatical; I know this, but I don’t need him to be the one to tell me when to come back.

I’ll decide that.

“Jett, I’m serious. You’re going on two years. If you weren’t family, I would’ve fired you by now.”

Perks of the family business: I’m a forever employee.

“Threatening my employment is a new tactic.” I snicker, curling my nose up at my brother.