Maybe This Time(5)

Chapter Two


I wake up the next morning and stare at the ceiling. I spent the night tossing and turning, unable to rest. I pick up my phone from the side table and send a quick message to my best friend back home, Lilly. I hear someone moving around in the kitchen, so I drag myself out of bed, desperate for some caffeine.

“Morning,” I mumble to Xander, who is standing shirtless in the kitchen, drinking some orange juice straight out of the carton.

“Morning, sis. Coffee?” he asks, offering me a grin.

I nod eagerly. “Yes, please.”

I watch as he makes me a coffee, asking how I like it. “Black, please,” I tell him.

“Same as me,” he says, smiling. He slides it towards me.

“Thanks.” I grab the cup and hold it between my hands. “You work out a lot?” I ask him, as I blow on the coffee.

Xander flexes his biceps, and I laugh. He’s pretty ripped.

“Yeah we have a small gym set up that we all use.” He puts the carton back into the fridge.

I wrinkle my nose at him. “Where do you work?” I ask, realizing I really don’t know much about him.

Xander suddenly looks uncomfortable. “Jack has a business or two, I work for him.”

“I see.” But I really don’t. What sort of businesses would my father own?

“What do you wanna do today?” Xander asks me, his eyes sliding to mine.

“I needa find a job.”

“You don’t needa find work straight away, Summer, I can take care of you,” he says in a gentle tone.

“I’m pretty sure that’s meant to be my line,” I say, my lips twitching.

“Why, cos you’re a year older?” he says, amusement lacing his tone.

“Yes.”

“I’m the man, sweetheart. You’re my sister, I'll take care of you,” he tells me earnestly, his eyes now serious.

“I need to find a job, Xander, what else am I gonna do around here all day?”

“You could study something, find something you like,” he offers.

“I do wanna study something, but I’m gonna work, too,” I tell him, taking a seat on the bar stool.

“You’re stubborn,” he says with a sigh. “Another thing we have in common.”

“Really? And here I was thinking the only thing we had in common was our extremely good looks,” I wiggle my eyebrows at him.

He tilts his head back, laughing. “That too, Summer, that too.”

“What’s so funny?” Reid asks as he walks into the house. I instantly stiffen, aware I’m wearing only short shorts and a cami.

Great, just great.

“Does no one knock when they come to this house?” I ask. No one answers.

“Go get dressed, Summer,” Xander says quietly, his tone demanding. I roll my eyes, but walk to my room, grabbing my clothes to change into. I head for the bathroom, taking a quick shower and brushing my teeth.

I dress in a figure hugging pair of jeans and a peach knit sweater, giving my hair a quick iron so it stays in place. My hair is neither straight nor curly, so I choose to go with one or the other.

When I walk out, conversation ceases. I see Dash is now here as well, leaning against the wall, knee up.

“Where’s Ryan?” I ask, since he seems to be the only one missing. I see Reid scowl, his eyes flashing.

“Don’t worry your little head, he'll be here,” he snaps, his expression shuttered.

Okaaaaaay, then.

“Charming,” I mutter to myself as I walk towards my brother.

“Morning, Summer,” Dash says, his eyes roaming all over my face and body.

“Hey, Dash.” I offer him a small smile. He looks hot wearing a pair of dark jeans and a black T-shirt.

“I’m gonna do some grocery shopping,” I tell them, searching through my handbag for my car keys. The pantries are practically bare and the fridge only has leftover pizza, beer and some limes.

Which I assume are for tequila shots.

“Wait, I’ll come with you,” Xander says.

“I think I can handle going to the store without a babysitter,” I tell him, giving him my best ‘I dare you to say otherwise’ look.

“Yeah, but do you know where it is?” He smirks, leaning back against the fridge.

“Surely it can’t be that hard to find,” I say, rolling my eyes. I finally find my keys and pull them out.

“I can take you,” Dash offers. My eyes find Reid, who looks delicious himself in a snug pair of worn jeans and a black sweater. I swallow hard. His body is just phenomenal. Broad shouldered and lean hipped, the man has the perfect amount of muscle. When I glance up into amused blue eyes, I cringe. The last thing I want is for him to think I’m interested in any way.