Chapter 1
[ B R O O K E ]
"Yes, yes,yes!"
"Fuck, right there!
Yes,right there!"
"Yes,yes!
Oh god,yes!"
"Fuuuuuck... fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck—"
"Oh shit, I'm gonna...
I'm gonna—
—Win!
Yes!" I cry out with unfathomable joy as my avatar, Mario, with his little red go-kart, crosses the finish line in the game.
I shoot up from the couch and high-five Eli, who has been rooting for me ever since the beginning of the game.
"Fuck!" Jett slams his controller on the coffee table and another string of curse words leaves him, along with an angry and defeated huff of breath.
He casts me an annoyed glance at both me and Eli as the both of us stick our tongues out at him.
Hah.
Fucking loser.
I've been trying to get the better of my boyfriend for months now, ever since we got the damn game.
He's surprisingly really good at it, despite the fact that I spend more time on the console than he does.
But finally,finally, I've managed to kick him out of the scoreboard today.
"Oh yeah!
We won, that's right!
You'rethe loser!" Eli sing-songs as he prances around the couch, mocking Jett.
My boyfriend merely rolls his eyes in annoyance.
"Iletyou guys win," he says, folding his arms across his broad chest.
Damn, his body does look good in that tight shirt I got for him.
Honestly, it was more of a gift for me than it was for him.
During the minimal occasions where he has to wear a shirt, I make him wear this one.
But when it's just us two in the mansion, no clothing is required of him.
Besides, he usually walks around the place half-naked anyway, even with or without me telling him to do so.
"I haven't been practicing as much—"
"Oh,excuses," I seat myself back down on the couch.
"If you're gonna be a loser, don't be such ababyover it.
That's not very hot, you know."
Jett still isn't having any of it.
"I should have taken off my shirt to distract you.
Maybe I'll win then."
"Then, I would have taken off my shirt too," I tell him.
"Andmore,if necessary." I wink at Jett and he groans.
"Please don't," Eli cries from behind us.
"I wouldn't be able to get that image out of my head.
It would have scarred me for life."
"Just kidding, alligator," I reassure him, laughing it off as a joke.
Eli rolls his eyes and disappears into the kitchen, grabbing more cinnamon rolls.
He loves that stuff but I really shouldn't have gotten him so much.
I wouldn't want to be responsible for spiking up his sugar levels.
Lorna wouldslaughterme.
I turn my gaze unto Jett.
He's really upset over not winning this game.
I smile to myself.
I know exactly how to make him feel better.
When Eli is out of ear-shot, I whisper to Jett seductively, clutching unto his arm, "When my brother's gone, we'retotallyplaying gonna naked Mario-Kart."
Jett's kohl eyes immediately lights up and he shoots off the couch and heads straight for Eli "Alright, Eli!
Time to go!
Buh-bye!
We'll see you next week—"
I laugh as Eli attempts to wrestle himself away from Jett's grasp.
The both of them end up running around the kitchen.
Eli is fast, but Jett is faster.
He catches Eli in his arms; Eli squirms but Jett merely chuckles and plants a few wet kisses all over my brother's face.
I can't believe I've been so lucky to have these two people in my life.
And just to think that a year and a half ago, I had neither.
Jett was still in Ashford and Eli had been taken away from me by Lorna.
But fortunately for me, Jett had persuaded Eli's stepmom to give me fair visitations.
I'm very grateful for that.
I haven't exactly been the best role model for my brother, especially with the whole robbery stuff that has been going on last summer, but I've learnt my lesson and now I'm content.
I have my brother back and a loving boyfriend who would move mountains for me just to see me smile.
The doorbell rings and I immediately know who it is.
I cast a glance at Jett but he's too busy with my brother.
Sauntering towards the front, I open the door and two familiar faces greet me back.
"Merry Christmas, Brooke!" Sara offers me a smile before she embraces me tightly.
Behind her, her boyfriend, Kael, stands tall, his arms cradling their new born baby.
"Sara.
Kael.
So glad you guys could make it!" I say to them.
I've met them a couple of times when Jett and I fly over to Ashford once every few months.
Jett doesn't get along very well with Kael so it's mostly just me, my boyfriend and Sara.
I feel like she's the sister I never had; we have so much in common and I consider her one of my closest friends (I would say best friend but Angela would kill me).
"Hey," Jett lays a hand on my shoulder and greets Sara with a wide, welcoming grin.
But that soon disappears when his eyes meet Kael's.
"Kael," he spits out.
"Jett," Kael sneers back.
The tension between them is thick and heavy.
Both Sara and I exchange glances snort at the same time.
Ugrh.
Men.
"Sorry we're late.
I know I promised I'll come a few hours early before the dinner so we'll cook early," Sara apologizes as they walk into the living room.
"We would have come sooner but we had to but Lissandra to sleep.
She was crying the whole plane ride here.
Ugly, full-fletched sobs.
It was horrible.
I was scared that the flight attendant was going to kick us off the plane."
"That's fine, really," I offer her a small smile.
Her shoulders sag in relief when she realizes that I'm not mad at her.
"To be honest, I'm happy you came now.
I've been Mario-karting with Jett the whole morning and I finally beat the shit out of him just now."
"Good," Sara says.
"He deserves to lose once every while."
"Yeah.
Totally.
I love to keep that inflated ego of his in check."
"Don't I know it." Sara laughs, taking off her coat and draping it on the ottoman.
Her eyes scan the house, her breath catching when she sees all of our decorations.
I had Eli and Jett help me put them up last night.
A beautiful flowery arrangement complimented with pine cones and candles sits in the middle of our stretched dining table.
Draped over our fireplace are ten Christmas socks, one for each of our guests.
Our Christmas tree stands proudly by the side, ornaments of stars, candy canes and silver baubles dangling on every branch.
Perched at the top is a glittery, gold star with a bow attached to it.
"Wow," Sara breathes.
"You really outdid yourself."
"I can't claim full responsibility for it, though.
I had help from my two favorite boys."
Sara's lips curve upwards.
"Speaking of them, where the hell are they?
Jett just disappeared."
"What—"
I look around, trying to find my boyfriend.
Sara's right; after greeting the both of them, Jett just left.
Oh hell no. He's not doing this to me right now.
"That idiot," I hiss.
"Maybe he just didn't want to talk to Kael," she says.
I roll my eyes.
"Jett needs to grow up."
She huffs out a breath.
"So does my boyfriend."
I need to find Jett and drag him back out here.
I don't care if he still has beef with Kael.
He'll just have to suck it up and act like a good host.
Because god only knows if we'll survive the night.
"Hey, can you show me where your washroom is?" Sara asks me.
"I've been dying to pee since like, before we even took off.
Plus, Lissandra vomited on me in the car and I sorta need to get the stain out before it sets.
I look sexy as hell in this dress and there'sno wayI'm taking it off."
She's right; she does look extremely attractive in that red bardot dress.
It highlights her hourglass body in all the right places.
I guess that's what you get for working out everyday.
Sigh.
I wish I have that motivation.
I can barely even get out of bed.
And half the time, it's not because I'm lazy.
It's because Jett keeps me there.
That little sex-driven bastard.
Meanwhile, Kael makes himself very comfortable on the couch, his huge arms still holding the baby and rocking her back and forth slowly.
He smiles at his child, his dimples appearing, as he presses a small kiss on the top of her head.
It's a very intimate gesture; I feel guilty for even watching.
I don't know what it is with hot guys and kids.
Butgod, does he look cute with her.
"Yeah.
I can't help but watch either," Sara says as she returns from the washroom minutes later.
She folds her arms across her chest, her eyes trained on her boyfriend, filled with so much love and adoration for him.
"He looks so hot when he's with her.
It always makes me wanna jump his bones."
A small laugh tears out of me.
"Good for him, then."
Sara shakes her head.
"No, not good for him.
Not good for me either.
We haven't had sex ever since Lissandra was born.
It's driving meinsane."
"Why not get a babysitter?"
Sara frowns.
"Wedohave one.
But we're just so... busy.
In the morning, Kael and I both have classes to attend.
And in the afternoon, we have to train.
By the time we get back, we're too exhausted to do anything."
"That blows.
I'm sorry," I say, pouting.
"It's fine.
I'll deal.
It's all worth it in the end," she murmurs, her eyes glazing over her boyfriend and her child.
"She'sworth it."