Page 19 of Don't Fall For Your Brother's Best Friend
I think about that for a minute. He’s right. Until Anya said something it never occurred to me and now it’s all I think about. I don’t want to be a boring guy who dedicates his entire life to work. The thought of waking up one day, alone, is starting to become a thought that I can’t handle because it happens. Look at Myrtle.
“I think she just brought to light what we’ve been denying.”
It’s what I want to believe, anyway.
“She’s a pushy little thing. Being the only girl she isn’t used to hearing the word no.”
He shoves his hands into his pockets and I chuckle. He looks at me, lifting an eyebrow.
“Sorry, but I think if she’s not used to hearing the word no, it’s because she learned it from her oldest brother.”
“I hear that word all the time,” he argues.
“Maybe, but you never accept it.”
A small grin hits his lips as he nods. “True.”
“You guys beat me here. Must mean you’re excited,” Anya says, smiling as she looks between us.
My heart slams against my chest when her eyes connect with mine. The wind is knocked out of me as her smile grows bigger.
She looks beautiful.
Her hair is down, framing her face. Her makeup is a bit heavier than normal, giving her a sexy look. The tight jeans she’s wearing are paired with a pink and black flannel that is unbuttoned with a black tank top underneath, making my dick take notice. Which is not a good thing.
“Yeah, as excited as I get going to the dentist,” Callum says, snapping me out of my eye-fucking of his sister.
Fuck. I’m eye-fucking his sister.
Anya laughs and it vibrates through me as I try to collect myself.
“Let’s go, you’re going to love this,” she says, pulling on his arm.
We walk through the door and I’m not sure what I imagined, but it wasn’t this. It’s a really cool setup. The entire place has a woodsy feel with lots of wood and string lights throughout. I’m also surprised at the vast variety of people playing.
There are couples who you can tell are on a date. Families with older children. Large groups and small groups. It’s pretty intriguing.
We are brought to our area and I look around. There’s what I can only describe as fencing separating the areas all the way to the ceiling. The back wall has two large wooden targets that are on a dark-wooden wall.
“Do not pass this line,” the employee explains. He’s an older kid, probably sixteen, or seventeen with a big mustache and a mullet. I think he’s a Collins kid. They just recently moved to town, but I haven’t met any of them yet. His name tag reads ‘Freddie.’
I glance at the line, but as he continues to go over the rules my attention goes to the couple next to us. They are clearly on a date and I watch as she jumps into his arms after throwing her ax. They look so happy and I feel a ping of jealousy.
A happy couple isn’t something I saw much of until I found the Atwoods. You can clearly see the love Mr. Atwood has for his wife. Hell, even how Paxton looks at Hartford. Everyone knew how much he’d always liked her, and now they’re together.
“Here’s your axes,” Freddie says.
I turn my head and notice Anya staring at me. She tilts her head, curious as to what held my attention. Not willing to have any kind of discussion about it, I just smile and grab my ax.
“This is heavier than I expected,” Anya says.
“It’s an ax, Anya. What did you think it would feel like?” Callum asks.
I never really noticed how Callum belittles her, but recently I’ve been paying closer attention. He treats her like she’s still a child sometimes, which couldn’t be further from the truth. I don’t even think Anya notices and if she does, it doesn’t appear to bother her.
I wish I could say the same.
It bothers the fuck out of me. I don’t view her as a child. I definitely don’t view her as a little sister.