Page 68 of On the Double

“Hey, what’s going on?”

I looked up into my concerned brother’s eyes and sighed. “I got in a fight with Edu last night.”

“About what?”

“My life choices. Let’s just say he called me out for not finishing anything and basically wasting my life.”

My brother instantly tensed, his fist tightening around his mug. “He did what?”

“Don’t even bother getting upset.”

“Too fucking late. What right does he have to say shit like that to you?”

The weight of the ring on my finger almost had me stating he had every right, but then I remembered it was all fake. I wasn’t actually engaged to him, and I never would be.

“He doesn’t,” I admitted. “But maybe he has a point.”

“Harper, you’ll get there. When you know what you want to do, you’ll do it. Not everyone has to have their lives figured out at the age of twenty-one.”

“But I’m not twenty-one. I’m almost thirty. I’ve gone to school twice and didn’t finish both times.”

“Because you knew it wasn’t what you wanted. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“And in the meantime, I wasted the money Mom and Dad left both of us. There’s nothing left and?—”

“Stop,” he boomed, his anger rising by the second. “That was my decision as much as yours. I could have chosen to not give you the money, but it’s what Mom and Dad would have wanted.”

“For me to waste their money?” I asked sarcastically.

“For you to find out what you wanted to do. I didn’t need the money. I’m already doing what I want. And what else would I do with it?”

“Build a house. Save the money. Plan for the future,” I listed.

He rolled his eyes at me. My brother was the thrifty one of the two of us, meaning that if I bought name-brand diced tomatoes, he held out for the off-brand. Neither of us spent a lot of money, other than when I went to school. And now it was all for nothing. The money was gone and I was stuck in a dead-end job, wishing I could figure out what to do with my life.

“Listen. Don’t ever let some prick make you feel like you’re not good enough. You may not have a dream job, but you’re an amazing person. You’re caring and so damn smart, and one of these days, you’ll find a man that will see that and love you for who you are. And when you do figure out the next thing you want to go to school for, I’ll make sure you have the money.”

“Even if I drop out?” I smiled.

“You will be the most educated woman that never got a degree. And I will still love you for it.”

I let him wrap me in a hug and closed my eyes. Despite our differences, I really couldn’t ask for a better brother. But I’d make sure the next time I went to school, I wouldn’t be using any of his money. This was on me, and it was time I separated myself from him and stopped relying on his support. Even if it did make him happy to know he was taking care of his little sister.

“I have to get to work.”

He kissed me on the top of the head and shoved me toward my room. I stuck my tongue out at him and vowed to have the best damn day. Even if I was thoroughly depressed about Edu.

19

EDU

“Not many menget laid and then look like they want to kill someone,” Brock said as he walked into the training center.

I ignored him and continued to run on the treadmill. I didn’t feel like running outside today, mostly because then I’d be tempted to run to the grocery store and yell at Harper some more. Or kiss her.

Or pull her into the bathroom and fuck her against the wall.

“Leave him alone,” Lock ordered, continuing his own workout.