Page 75 of Filthy Rich Brother's Best Friends

We start spending all of our free time together. I spend more nights in her bed than I do in my own. I know she’d be more comfortable at our house, but she’s not ready to address the feelings she has for Reid and Miles. So I don’t push.

Tonight we’re on our back patio. I flip the skewers on the grill and glance over at Lola. She’s snuggled into the corner of the outdoor couch with her laptop balanced on her lap. The hoodie she stole from my closet swallows her whole and I can't stop the smile that takes over my face.

She’s so insanely beautiful.

Her brow furrows as she types, mouth tugged in that focused line I’ve seen a hundred times now.

Reid steps onto the back deck with a beer in hand. I feel Lola’s energy change before I even look at him. She goes completely still.

Reid’s eyes flick from me to her. Then back to me.

“You playing house now?”

I meet his gaze without flinching. “Maybe. What’s it to you?”

He laughs under his breath, but there’s no humor in it. His grip tightens around the neck of the beer bottle. I watch as hisjaw locks. I know him well enough to know he is physically biting back the words he doesn’t want to say.

“Nothing, man. You’re just giving her everything without asking for a damn thing back.”

“Maybe that’s what she needs.”

“Right,” he scoffs. “Because you know her so well.”

“Just because I haven’t known her for as long as you have doesn’t mean shit. I’m here for her and that’s more important.”

Reid’s jaw ticks.

Lola closes her laptop with more force than necessary. I can feel the tension rolling off her in waves.

“She always did go for the sure-thing option,” he says.

Lola stiffens.

“You really think she’s not gonna run again?” Reid asks. “You think you’re different?”

Lola stands.

“Don’t,” she says.

Reid watches her for a minute. Then he shakes his head and laughs a humorless laugh.

“Good luck,” he mutters. Then he turns and heads for the stairs, the screen door slamming behind him a second later.

Lola stares at him as he goes. Her mouth is a flat, unreadable line.

I step closer and gently take the laptop from her arms. She lets me.

“He doesn’t get to do that to you,” I say. “You don’t owe him anything.”

She looks at me then.

I touch her cheek. “You okay?”

She doesn’t answer right away. Then finally, she nods.

“Don’t worry about Reid, okay? I’ll set his ass straight.”

Chapter 22