Chapter 7
Start-Up Costs
Wyatt
“Did you set up the camera?” I ask as Dante walks into the apartment. I’ve been poring over the recent billings to see if I can figure out Tom’s secret companies. Whatever he was doing he kept it off the books, which is bad for all of us.
“Yes.” He goes to the bar and pours himself some scotch before downing the whole glass in a gulp.
I raise an eyebrow. It’s barely noon and Dante rarely drinks.
“Everything good?” I shut my laptop because the numbers were practically dancing in my vision. Maybe we’ll have better luck this week.
“I placed your camera.” His tone is gruff, but that’s not unusual for Dante. When I mentioned what I planned, Dante insisted he could do it for me.
“I won’t use it.” The words are hollow. We both know my control when it comes to Sara is fragile. She’s my weakness. Dante has played my foil to keep her from realizing how much I want her.
Because when she wants something, she’s determined to get it. And at some point she decided she wants me. But I can’t have her.
“Maybe we should talk to her parents tonight about Tom.” I run a hand through my hair.
“That’s not a good idea.” Dante sets the glass down and leans against the wall behind the bar. “It will just worry them and you know how Tom’s mom is.”
She worries about everything. After Tom and Sara’s father died, she almost bubble-wrapped the two of them. When she married Roger, she finally found some peace. If she even had an inkling that one of her children was in danger, she’d tear apart the world searching for him.
I nod. “You’re right. It would just make me feel better if they knew and could watch over Sara.”
“You mean keep Sara under lock and key and maybe disapprove of the new boyfriend.” Dante shakes his head.
“Is he her boyfriend?” I’m curious because Dante usually knows everything about Sara, including when she’s actually into someone.
“Maybe.” His look turns thoughtful for a second before he shrugs. “Besides, she has Peabody.”
“Fucking mutt,” I mutter.
Dante chuckles. “Just because you’re the only person on this earth that dog hates—”
“The feeling is mutual.”
“—doesn’t mean he won’t potentially scare off the new guy.”
“Peabody is a terror.” He’s a five-pound ball of fur with the attitude of a German shepherd. He adores Sara, but absolutely hates me. Can’t say that I see the point of the tiny monster. He doesn’t bite the other guys, but me? I must smell like kibble.
I almost needed stitches from a couple of the times he caught me unaware.
“Maybe he’ll hate Drew since Drew likes Sara.” Dante shrugs, but there’s this tension in his jaw. Maybe he doesn’t like the idea of Sara having someone either.
I’m not blind. I know both Finn and Dante are attracted to her, but she chose me to fixate on. And we can’t betray Tom by fucking around with his sister so nothing will ever come of it.
“I’m going to shower.” Dante gestures to his room before disappearing into it.
As soon as his door closes, I open my laptop and sync into the camera in Sara’s room to see what angle he left it. The room is dim with only sunlight bleeding through the curtains. I can see her bed and the doorway to her bathroom.
A little white streak goes across the bottom of the camera accompanied by the clicking of toenails and the jingling of a bell on his collar.
“What are you doing, Peabody?” Sara walks in. Her jeans fit her like a second skin. Her light sweater falls off one shoulder, showing the strap of her camisole under it. She has her red hair drawn into a low ponytail, cascading in loose curls down her back.
I suck in a breath. No matter how many times I see her, it’s always the same. My desire for her is like a punch to the gut. Or maybe lower.
“Already creeping on Sara.” Finn’s voice comes from over my shoulder.
“Ensuring the camera works.” I shut it off and close the laptop. It’s set to record to the cloud. So if something happens to Sara, we’ll be able to review it.
“You better hope she doesn’t have Drew over or you’ll get your own porn.” Finn laughs but the words settle like lead in my stomach.
It was only a matter of time before Sara finally gave up on me and found someone who could actually have her. I run a hand through my hair. Not that I can do anything about it. She’s Tom’s little sister. Tom’s my best friend.
“It’s not like she hasn’t had boyfriends.” Ones I enjoyed terrorizing with Tom when we were young. They never deserved Sara. No one is good enough for her. Definitely not me.
“Best prepare yourself, my friend.” Finn sits on the couch in front of the TV and turns it on. “This one has staying power.”
I blow out a breath and resist the urge to creep on her with the camera again. At some point, I’ll figure out how to let Sara go. But right now she needs us and our protection. For once, it’s okay if I fixate on her.
Sara
Peabody runs in circles outside in our tiny backyard. Normally, I’d take him for a walk, but I’ll admit only to myself, the two times I saw someone smoking, seemingly spying on me, have me spooked. So a quick wee in the backyard is all Peabody is getting this morning.
“Come on, Peabody.” I sip my coffee while I wait for the little speed demon to wear himself out. The dog walker will come by at ten and two. If I call, she’ll come by at five too. Not that I expect to have to work late my first week, but who knows with these guys.
Peabody races up to my feet and sits with his butt wiggling.
“Such a kiss up.” I reach into my pocket for his treat and bend down to give it to him. He takes it and trots into the house, straight to his bed. I close and lock the back door.
In the kitchen, I empty my mug and put it in the dishwasher before going into the half bath to check my appearance. I’ve got on an almost fifties-style blue dress, with a swing skirt and a buttoned-up top.
I curled my hair and tied back half to keep it out of my face. Makeup completes my look with winged eyeliner and red lips. I need all the armor I can get after this weekend. Those stolen passionate moments with Finn and Dante kept me up most of last night.
Drew and I plan to get together for lunch sometime this week, pending my schedule. But today, I have to look Finn in the eyes after he went down on me and Dante after I masturbated for him and licked the cum off his hand.
My cheeks flush in the mirror. Yeah, definitely not bringing up either of those incidents today. Did they tell each other? Did they tell Wyatt?
My heart pounds a little harder and my hands shake as I lift them to tuck my hair behind my ears. I’m not embarrassed about taking control of my sexuality, but it could get a little awkward because they’re friends with each other and my bosses for the next few months.
All I can do is be bold and pretend nothing happened.
Like they both didn’t shake the walls I so carefully constructed to the ground. My walls built on the foundation that Finn is a flirt who does nothing about it, while Dante protects Wyatt from me. Now I know they both want me, but neither of them took me when the opportunity presented itself.
I came, and it was glorious, but neither of them went further.
Is it all because of Tom? Or maybe it’s because Wyatt feels something for me? My heart skips a beat.
Fuck.
No.
Stop. I can’t keep doing this to myself.
No more mooning over Wyatt. I’m better than this. Straightening, I give myself a narrowed look before leaving the bathroom. Wyatt Hawkins doesn’t deserve my time. I’m done waiting for something that won’t happen.
I grab my purse off the counter and stoop in front of Peabody, balancing on my three-inch black heels.
“Be a good boy today.” When I pat him, he cocks his head at me before returning to his toy.
It’s weird that Mom isn’t here to send me off to my first internship, but we talked about it. This is my chance to be on my own. She and Roger wanted to take Caitlyn to experience the world and have some time to themselves.
Caitlyn has a big sister and big brother. We both dote on her, but we got all that stuff when we were kids. She needs it too. If I didn’t have my internship though, Mom would have insisted on me coming with.
I open the app on my phone and page my driver to come to the front of the building. After setting the alarm, I walk out onto the stoop in front of the townhouse. The road is quiet for the city, but the noise filters in from the street down the way.
I breathe in the new day. I’m going to kill this internship. My phone dings and I look down.
Madison:
Good luck today!
Hope:
Kick some accounting ass!
Kayla:
Tell Dante if he needs a chick to ravish I’m available
And good luck, but you don’t need it!
Smiling, I reread the texts. This is the best thing to come from the setups my mom always makes me go on. These women. I’m so glad I was honest and upfront with Noah when he showed up for our “date.”
Now I have these three women in my life and we’re stronger than ever.
A black car pulls up in front of my building. I glance at the driver. Seeing Brandon, I wave. He tips his head to me and faces the front.
I walk down the steps and look around the street again. Nothing moves. Nothing has changed but a chill sweeps through me. I shake it off and slide into the car.
“Good morning, Brandon. How’s Gretchen and Jon?” I smile at the rearview mirror.
He meets my eyes. “They’re good, miss. To work?”
I grin. “Yes, Brandon. Thank you.”
Nodding, he pulls off the curb.
I return to my text messages.
Me:
And I’m off! I can’t wait. Lunch this week? Or maybe happy hour tonight?
Kayla:
I’m in for happy hour!
Hope:
Me too!
Madison:
I should be good to go.
Me:
Yay!
I set my phone on my lap and turn to look out the window. Something black moves in the corner of my eye. My head turns, but whatever it was is gone. Ice trickles down my back.