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I looked at the time. It was nearly 7 p.m. I should have gone home, but I had matters to take up with Brody. I felt like the entire flight I was just seething at his presumptuousness in sending Kiera as some sort of quick fix when he knew absolutely nothing.
“No, actually. I’d like to go to my brother’s place.”
“Yes, sir,” said Armand, putting the car into drive.
Thirty minutes later, he pulled the car up to Brody’s red brick townhome on the Upper East Side. I looked up and saw the third-floor lights were on, so he must be home.
“Thank you, Armand,” I said as I got out of the car, not waiting for him to do his job.
I walked through the black iron gates and rang the doorbell impatiently. I rang it three times before I heard Brody’s voice call from inside.
“I’m coming. Jesus Christ,” he said.
I heard the door unlock and then he opened the door.
His eyes grew wide when he saw me. “Daniel! What the hell are you doing here?”
I pushed past him without him extending an invitation.
“Please, come in,” he said sarcastically behind me as he closed the door.
I started pacing the entryway of his place, the wooden floors creaking slightly under my feet.
“I thought you were supposed to be in Bora Bora for like another week,” he said.
“Yeah, I was,” I said heatedly.
“So, why are you here?”
“I’ll give you one guess.”
“Uh, the waters weren’t clear enough?” he asked with a raised brow.
“Kiera, you idiot,” I snapped.
“Oh! You got my little surprise!” He chuckled.
“You think it’s funny sending her halfway across the world tosurpriseme?”
“Hey, she was willing. She got a free vacation out of it.” He shrugged.
“And in doing so, she ruined mine.”
“Oh, come on. Don’t try to tell me you two didn’t have any fun.”
“We didn’t. Clearly. Which is why I’m here and not back on the beach.”
Brody rolled his eyes. “What is your problem, man?”
“My problem isyou.Thinking you know me and what I need.”
“I do know you. You’re my brother and you’re just as much of a fuckboy as I am.”
“Well, maybe I’m not anymore,” I muttered.
“Oh, look who is all high and mighty now,” he replied, putting his hands up and pretending he was impressed.
“People change. They grow up. Clearly, you wouldn’t know anything about that.”