Page 80 of Cruel Possession

“Probably.”

“Then no. I absolutely did not go shopping with her before dinner yesterday. Not once did I consider helping her blow upall these balloons in the middle of the night or hanging the streamers.”

I eye her while rounding the desk and sitting down, leaning forward long enough to blow out the candles. “You’re lucky I don’t cut you off and kick you out.”

“You’d never kick me out. You’re too afraid of letting me have my own life. And that’s the problem.” Jade lets out a deep breath and sits down across from me, reaching across the desk to grab my fork and cutting into the pancakes.

She scoops up a big mouthful and stuffs it in her face.

“That was supposed to be my birthday breakfast.”

“And you’ve never eaten the pancakes I’ve made for you.” Jade reaches for the fork, and I slap her hand out of the way, scooping up a bite.

Though I know for a fact that the pancakes have never gotten better in all the time that she’s been attempting to make them, I’m determined to prove her wrong.

Which is why I shovel some in my mouth and immediately regret it. There’s too much salt and an oddly gritty texture.

Jade smirks and looks between me and the food, her smile stretching the more I choke down her attempt at food.

She’s never been good at cooking, but if I didn’t know better, I would think that she did this on purpose.

When she bursts out laughing, I know that she did it to try and make me throw up. Mischief shines bright in her eyes.

I push the plate away. “I don’t know how you managed to choke that down.”

“It was worth it to see the look on your face while you tried to do it.” Jade kicks her feet up on my desk, leaning back in the chair. “So, big brother, what do you have planned with your day?”

“Zoe says she has a surprise. I have work to do.”

“Well, you’re going to have to go to the surprise. I don’t know what it is, but she’s good for you, and she clearly thinks putting up with your horrible personality is more than worth her time.”

“Thanks.” I roll my eyes and reach forward to power on the computer screen. “Glad to know you think so highly of me.”

“Even you have to admit you’ve been mostly unbearable for the better part of a year.” Jade reaches into her pocket and pulls out a protein bar, unwrapping it and taking a large bite. “She’s turning you back into a normal person. I like that about her.”

“Even though she’s a Rinaldo?”

“If we want to get technical, she goes by Esposito.” Jade gives me a smug little smile before holding out her protein bar.

I snag it and take a bite before handing it back. “I know. You might be willing to look past all that she’s done, but I don’t know if the others are.”

“I think the only one who isn’t going to be able to ignore that is Skyla. You know she holds a grudge like nobody’s business, and she and Zoe butt heads already.”

“But if Zoe were to stay with us, then you would be fine with it?”

“I’m not going to ask you to be miserable for the rest of your life when you could be happy. That’s not what I want for you, and I don’t think it’s what anybody else wants.” Jade gets up androunds the desk, hugging me tight. “You deserve to be happy, Aid.”

She steps away from me and takes the plate of pancakes, leaving my office and shutting the door behind her.

I stare up at the piñata, unable to focus on the work in front of me.

The corner of my mouth twitches the longer I stare at it

A dick. She got me a dick.

And though I don’t know what the hell to do with the damn thing, it amuses me to no end. The lengths she went to—sneaking in here and decorating—doesn’t escape me.

My phone starts ringing just when I’m about to force myself back to work.