Page 20 of Enemies with Benefits (Finding the Right Brother #1)

"Never learned how to smile or talk in anything other than a growl," I added with a snort.

"Yep," I heard him snap his fingers. "God, I do remember him. Yeah, you definitely want to fuck him."

"Oh, Jesus," I groaned, setting the cleaning supplies back in the hidden basket near one of the pillars. "Look, just because your underage, hormone-filled body can't help but have bad taste in men doesn't mean the rest of us don't have some dignity."

"Dignity...what's that?"

"You'll get it when you're older. Knowing you, probably not till your thirties."

"Forties," Elijah piped up, and I heard the sound of something being hit. Elijah grunted. "You hit like a bitch."

"The point is, the guy is fine, even if you won't admit it," Milo said when he came back to the phone. "And…ow! Quit hitting me!"

"You aren't gonna sock me and then pretend like you're the victim," Elijah said, and I heard another blow and Milo yelp.

"Jesus, okay," I sighed as I pulled out my phone. "You two are clearly having a bit of foreplay, which I know is going to last until something gets broken. So I'm going to get off this phone before I have to bear witness to it. Have fun!"

"Bye!" came the call in unison, followed by something heavy thumping to the floor, which, by the sound of the grunt I heard before ending the call, had been Elijah going down.

Sometimes it was unnerving to think that they were old enough to drink legally.

Not that it had mattered much to our family.

My mom had always maintained that if you were old enough to get drafted, then you were old enough to have alcohol.

Her only requirement was that if we did drink, we did it somewhere safe, and we didn't try to drive or go wandering off somewhere.

Bonus points if we kept it to our living quarters in the hotel.

Which meant I’d seen those two idiots have their frequent wrestling matches sober and drunk.

Sober, they would probably stop as soon as someone got a good hit in or if they were in danger of getting seriously hurt or damaging something in their apartment.

Drunk? Yeah, you were looking at a possible hospital visit or replacement furniture.

I opened Spotify to flip on a podcast, but stopped when I saw movement.

Curious, I looked toward the doorway to see if it was one of the attendants, but didn't catch sight of anyone right away.

The place was built so each room had a specific function, and set up so sound didn't leak out, meaning people in the aerobics room where I was didn't have to hear people a couple of rooms down slinging weights everywhere.

It was also nice whenever there were classes, which involved music played at maximum volume so people could hear each other fighting to breathe.

Still, I didn't like the idea of having entered the place thinking there was no one around, while there might be someone lurking.

Not that the place didn't have good security, but it sat uncomfortably in my head, and I tucked my phone away to investigate the hallway.

I looked left and right, spying only a shoe going around the corner toward the locker rooms.

That at least confirmed my suspicion, but then I heard a noise before I could go back. My brow rose when a burly figure made his way back around the corner, and I recognized a familiar scowl.

"Well, well, well," I said with a laugh that sounded surprised even to my ears. "I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting you actually to show up."

Jace stopped short, as was customary when dealing with me, his dour expression only grew darker. “Have you ever had a real friend in your entire life?"

"Ooh, going for the low blows are we? I've had them, yes."

"Have they ever been a pain in the ass that likes to meddle in your life constantly?"

"You've met my siblings, right?"

"Your siblings don't count as friends."

"Says the only child."

His angry expression somehow managed to get angrier, which was as impressive as it was annoying. “Whatever. If I didn't come, then Kayden would be living up my ass, annoying me constantly."

"I could think of worse fates than someone like him living up my ass," I said with a smirk.

His face twisted in protest before freezing, and he looked at me curiously. “Seriously?"

"What?"

"That whole...bi thing, it wasn't just an act to get on my nerves?"

I snorted. “Believe it or not, but I don't go out of my way to lie just to piss people off, not even you. So yeah, figured out after high school that I'm into guys too."

"Huh. Didn't figure you for the type to, like...receive."

"You mean bottom? See, that's what you get for assuming. I'll take it whatever way I want."

"Huh."

I peered at him, arching a brow. "Why? Suddenly finding yourself a little curious?"

To the surprise of precisely no one, he jerked back with a heavy scowl. “No! And don't get any ideas either."

"Still as horrified at the mere mention of anything remotely gay coming near you or your name, I see," I said with a laugh. "I guess there are a few things we never outgrow. Don't worry, I'm not going to get any ideas."

"Yeah," he grunted. "You hate me, why would you want me?"

"See? You're learning. Now, if only someone could explain that to Milo, my life might get a little less annoying."

"Your brother?"

"Unless we both happen to know the same Milo, then yes."

"What did... never mind. I don't want to know."

"Mmm, you definitely don't. I didn't want to hear it, and I don't really feel like telling you anyway."

"It's that bad you don't even want to piss me off?"

"Please, like pissing you off is hard, especially when it's me.

But no, I'm not going to tell you because I don't need you freaking out and acting like I was the one who said it when in reality I'm just the one delivering the news.

So, can we move on from your totally not curiosity about the other side and get to why you're actually here?

" I said, still enjoying the occasional needling of his nerves when I got the chance.

His nostrils flared, but other than flexing his fingers, he didn't give me too much of a reaction. "Fine, why am I here?"

"You're here because it's a good gym, and you're here at this time because it's quiet and we won't be disturbed."

His eyes narrowed suspiciously, which I didn't blame him for. Coming from anyone that might have been odd, but coming from someone like me, I could see how it would sound insidious. "Why?"

"Because," I began, pulling my headphones from my ears and tucking them into their case. "I remember once upon a time, the only way you and I were able to get along without wanting to chuck the other through a window was when we were doing something physical."

He took a moment to respond, the crease between his eyebrows deepening. “Why do you remember that?"

"I have a good memory for things that are weird, and let's be honest, there's few things weirder in our lives than the two of us at peace with one another."

"Alright, fine."

"So, we can do just about anything you want, so long as it keeps our hands occupied."

"Why?"

"Why, what? Do you want us to fight?"

"You always want to fight."

I laughed. “You aren't any better, so get off your soap box and quit throwing stones at your glass walls."

He snorted. “You told me part of the reason I'm here, but not the why. Why do you care if we get along?"

"I don't," I said with a shrug, seeing no point in lying.

"But for the sake of my sister and my nephew, I figure we might as well start somewhere.

I don't know if you're even planning on sticking around, but just in case you do, we need to figure out some way not to want to kill each other.

Well, and I figure you've got plenty of pent-up.

..feelings about the whole thing, and what better way than taking it out on your body? "

"What about someone else's body?"

"Mmm, I think we already established that you're too far in the closet for that, and I still have some dignity left."

He growled. “I meant boxing, or something like that."

That made me pause. “Well...there is a ring. Usually it's supposed to be supervised, but I'm sure I could convince them. Let me get this straight, you want to keep us from fighting...by having us fight?"

"Controlled fighting."

"You just want an excuse to hit me."

For the first time in a long time, he grinned. “Doesn't sound like a bad idea to me."

"Honestly? Not what I thought you'd say."

"What, thought I'd tell you to go fuck yourself and walk off?"

"Actually, yeah. Weird."

"What?"

"Just...weird having someone like you know me like that."

"I guess hating someone has its perks."

Well, yeah, but there was still something uncomfortable about having someone who couldn't stand me predict me better than my friends.

"Right, well, anyway. If you want to warm up, you can just meet me there.

Pretty sure you can follow signs...you can read, right?

Never got a clear answer on that back in the day. "

Unsurprisingly, that resulted in him flipping me the bird before turning to look at the signs.

With a snort, I walked past him, trusting him to follow, even if it was just to be able to glare at the back of my head.

Even in the hallways, the sounds were muted, not enough to be unnerving, but creating a silence that was unusual for the two of us to share.

I led him into the room with the ring at its center.

There were bags, both stationary and hanging, that people could use if they didn't want to duke it out in the ring, but the main attraction was, of course, the ring.

He grunted upon seeing it. “No one to keep an eye on us?"

"Nope, not even cameras. They like to give people the idea of privacy."

"Sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen."

"And that is what the special little papers you signed before being let in as my guest were for. Do try not to break anything, including yourself, because I'm responsible."

He eyed me. “Really?"