Page 18 of His & Hers

“Zane.” Mom smiled at me as Rosie grinned. “Aunt Rosie was just telling us about Layla. She’s coming back from Australia soon!”

I nodded, screwing the lid on the orange juice. “Great, we will have to catch up. Dad can do one of his famous barbecues.”

I kissed Rosie on the cheek before heading up the stairs, vaguely remembering Rosie’s daughter Layla. She’d been quiet throughout school, and when her mom and dad split up, she had started living half of the year with her Dad in Australia and half here, in Winterburg, with her mom. I’d not seen her for a few years, though, so the chances were she hadn’t been back in a while.

My phone buzzed, and I groaned, wishing I’d turned it off earlier.

It was my brother, Caleb.

“Sup, hoe,” he drawled, his loud voice making me hold the phone from my ear. “What’s this I hear about you being offered five grand for sex? That’s solicitation right there.”

“Hello, Caleb.”

He chuckled, and I he cleared his throat.

“So, I’ve just been for a touch up on the old ink. Seems you made quite the impression on my tattooist. Who, by the way, is fuckingfine.”

“Verona.”

“Yeah, that’s her. She was going on and on about you. So I said I’d talk to you.”

He rattled on about why it was healthy to go on actual dates instead of being paid for them.

“Get to the point.”

“Go out with her. She’s gorgeous and funny. Hell, I’ll even pay you to go.”

“Could you afford me?” I laughed as he snorted.

“Boy, I could buy you. No seriously, consider it.”

“Alright. How’s Jade?”

“She’s good, man, she’s good. We said we’d come over tomorrow and see you all; you gonna be in?”

“Yeah, Alice has a new job apparently.”

Caleb was silent for a moment before he sighed.

“Dad isn’t happy. She’s working as a PA for Lucas Deacon.”

“Who?”

“He’s the CEO. She had the interview yesterday, and then she didn’t come home until late. Dad called me this morning pissed off.”

“He’s too much sometimes. So she was out late? She’s eighteen.”

“Alice is hard work, though. You know what she’s like; you know better than anyone.”

“So Dad doesn’t like her new boss because he’s successful?”

“Dad doesn’t like her being a PA to some rich businessman. He thinks he’ll use her.”

“Well, they wanted her to work. She’s working.” I argued as he sighed.

“There are whispers about Lucas Deacon, Zane. Word on the street is he has more businesses than just the office variety.”

I wouldn’t be surprised if that were the case. Nothing was ever simple.