Page 131 of The Trouble with You (Rixon Raiders 1)

“Asher, really.” She rolled her eyes at him before settling her gaze once more on the New York skyline as we crossed the bridge. Jason grunted, his eyes thinning as he focused on the road, but I brushed it off because Cameron was wrong.

He had to be wrong.

Flick didn’t like my step-brother—there was nothing to like.

“Are you excited?” Cameron’s lips brushed the shell of my ear, sending a trail of heat zipping through me. I clenched my legs together and his smooth chuckle washed over me.

“Yeah, I’ve always wanted to see a Reba exhibition. I can’t believe Kent managed to score us tickets.”

“You, tickets,” Jason said. “I told you already, I’m not going to some lame art show. Besides, Ash’s cousins are going to give us the tour, right?”

“What?” I asked, looking from him to Cameron and back again. “You didn’t say anything about Asher’s cousins.” This trip had officially been hijacked by my step-brother.

Fuck my life.

We might have found a temporary truce since everything with Cameron’s mom happened, but I was under no illusion it would last. Too much had happened between us. But for a rare weekend, our differences weren’t front and center. Cameron needed this weekend, we all did. And nothing was going to ruin it.

Not a damn thing.

Thirty minutes later, after battling the city traffic, we were finally in the hotel.

“Holy shit, Hails, I can’t believe it. Would you check out this view? I can see the Empire State Building.” Flick’s voice held a tinge of wonder as she beckoned me to the floor-to-ceiling window in our accommodation for the night.

The penthouse suite overlooking Fifth Avenue was ridiculous. But Flick had insisted I room with Cameron, so I couldn’t complain

too much. Jason and Asher were sharing the other double room—with two king beds—and Flick had happily taken the twin.

“New York,” she sighed dreamily. “I still can’t believe it. And,”—my best friend leaned in, whispering—“I heard Asher tell Jason his cousins are taking us to a club. A club, Hails. I’m so freaking excited.”

My brows pinched as I tried to share her enthusiasm. “A club? I’m not sure—”

“Oh no you don’t, Hailee Raine. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Do you know how many kids from school would kill to be here right now? We are embracing this.”

“Let me guess,” I said. “It’s on your—”

“Ssh. Don’t let the guys hear. It’s bad enough Cameron overheard us before. I don’t want them thinking I’m...” Her voice trailed off as something caught her eye over my shoulder. I glanced back to find Jason and Asher watching us.

“Are you two going to stand there all fucking day or can we get out of here?”

“Can you at least try to be civil?” I asked Jason, but he merely grunted and went to the refrigerator.

“So, how are my two favorite ladies?” Asher approached us but I ducked before he could collar me. His arm went around Flick though. It was becoming quite the habit.

“This is so cool,” Flick beamed up at him. “I can’t believe your dad is letting us stay here.”

“Believe it, baby.” He grinned back. “But you ain’t seen nothing yet. My cousins know all the local hotspots.”

“Asher, I’m not sure—”

“Hails.” He levelled me a serious look. “One night. We have one night. Turn that frown upside down and get on the love train.”

“Love train, seriously?”

“It’s okay for you, you’ve got Chase to attend to… your needs.” His brows waggled. “The rest of us need to go hunting.”

“Asher.” Flick elbowed him in the ribs. “That’s gross.”

“Naw, baby. It’s simple biology. Unless you’re—”