There was no point hiding from my brother. He'd already seen me. He was no doubt gearing up for a lecture. I made my way over to the patio doors. I'd rather face my executioner sooner rather than later.

"Cameron was supposed to keep you away from all this," he began the moment I stepped through the sliding doors. "I don't want you hanging out with the kind of people who go to these parties."

I raised an eyebrow. "You mean people like you and Jen and her friends?"

Noah opened his mouth to speak again, but I cut him off with a wave of my arm, gesturing.

"I'm not getting into any trouble," I continued. "The party was too loud. I couldn't sleep. I decided I'd mingle, maybe dance, and go to sleep when it starts quieting down."

"These things never quiet down."

"Then I guess I'll pull an all nighter and be exhausted in class tomorrow, like every other student who goes out partying."

The furrow between his brows didn't disappear. I straightened my back. We were going to resolve this, one way or another. I couldn't keep letting my brother control my life.

"Noah. Listen to me." I took his hands in mine and squeezed them. "I know you're looking out for me. I know you want to protect me. But have I given you any reason to worry?"

He scrutinized me carefully before giving in. "No."

"You can't keep me in a cage forever."

"The last time—"

"What happened last time had nothing to do with drugs and parties and boys. We trusted the wrong people. That's all."

"I trusted the wrong people," he stressed, that furrow deepening with guilt. "It was my fault."

"We can't live in fear forever." Maybe the more I told myself that, the more I'd believe it. "You need to let me live my own life."

He opened his mouth to speak.

"No." I cut him off. "I'm serious, Noah. You need to back off. Can you do that?"

"It's my job to take care of you," he insisted.

"And you have. You made sure I grew up in a safe environment. But I'm not a kid anymore." I gave him a small smile. "All baby birds need to leave the nest sometime."

"And sometimes those baby birds plummet to the ground and die when they hit the pavement."

"Why are we talking about dead birds?" Jen wrapped her arms around Noah's neck as she came up behind him.

"We were just talking about how Noah is going to let up a little on his overprotectiveness."

Jen's face lit up. "I'm glad you talked some sense into him. He's been grumbling non-stop ever since you moved out."

"I never agreed to—" Noah started.

"I'm so glad that my brother has matured past his stubborn teenaged ways," I interjected. "It's so refreshing to see him act reasonable for once. Isn't it nice to know he can be rational and level-headed?" I turned to Jen. "How about we plan that spa date?"

I ignored the disgruntled look Noah threw my way. Jen and I chatted excitedly about our plans to get matching mani-pedis. It was almost unimaginable that my brother could end up with someone so sweet. She must have the patience of a saint.

"So how are your classes going?" Jen asked after we set a date and time.

"Pretty well. There's a lot of work," I admitted. "It feels like I'm up to my ears in reading and essays and assignments. In fact," I eyed my brother, "this is the first night of fun I've had since moving in."

"Why don't we try to find the gang?" Jen suggested. "You can finally meet the twins and August properly."

Jen linked arms with me and led me through the mansion, leaving Noah to follow behind us.

The party had gotten even crazier in the time I'd spent reasoning with my brother. The chatting had given way to shouting and hollering, the laughter turning into a hysterical uproar.

"I thought that only happened in movies?" I pointed to a young skinny guy with dreadlocks swinging from a chandelier.

"You're lucky if that's the craziest thing you see all night," Jen said.

The music echoing from the speakers embedded in every wall stopped abruptly. A booming voice replaced it, ringing throughout the house.

"Listen up, ladies and gents!" The rabid glee in that voice was unmistakable. Cameron. "It's scavenger hunt time!"

A chorus of cheers swelled up as drinks were raised in a toast.

"Task number one: Find me a drinking straw in the shape of a dick."

Noah grunted. "Fucking typical."

"I thought those things were only for bachelorette parties," I mused.

"You know the rules," Cameron continued. "First person to bring one to the bouncer waiting at the front door gets a point. The person with the most points at the end of the night wins."

The cheers amplified to a fever pitch as dozens of people ran off in a mad dash to either find the item in question, or give it over if they already had one in their hand.

"What do they win?" I asked.

"Whatever they want," Jen explained. "Cameron likes to grant wishes."

"Like he's a goddamn fairy godmother." Noah's voice held a tinge of long-suffering.

"What if they wish for something crazy?" I asked. "Like their own private jet or whatever?"

"Someone once asked for a helicopter. Cameron delivered."

How much money did this guy have, that he could afford to throw it all away?

"Most people ask for reasonable stuff," Jen said. "VIP backstage pass tickets for them and their friends. Or for him to pass along their demo tape to our record label. Maybe a private performance at their house."

"And the guys go along with it?"

"August says to let Cameron have his fun, as long as it doesn't inconvenience us." The sour expression on my brother's face told me what he thought about that.

"Cameron likes to make people happy." Jen rubbed a consoling path up and down my brother's arm. "His methods are just… unorthodox."

"Like when he put his hands all over you to make me jealous?" Noah grumbled.

"It worked, didn't it?" Jen raised an arched eyebrow. "You finally got over yourself and realized your feelings for me."

"Cameron likes to please the ladies," I mused. "That's what everyone says. I always thought it just meant—" I cut myself off with a blush.

"Well. That, too." The flush on Jen's face rivaled my own.

We were distracted from the topic of Cameron's sex life by a noisy commotion. A loud crash and curses sounded from the next room.

"Sounds like one of the twins." A worried frown line appeared between Jen's brows.

"I'll give you one guess which one it is." My brother's lips pressed together in a firm line.

When we crossed the threshold we were greeted with broken glass, splintered wood, and cracked dishes scattered across the floor. Someone had knocked over a china cabinet.

"What the fuck," Noah said flatly.

The twins stood in the middle of the debris. One had an exasperated look on his face. The other's arms were folded over his chest, his expression twisted in a petulant scowl. Both wore matching black and white band t-shirts, some group called The Last Ones To Know.

"I told you not to climb on it," the exasperated twin told his brother.

"I thought there might be one of those dick straws up there. It's not my fault you wouldn't help give me a boost."

"What do you even care? It's just a stupid game Cameron plays."

"A stupid game you used to want to win," the second twin said stubbornly. "If you weren't so busy—"

"Busy with what?" the other asked. "Busy hanging out with my girlfriend? Am I supposed to ignore her and go off to play these stupid games with you?"

"Yes!"

The upset twin growled and ran a hand through his hair, pushing it back from his forehead. A small rivet of blood ran down his palm, most likely having cut it on the broken glass.

"Whatever," he grumbled. "Go have fun playing house." He stalked off.

The twin left behind stared down blankly at the mess on the floor. A young woman came up behind him, putting a tentative hand on his shoulder. He placed his hand over hers and squeezed.

"Damon's been acting out more and more," Jen said with sadness in her voice.

The three of us retreated, making sure to avoid the direction Damon had stomped off in.

"He'll get over it," Noah said.

"Don't you remember what it felt like when your guy friends abandoned you after they got girlfriends?" Jen asked.

"No."

I held back a smile. Noah hadn't exactly been the most social of teenagers.

"Well it sucks," Jen explained patiently. "Damon and Ian were always so close. It must be ten times harder on him to see his brother going off, being happy, with someone who isn't him."

"Maybe he needs a girlfriend of his own," I suggested.

Jen burst out in a giggle. Noah snorted.

"I'd love to see the day Mr. Playboy Twin settles down," Jen said.

"Ian found a girl," I pointed out.

"It turns out Ian wasn't the heartbreaker among the two."

"And we have our first winner!" Cameron's voice boomed out from the speakers again. "Congrats to Cheryl! She's really got her eyes on the prize."

I winced. "Man, that's loud."

"You can always ask Cameron to turn off the speakers in the third floor," Noah suggested. "The party is going to last all night. You should at least get some sleep before class tomorrow."

I scrunched up my face in distaste. Noah poked me in the forehead, right where my brow was furrowed.

"That was a suggestion," he added. "Not a command."

I smiled and stood on my tiptoes, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "See? That wasn't so hard, was it?"

Noah grumbled, but a small smile graced his lips.

"I am getting a little sleepy," I admitted. "I'm going to go find Cameron and do just that."

I gave Jen and Noah hugs goodnight and wandered through the mansion trying to pinpoint the host of this crazy party.

But Cameron was nowhere to be seen. I checked the pool, the kitchen, the front yard, everywhere. His voice kept booming through the speakers as the game continued on.

I was beginning to think I'd just have to learn to sleep through the noise when a thought occurred to me.

I headed for the fourth floor movie room. Sure enough, when I pushed open the door, Cameron was there.

I was completely taken aback to find that he was alone. No hangers on. Just him and The Terminator playing on the screen.

"We're close to the end, you guys."

Cameron was speaking into his phone, using it like a microphone. There must have been an app connecting it to the speakers in the walls.

"Last item on the list: A pair of superhero themed underwear. Panties, boxers, either one. This one's worth triple the points. It's anyone's game. May the odds be ever in your favor."

"Did you just quote The Hunger Games?"

The top of Cameron's bright red head turned around in his seat. He peeked over the high backed leather chair to find me in the doorway. His hair was still slightly damp from his dip in the pool, strands sticking to his cheeks. Surprise registered on his face.

"What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you."

"I thought Noah would have wrapped you in bubble wrap and locked you in your room already."

"We came to an understanding." I took a seat next to Cameron and nodded at the screen. "Terminator?"

"Not strictly a classic, but one of my favorites."

"I haven't seen it yet." I eyed him carefully. "Can I ask why you're hiding in here by yourself?"

He paused, lips pressing together. A bright grin appeared on his face.

"Hiding? I'm not hiding. The game is more fun if I'm not around."

Cameron had a house full of people and here he was sitting in the dark watching movies alone. I had to wonder what the point of throwing all those parties was for, anyway.

"Is that really all it is?"

"Of course." He appeared puzzled at my question. "No one can pester me about the game or bribe me. Makes it more fair."

"Do I even want to know what you get bribed with?"

"Usually sex," he said matter of factly.

"Gross."

"It's fine. Half the times the winners ask for sex as their prize."

"Double gross." I debated asking my next question. "So… do you ever grant those wishes?"

"If they're hot." Cameron laughed at the look on my face. "You are just like your brother. So easy to rile up." Cameron lifted his eyes to the ceiling and shook his head. "No, I don't offer my body as a prize to the winner."

"Good."

"Why?" His eyes sparkled. "You jealous?"

"No! Just… I don't like the idea of people using you like that."

"That's funny," he mused.

"What is?"

"Most people assume that because I'm a rock star, I'm the one taking advantage. Like I'm using my fame to plow through truckloads of fans."

"I don't think you're that type of person."

Cameron gave me a wry smile. "Maybe you just don't know me well enough."

"Maybe I know you better than you know yourself."

He laughed. "You've lived here a month or so and you think you know me?"

"Has anyone ever lived with you as long as I have since you turned sixteen?" I challenged.

He paused, as if honestly thinking and doing the math. "No. I suppose not." He gave me a mad grin. "This roommate thing is the longest relationship I've ever had with someone, aside from the guys."

That was… pretty sad actually.

A beep sounded from his phone. He checked it.

"Richard says we've got a winner." He stood from the leather chair, stretching his arms above his head. His t-shirt lifted from the hem of his jeans, exposing a strip of toned stomach. I nearly let out a whimper as a pulse of heat spiked through me.

I knew I shouldn't go there. We'd made a promise to just be friends. But some naughty part inside of me couldn't help but wonder. Couldn't help but hope.

"Better go grant a wish," he said.

"Wait."

I fidgeted with the hem of my skirt. A flush creeped across my cheeks.

"What is it?" Cameron asked patiently.

Taking a deep breath, I reached under my skirt. I hooked my fingers under the elastic of my thong.

Cameron's eyes grew wide, his mouth popping open.

I bent over to peel the thong down my legs, stepping out of it. With a carelessness I didn't feel inside, I twirled them around my index finger.

"I believe this gets me triple the points?"

The wide eyed look on Cameron's face had slowly faded, replaced with a wide smirk and a heated, narrow look.

"Where the hell did you get those?"

"The internet."

I tossed him the pair of Wonder Woman panties. He caught them easily.

"Does this mean you're going to grant me a wish?" I asked, trying not to sound nervous.

Cameron looked at the thong in his hand before flashing me a smirk. "Sure does. What do you want? Fancy new car? Want me to pay off your professors to give you straight A's?"

"Sit with me and finish watching The Terminator?"

He blinked. "Are you serious?"

"I told you, I haven't seen it before."

Cameron stared at me, a curious look on his face. A soft smile crossed his lips.

"Anything my Angel wishes."

As we settled down into the leather armchairs I reflected on one thing.

Cameron hadn't given me back my panties.