Ethan

The Saturday before Thanksgiving

“Dude, you look like shit,” Lennox remarked as he bumped my shoulder. “Long night?”

I flipped him off and kept walking. We’d just finished recording a radio spot for a local station, talking about the upcoming concert and our holiday plans. We’d given the standard answers, made a few jokes, answered some pre-submitted fan questions, and signed some swag for the station to give away or auction off.

Same old, same old.

Only the holiday questions were non-standard. And speaking of…

“Hey, Edenfield!” I called out as Kade and Kane rounded the corner down the hall. Sure enough, both twins stepped back and waited for me to specify which one I was talking to, which in this case was both of them. “I forgot to tell you guys I’m hanging here in the city for turkey day this year.”

I hadn’t forgotten anything; I just didn’t feel like listening to any shit over it.

Kade frowned over at his brother as I approached and then shot me a look of confusion. “We’re not actually doing Thanksgiving dinner until the weekend, E. We’ll all be stuck here Thursday because of the concert. I personally plan to stick to tradition and binge on Chinese food while watching the game until time for the show.”

I shook my head. “No, I mean I’m not going back to Pennsylvania with you guys after the concert. I’m gonna chill here for a while, do my own thing.”

“You mean you’re gonna do the art gallery chick.” Lenn snorted at my back.

“Fuck off, Reid.”

He leaned over my shoulder and winked. “I love when you use my last name. So authoritative. Use that same tone on art girl and she’ll be on her knees in a microsecond.”

“Shut it, Lennox,” Kade bit out, tiring of Lenn’s shit. It was too early in the damn morning to be so annoyingly…Lennox.

“You guys are no fun. I miss Jared. He always laughs at my jokes. When does my new best friend Jared get into town? I need a hug or something to soothe the sting of your rejection.” Jared was held up dealing with some…issues…but would be there in time for the concert on Thursday.

It was Kane who snapped first. “For fuck’s sake, if you don’t shut up I’m gonna rip out your vocal cords and strangle you with them.”

“Sounds kinky,” Lenn retorted, waggling his brows.

He wasn’t going to stop, so the three of us turned and left him standing there, muttering under his breath about how persecuted he was for being the witty one.

We finished our conversation as we walked, thankful that Mr. Witty hadn’t fought to keep up.

“You’re staying for her, aren’t you?” Kane asked as we walked three-wide down the corridor toward the elevators. His tone held a note of disapproval.

“Partially.” I checked our surroundings to be sure no one was in earshot. “But I also want to spend some time in my studio. I’ve got several in-progress pieces I’d like to finish and a couple more that I want to at least sketch out.”

“Code for I’m gonna scribble a little and fuck a lot.” Kade snorted.

I shook my head. “You’re spending too much time with Lennox.”

He wasn’t joking when he said, “And you’re playing with fire.”

“Maybe. But while you’re in some hotel watching the game with your Chinese takeout, I’ll be having a real meal with a beautiful woman, her best friend, and an adorable little dog who loves to Skype. Whose day sounds more interesting? Yours or mine?”

“Wait, there’s gonna be another girl there? Single? Hot?” This from Kane.

“I’ve only seen her fleetingly during that video call, so I know nothing.” He grinned for a moment before I shook my head. “Except that I’m not letting you anywhere near her.”

“You suck. Cock blocking your best friend. It’s the holidays, man, the season of giving.”

“You’re not my best friend, asshat, but you are giving me a headache, so shut it. I’m not introducing you to her friend. Go back to the club and pick someone up there.”

Lennox finally caught up as we waited for the elevator. “I’ll go with you, Kane. There were a few skirts I neglected to get under last night. Hopefully, they’re regulars.”

“You boys have fun with that. I still can’t believe you went out after we got into town so freaking late last night, you couple of whores.” I chuckled, watching Lennox make totally obscene thrusting gestures as the elevator doors opened and we stepped in.

“Oh, I got in all right.”

“I’m taking Aubrey out tonight, so you fuckers are on your own,” Kade said, ignoring Lennox’s crude comment and ongoing air thrusts, eyes on his brother. “Be sure to get pics of Lenn getting shot down. It happens at least once a night. No wait…screw pics, video is better.”

Kane nodded to his twin and slid a questioning look my way. “You down?”

“Nah. But be sure to forward any pics and videos though—especially if he gets slapped again. I’ll add them to my ever-growing file.”

“Blow me,” Lennox muttered as the doors opened and deposited us in the lobby.

“Guess we’ll hit you up in the morning then?” Kane asked.

I took out my keys and nodded, sliding my shades into place as we drew close to the entrance. “Good luck tonight,” I told Kane and Lenn before turning to Kade. “FYI, I texted Aubrey earlier and told her to be sure to order the most expensive thing on the menu and then refuse to put out.”

He snorted. “Too late. She already did. And she will again before dinner. Might even knock one out at the restaurant.”

I winced. “See, it was supposed to be funny and then you went and took it too far.”

“There’s no such thing as too far. Just ask my wife.” He snickered as he punched my shoulder and stepped around me to leave.

Here I was trying to keep my focus off sex, so I wouldn’t instantly jump Emily’s bones at the first sight of her, and every one of those jackasses had screwing on the brain.

Guess hanging with them would not be the distraction I’d hoped it would be.

Shit.