* * *
I rolled my eyes as Ryder stumbled into the kitchen the next morning, his date nowhere in sight. They never stayed, but I always asked where they were to piss him off. “Where’s your pretty friend?”
He ran a hand through his hair, causing it to stick up at all angles. “Where she’s supposed to be. Back at her place. It’s not like you let them stay either,” he said flatly, giving me a pointed look.
“I don’t make a habit of bringing them here. I prefer to fuck them at their place so I can bail without a problem,” I said with a dismissive wave of my hand, irritation sweeping through me as his eyes roamed over Luna beside me for a second before he turned his attention to the fridge, grabbing an energy drink.
He always joked about fucking Luna, but I knew he wouldn’t. He’d tried once before, and I’d almost broken his leg with my bat after she’d left. Stanley was a shitty boyfriend sure, but I couldn’t cope with Ryder touching her. No way in hell.
From what I’d heard, he was into some fucked up shit.
Luna gave him a smile though, always finding my brother sweet despite his bad boy reputation. “Morning, Ry.”
He plastered his playboy smile on his face before leaning against the kitchen counter as he took a sip of his drink. “Morning, Luney. You still got a boyfriend? Maybe you’re looking for a new one? I think I’d be an excellent upgrade.” Luna laughed, but I raised an eyebrow at Ryder, giving him the only warning I would. Luckily, he took the hint and rolled his eyes. “I’m heading to school early to catch up with Jett. I’ll see you two later.”
“Don’t count on it.” I grinned as I grabbed my coffee, but then scowled as he walked past and kissed the top of my head.
“Love you too, Sis.” Believe it or not, but I loved the asshole too.
Once he’d left, Luna turned to me, a bright smile on her face. “Landon’s coming to the track tonight. How about you?”
“You don’t have plans with the ball and chain?” I asked dryly, her face falling slightly. I bit back a sigh, knowing I was being rude again. I didn’t want to lose our friendship over a dude. “Sorry, I’m tired. I was thinking of going to the track, but I doubt I’ll race. I want to get drunk.”
My rude comment was thankfully forgotten as she laughed. “You always want to get drunk.”
“I get bored easily.” I shrugged, draining the rest of my coffee before rinsing the cup in the sink.
“Apparently,” she muttered under her breath, and I struggled not to roll my eyes at her. She hated the revolving door of women I had. Not because she was jealous, but because she didn’t understand why people slept with anyone they weren’t in love with. Sex and love were two separate situations for me, one I frequently enjoyed, the other I avoided.
I’d loved Luna for as long as I could remember, and all that had given me was anger issues and heartache as I watched her love someone else.
“Do we need to stop by your place on the way to school? If we do, we’d better leave right now,” I stated, glancing at the clock on the wall. “We have less than an hour.”
“Yeah, I need to grab my finance textbook.” She sighed as she got to her feet, rinsing her mug too. “You can just drop me off. I’ll drive my car.” That was her way of telling me she had plans with Stanley at some point throughout the day without starting a fight.
I should have supported her relationship, I wanted her happy, but there was just something about him that I didn’t like, my feelings for her aside.
“Fine,” I answered tightly, making sure I didn’t bite her head off about it. I couldn’t expect them not to hang out, they were dating after all, I just hated it.
We drove in silence to her place, which wasn’t that far away, and her father was waiting for us as I pulled into the driveway. He knew the sound of my car coming from a mile away.
I rolled my window down, leaning on the frame with a smile. “Morning, Archer.”
“Cut the shit, Riley.” He pinned me with an unamused glance before running his gaze over Luna as she stepped out but continued to speak to me. “I told you I don’t like Luna at the shed on fight nights.”
“It was just to watch Beckett’s fight. We didn’t stick around,” I said innocently, his eyes narrowing on me.
“I know, Harley told me when you two left. Luna, I want you home tonight,” he said sternly as he turned to her, embarrassment taking over her face.
“Seriously? I’m twenty,” she said flatly, a grin taking over his face.
“Twenty or forty, doesn’t make a lick of difference to me. You’re under my roof, and your mother wants a family evening. She gets what she wants.”
“Since when?” I smirked. “Last I heard, Lexi’s usually the one doing as she’s told. Given into that daddy kink yet?”
“Shut your mouth and get to school before I call yourdaddy,” he grumbled, making my smirk widen.
“Usually I’m the one that gets called daddy. Right, Luna?”