AVA

"I hope you appreciate what a good friend I am." Jules yawned as we tromped across our front yard toward Josh's house. "For waking up at the butt crack of dawn to help your brother clean and pack when I don't even like the dude."

I laughed and looped my arm through hers. "I'll buy you a caramel  mocha from The Morning Roast after. Promise."

"Yeah, yeah." She paused. "Large, with extra crunch toppings?"

 "You know it."

"Fine." Jules yawned again. "That makes it somewhat worth it."

 Jules and Josh were not fans of each other. I'd always found that strange, considering they were so similar. They were both outgoing, charming, smart as hell, and total heartbreakers.

Jules was a human version of Jessica Rabbit, all shiny red hair, creamyskin, and curves that made me look at my body with a sigh. Overall, I washappy with how I looked, but as a member of the Itty Bitty Titty Committee,I did wish for an extra cup size or two without having to resort to plasticsurgery. Ironically, Jules sometimes complained about her double-Ds, sayingthey were hard on her back. There should be a Venmo for breasts that allowswomen to send and receive cup sizes with the press of a button.Like I said, I was happy with how I looked most of the time, but no one—not even supermodels or movie stars—was immune from insecurities. 

Besides her grievances with her breasts, Jules was the most confidentperson I'd ever met—aside from my brother, whose ego was so large it couldhouse the entire East Coast of the United States with room left over forTexas. I suppose he had reason to be, considering he'd always been the golden boy, and though it pained me to admit it because he was my brother,he wasn't bad-looking either. Six-foot-two with thick black hair and razorsharp bone structure, which he never let anyone forget. I was convinced Joshwould commission a sculpture of himself and display it on his front lawn ifhe could.

Jules and Josh never divulged why they disliked each other so much, but Isuspected it might be because they saw too much of themselves in each other.The front door was already open, so we didn't bother knocking.To my surprise, the house was pretty clean. Josh had put most of his furniture into storage last week, and the only things left to pack were thecouch (which someone would pick up later), a few stray kitchen items, and the weird abstract painting in the living room.

Josh?" My voice echoed in the large, empty space while Jules sat on theground and pulled her knees to her chest with a grumpy expression. If youcouldn't tell, she wasn't a morning person. "Where are you?"

"Bedroom!" I heard a loud thump upstairs, followed by a muffled curse.A minute later, Josh came down holding a large cardboard box. "Shit I'mdonating," he explained, setting it on the kitchen counter.

I wrinkled my nose. "Put a shirt on. Please."

 "And deprive JR of her morning eye candy?" Josh smirked. "I'm not that cruel."

I wasn't the only one who thought Jules looked like Jessica Rabbit; Joshalways called her by the cartoon character's initials, which pissed her off tono end. Then again, everything Josh did pissed her off. 

Jules lifted her head and scowled. "Please. I've seen better abs at thecampus gym. Listen to Ava and put a shirt on before I lose last night'sdinner."

Methinks the lady doth protest too much," Josh drawled, slapping a handagainst his six-pack. "The only thing you'll be losing is—"

 Okay." I slashed my arms through the air, cutting off the conversationbefore it went down a path that'd scar me for life. "Enough chitchat. Let's getyou packed up before you miss your flight." 

Fortunately, Josh and Jules behaved for the next hour and a half while wepacked up the remaining items and loaded them into the SUV he'd rented forthe move.

Soon, the only thing left to pack was the painting.

 "Tell me you're donating this too." I eyed the massive canvas. "I don't even know how it'll fit in the car."

"Nah, leave it there. He likes it."

 "Who?" As far as I knew, no one had taken over Josh's lease yet. But itwas still July, and I expected the place to go fast closer to the start of thesemester.

"You'll see."

 I didn't like the smile on his face. At all.

The low purr of a powerful engine filled the air.

 Josh's smile broadened. "As a matter of fact, you'll see right now."

Jules and I exchanged glances before we ran to the front door and pushedit open

A familiar Aston Martin idled in the driveway. The door opened, andAlex stepped out, looking more gorgeous than any human had the right tolook in jeans, aviators, and a black button-down shirt with the sleeves rolledup.

 He took off his sunglasses and assessed us with cool eyes, unfazed by themini welcoming party on the front steps.

Only I didn't feel particularly welcoming.

 "But...but that's Alex," I stammered.

"Looking miiiighty fine, might I add." Jules nudged me in the ribs, and Iscowled in response. Who cared if he was hot? He was a jerk.

 "Hey, dude." Josh slapped hands with Alex. "Where's your stuff?"

Moving company's bringing it later." Alex side-eyed Jules, whoassessed him the way one would a shiny new toy. Besides Josh, Alex was theonly guy who'd never fallen for her charms, which intrigued her more. Shewas a sucker for a good challenge, probably because most guys fell at her feetbefore she even opened her mouth.

 "Wait." I put my hand up, my heart slamming a panicked rhythm againstmy ribcage. "Moving comp—you're not moving here." 

"Actually, he is." Josh slung an arm over my shoulder, his eyes twinklingwith mischief. "Meet your new neighbor, little sis."My eyes ping-ponged between him and Alex, who couldn't look morebored by the conversation.

My eyes ping-ponged between him and Alex, who couldn't look morebored by the conversation. 

"No." There was only one reason Alex Volkov would leave his cushyD.C. penthouse and move back to Hazelburg, and I'd bet my new camera ithad nothing to do with nostalgia for his college days. "No, no, no, no, no."

 "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes."

I glared at my brother. "I don't need a babysitter. I'm twenty-two yearsold."

"Who said anything about babysitting?" Josh shrugged. "He's lookingafter the house for me. I'm moving back in when I return next year, so itmakes sense."

"Bullshit. You want him to keep an eye on me."

 "That's a bonus." Josh's face softened. "It doesn't hurt to have someoneyou can rely on when I'm not here, especially given this whole thing withLiam."

I winced at the mention of my ex. Liam had been blowing up my phonesince I caught him cheating on me a month and a half ago. He'd even shownup at the gallery where I worked a few times, begging for another chance. Iwasn't devastated by our breakup. We'd dated for a few months, and I hadn'tbeen in love with him or anything, but the situation had brought all myinsecurities to the surface. Josh worried about Liam getting out of hand, butlet's be honest, Liam was a Brooks-Brother-wearing, polo-playing trust fundbaby. I doubted he'd do anything that would mess up his perfectly gelledhair.

I was more embarrassed I'd dated him than concerned about my physicalsafety.

I can handle myself." I pulled Josh's arm off my shoulder. "Call themoving company and cancel," I told Alex, who'd been ignoring us andscrolling through his phone this whole time. "You do not need to move here.Don't you have...stuff to do in D.C.?"

"D.C. is a twenty-minute drive," he said without looking up.

 "For the record, I am totally in favor of you moving in next door," Julespiped up. Traitor. "Do you mow the lawn shirtless? If not, I highlyrecommend it."

Alex and Josh frowned at the same time.

 "You." Josh pointed at her. "Do not pull any of your shenanigans whileI'm gone."

"It's cute how you think you have a say in my life."

 "I don't give a shit what you do with your life. It's when you drag Avainto your harebrained schemes I'm concerned." 

"Newsflash: you don't have a say in Ava's life either. She's her ownperson." 

"She's my siste —"

"She's my best friend—" 

"Remember when you almost got her arrested—"

 "You have to let that go. That was three years ago—"

People!" I pressed my fingers to my temple. Dealing with Josh and Juleswas like dealing with children. "Stop arguing. Josh, stop trying to control mylife. Jules, stop provoking him."

Josh crossed his arms over his chest. "As your big brother, it's my job toprotect you and to appoint someone to fill in for me when I'm not here."I grew up with him; I recognized that look on his face. He wasn'tbudging.

 "I assume Alex is the fill-in?" I asked in a resigned tone.

I'm not a 'fill-in' anything," Alex said icily. "Don't do anything stupid,and we'll be fine."

I groaned and covered my face with my hands.

 This was going to be a long year.

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