Chapter 1 1

THEO I’m dreaming when the blare of my alarm clock jolts me awake, its high-pitched beep delivering an instant headache. I paw for it on my nightstand, fingers clumsily searching for the snooze button. Instead, I knock the damn thing onto the ground, the beeping only growing louder as it echoes off of the cement floor. Fuck . Guess I’m up now . I blink sleep from my eyes, slowly adjusting to the dim light spilling in through the slit in the curtains on my window. The light intensifies my headache. I tied one on last night, and even my shifter healing hasn’t quite caught up to this hangover yet. I grumble as I kick the sheets away from my body, sitting up and leaning over to retrieve the alarm clock from the floor. I want to smash the fucking thing, but I hit a bunch of buttons instead, the incessant beeping finally ending. Groaning, I set it back on my nightstand, focusing in on the red glow of the numbers. 7:00 a.m. Why Gray had the bright idea to schedule this meeting so early in the morning, I’ll never know. He’s the leader of the security squad, a team of fighters assembled to protect the six-pack territory: six separate and distinct packs of wolf shifters, brought together for a common purpose- survival. We aligned years ago to increase our ranks and protect ourselves from some crazy asshole alpha who was targeting, attacking, and absorbing smaller packs. Gray’s pack was almost a casualty of that lunatic Alpha Xavier and his shadow pack. Some of them were able to escape, and not long after, they linked up with another pack which eventually led to the formation of the six-pack. I was fucking thrilled when the other five packs united with mine and settled into the surrounding territory, making our little corner of the world feel so much larger. I’ve always felt too big for my small town. Another bonus to the formation of the six-pack is the fact that it brought me my closest friends- Gray, Brock, Jax, and Reid. All of us are either alphas of our packs or will be one day, so it was easy for the five of us to form a bond with so much in common. When Gray started the security squad, he urged me and the others to come help him take charge of it. The day I graduated high school, I packed my shit and moved to the complex to help Gray get the squad up and running. Jax, Brock, and Reid joined us shortly thereafter, and the rest is history. I don’t know what I would’ve done if the squad wasn’t there for me to go to after high school. Things were rough at home- my dad’s a total hardass and nothing I ever did was good enough for him. It’s still not. Out of the five of us alphas who run the squad, two of them already run their own packs and another will be running his by the end of the summer. But me? I doubt my dad will ever step down as alpha to let me take over. He always says I’m not ready, not mature enough, even though being Alpha of the Summervale pack is my goddamn birthright. At this point, I’ve stopped trying to prove to my dad why I deserve to run our pack. He’s made it abundantly clear that I’ll never measure up, and he can go fuck himself if he thinks I’m going to change everything about who I am just to fit the mold of who he wants his son to be. He wants me to be someone I’m just… not . Still, I don’t need the formal title to enjoy the alpha perks. I may not run my pack yet, but as a future alpha I’ve got all of the clout, none of the responsibility. Females throw themselves at me constantly, itching to spend a night with an alpha, and I happily oblige them. I’ve fucked my way through half the girls on the squad, all eager to invite me into their beds. I can get any woman I want, and I’m always gone by morning. Just last night I railed a cute little brunette in the bathroom of the bar in Goldenleaf. I’ve been frustrated lately, needing to blow off some steam, and she was all too willing to help me out. I fucked her so hard I nearly took the door off its hinges. That should’ve helped, but I’m still on edge today. Probably because I’ve got this raging headache and I didn’t get nearly enough sleep last night. Who the hell plans a meeting for 7 a.m.?! I’m already late. Groaning, I force myself out of bed, heading to my dresser to find something to change into. Jeans, a t-shirt, my leather jacket, and motorcycle boots. Maybe I’ll go for a ride after this damn meeting- the fresh air could do me some good. The conference room at the squad complex isn’t far from my room in the dorms, but I’m already twenty minutes late by the time I push open the door, five sets of eyes flying to me. Yes, five . Looks like Gray brought his mate along to the meeting. “So nice of you to join us,” Brock comments gruffly. I roll my eyes, stepping inside and kicking the door closed behind me. Brock’s always so surly, always giving me shit. It irritates the hell out of me because it reminds me of my dad. “I’m here now, aren’t I?” I mutter, sinking down into an empty chair at the table. “I didn’t realize it was bring your girlfriend to work day.” Gray’s eyes meet mine, cold as ice. “Fallon’s my mate ,” He corrects. “And I thought she could provide us with some insight today since we’ll be sorting the new squad members into patrols.” Fallon leans closer into Gray, wrapping her hands around his huge bicep and looking up at him adoringly. Their lovey-dovey shit makes me wanna barf. “Whatever,” I sigh, leaning back in my chair. I glance over at Jax, who’s warning me with his eyes to knock it off. Gray relaxes a little, leaning back and angling his body toward Fallon while looking over his shoulder at me. “Now that you’re here, we can go over your new assignment.”“Right,” I sigh, waving a hand flippantly. “The thing with the computer geeks?” Gray doesn’t react, just nods and gets back down to business. “Today’s Erin’s last day, so you’ll need to go over there and introduce yourself to everyone, get the lay of the land. And then you’ll need to spend some time with the IT unit every day, get up to speed with what they’re working on. Bring any of their concerns to me as they come up and deliver a full report at our weekly meeting.”“Got it,” I mumble, popping the last ‘t’. I stare down at my hands, picking dirt out from under my fingernails as I lean the chair back on two legs. “Try to be nice to my sister,” Fallon sighs. My eyes shoot up to meet hers. Her comment pisses me off- the girl is getting way too comfortable, like she’s part of our group. It irritates me. I liked her well enough when she was at training camp this summer, trying to make the squad- she’s a damn good fighter and she’s got more balls than some of the men on the squad. She deserved to make the cut. But then last week’s full moon confirmed that she’s Gray’s mate, and her very presence has been getting under my skin since. She’s always around. It used to just be the five of us bros, and now Fallon’s always there, hanging on Gray. I considered him my best friend, but since he started things up with her it’s like he’s too busy for me and the other guys. “You have a sister?” I ask, blinking. Fallon rolls her eyes. We grew up in the same pack, I know she has a sister. It’s kinda hard to miss a pair of hot blonde twins. I just can’t help but be a dick. “Let’s move on,” Reid sighs, shuffling a stack of papers. He’s always the one to keep us on task. I halfway pay attention to the rest of the meeting. My body’s bouncing back from last night’s alcohol abuse, but my irritation this morning is causing my headache to linger. I’m itching to get out, blow off some steam. I could run drills with the squad, but I’d much rather get on my bike and tear up the forest roads. I’m distracted lately, listless. Bored . Every day it’s the same shit, and sometimes it feels like I’m just stuck spinning my wheels while everyone else’s lives move forward. A motorcycle ride always tapers my wolf’s agitation. It’s the next closest thing to actually shifting and running on four paws- the wind in my hair, the open sky above me. I set out on the road leading away from the complex, driving too fast, leaning too far into the turns. The green of the forest blurs beside me as I pick up speed, heading for Pine Mountain. The drive is winding, exciting, and the view from the top is great. When I reach the crest of Pine Mountain, I skid to a stop, cutting the engine. I close my eyes and let the sounds of nature drown out my own thoughts. I love it up here. Despite the charmed life I’ve led, my lack of responsibilities, it’s the only place I really feel… free.

Chapter 2 2

BROOKE “Sup, nerds?” I whip my head around the side of my computer monitor to stare toward the open door of the IT hub, groaning internally when I see the person behind the rude greeting. Theo is leaning against the doorframe, taking up most of it with his massive size. Thick, corded forearms folded across his chest; he surveys the room with a condescending eye. What the heck is he doing here? The IT hub is the last place I’d expect Theo to be. Perhaps he was trying to find the weight room. Did he get lost? “Theo,” Erin greets, scrambling up from her desk near the door. It’s a struggle for her to get to her feet- she’s super pregnant, due any day now. “Thanks for coming in.” Theo glances around from his perch in the doorway, taking in the interior of the IT hub. It isn’t much, though it’s probably more space than the nine of us need. A couple of comfortable couches sit at the front of the room, a place for us to relax and hang out when we need a break. The walls are lined with five large desks on each side, providing each of us our own personal workspaces. There’s a long conference table situated in front of the back wall, which displays several large TV screens and a smartboard. I straighten to peek over the top of my computer monitor from my desk at the back of the room, studying the unwelcome intruder in our space. Tall, tanned, and hard-bodied, he looks like a total fish out of water in here among us IT geeks. His t-shirt and leather jacket do little to disguise his form underneath- the dude’s built like a linebacker with his broad shoulders and chest. His chocolate brown hair is cropped short, his hazel eyes unblinking. Square jaw clenched, rough and days past needing a shave. Devastatingly handsome. I catch myself ogling his physique appreciatively and force myself to look away and back down at my keyboard instead. His looks may be distracting, but I’m not an idiot- I know who this guy really is. Theo Jacobsen is a jerk with a capital J. An arrogant narcissist with a devil-may-care attitude. A guy whose bedpost has probably run out of space for notches to add. A total alpha-hole. Erin claps her hands together to get our attention and my head snaps back up. “Alright, gang… so as you all know, I’m going to be leaving for a while,” she smiles, rubbing her baby belly. “So for the next few months, Theo is going to be taking report from you each day, running it up the ladder to leadership.” I blink. Did I hear her correctly? I couldn’t have heard that correctly . “I hope you’ll all make him feel at home while he’s here.” I snort. Theo, at home with a bunch of geeks? Doubtful . “And who knows?” Erin continues, waggling her eyebrows. “Maybe you can teach him a thing or two about what we do here, get him to join our ranks.” It’s Theo’s turn to snort. “Yeah right,” he scoffs, setting a large hand on Erin’s shoulder. “But thanks for the warm welcome.” He flashes a wide, charming smile. I feel my face heat, eyes fluttering down to stare at my keyboard again. Whose bright idea was it to assign Theo as a liaison to the IT unit? We do serious work here- and from what I hear, Theo hasn’t worked a day in his life, nor taken anything seriously. I refocus my attention back to the lines of code I’ve been trying to perfect for a new tracing program I’ve been working on, my temperature rising in annoyance. Erin chats quietly with Theo for a few minutes, then turns him loose to wander around the room. He stops at Carly’s desk first, planting himself behind her chair and leaning in to say something. She laughs loudly, tossing her head back toward his hard abs. She’s obviously flirting- no joke’s that damn funny. Ugh . Surely Carly’s not dumb enough to fall for the Theo charm? She’s been with the IT unit for two years longer than I have, and she’s probably my closest friend on the unit since we’re the closest in age. She’s a tall, waify brunette- conventionally attractive, but not what I’d necessarily pin down as Theo’s type. She’s pretty quiet, conservative. Some may say mousy. I don’t know why their interaction bugs me so much. Maybe it’s because Theo seems like a predator, Carly like prey. I get back to work, tuning Theo out as he continues making the rounds. It almost works, too- ten minutes later, my fingers are dancing across the keyboard again as I fall back into a groove. I try to keep my eyes focused on my computer screen as I feel Theo prowl up next to me, his presence large, looming. I don’t look up as he leans in, slapping a big palm on my desk. “You’re the new girl, right?” He knows damn well who I am . We’re from the same pack. Our fathers are friends. I’m the same age as his sister and used to hang out with her at his house. My twin sister recently found out she’s mated to one of his best friends. My identical twin. It’s laughable now to think of how I used to have a big crush on Theo when we were younger, before he flew the coop after he graduated from high school. Before I paid attention to the rumors of his womanizing ways and before he covered his body with tattoos and so much hard-earned muscle. I dart my eyes to him, then back to my computer screen. “Theo.” My hands fly over my keyboard. “How’s Quinn?”“Riiiiight, that’s where I know you from,” Theo muses, continuing the facade.  “My kid sister.” My eyes roll so far back in my head I can practically see my skull. He leans closer. He smells good - woodsy and masculine. “So how are you settling in with the nerd herd, kid?”“It’s Brooke,” I grind out, fingers still typing furiously. Somehow, he takes that as an invitation- Theo grabs for a chair from the conference table behind my desk, dragging the legs across the floor loudly as he pulls it closer. He sinks down onto it, leaning back and kicking his feet up on the edge of the desk. His big motorcycle boots land with a thud as I silently curse his presence. “So, what are you working on?” he asks, pulling a bag of pretzels out of his jacket pocket and tearing it open. I turn to stare at him as he pops one in his mouth, starts chewing. “You shouldn’t be eating in here,” I grumble. “Not around all the equipment and computers.” He chuckles, popping another pretzel into his mouth. “My bad. Wouldn’t want to offend them.” I heave a sigh, turning back to my computer and trying to resume my work. Trying, because Theo’s very presence is a distraction. I can feel him peeking over at my monitor, watching me. “Those aren’t even real words,” he comments, mouth full of pretzel. “It’s code.”“Code for what?” The keyboard clicks under my fingers. “A program I’m working on.”“What kind of program?” I sigh, stop typing. “Why do you care ?” I ask, shooting him a sideways glance. “Just trying to get up to speed.” He flashes another one of those gorgeous smiles and damnit if it doesn’t give me pause. How can someone that good looking be so insufferable ? I go back to typing and get approximately one and a half minutes of work in before Theo speaks up again. “Want some?” I whip my head sideways to see him thrusting the bag of pretzels in my direction. “What?” I blink. “No.” I turn back to my monitor, go back to typing. He keeps shoving pretzels into his mouth, crunching loudly. “You sure?” Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. I heave a sigh, pushing back in my chair. “Do you mind?” I ask, tone laced with irritation. “I’m trying to work, here.” His eyes go wide, brows shoot up. As if I’m the one being unreasonable. “Sheesh, why so hostile?”“Just trying to do my job,” I mutter, not risking another glance. It’s bad enough that he’s going to be working with the IT unit for the next few months, but the last thing I need is him zeroing in on me, distracting me from my work. “Doesn’t your job include sharing information with the liaison?” He’s got me there . “Fine,” I sigh. “You want my report?” I push back in my chair again, swiveling it toward him, sliding my black framed glasses up the bridge of my nose and folding my arms across my chest indignantly. “I’m still putting the finishing touches on my new integrated tracing program. I’m hoping to have the source code finished by the end of the week, and I’ll spend next week debugging.” Theo’s looking at me with his jaw slack, like I just spoke in Chinese. Then he starts raking his eyes over my body. There’s not much to look at- I’m dressed for comfort in a pair of leggings, an oversized Rolling Stones t-shirt, and a pair of chuck taylor sneakers. Still, his lingering stare makes me profoundly uncomfortable. “What are you doing later?” he asks, the hint of a smirk on his lips. Now it’s my turn to look at him like he’s speaking a foreign language. “Huh?” I blink. “I was thinking about going to the bar in Goldenleaf,” he says casually, wadding up the empty pretzel bag. “Wanna come?” He waggles his eyebrows. “What?” Is he frickin’ serious? I wrinkle my nose in disgust. “Are you asking me out ?” Theo shrugs, tossing the wadded-up pretzel bag toward the trash can by the wall. It bounces off of the rim, landing on the floor. “Seems like you could use a break. And all that nerd-speak was kinda sexy.” Unbelievable . “No thanks,” I reply curtly, spinning back to face my monitor and placing my hands on the keyboard. He lingers, assessing me, like it’s the first time he’s ever heard the word ‘no’. “And here I thought you were the nice twin.” I whip back around to look at him, incredulously. He’s getting on my last nerve. “So you do know who I am!” I pronounce, exasperated. His face splits into a shit-eating grin, two rows of perfectly white, straight teeth. Those devilish good looks and that charming smile probably allow him to get away with murder, but they won’t work on me. “You’re definitely more tightly wound than your sister,” he sighs, lacing his fingers together and bringing his hands behind his neck, reclining back on them. “You need to loosen up a little. I could help you with that.” He winks. I wrinkle my nose, scowling at his innuendo. Does he really think I’m that kind of girl? Or is he just trying to get under my skin? I shake my head, returning to my computer screen. “No thanks,” I mumble, setting my hands on the keyboard to type again. “You can go now.”“Now why would I do that when I’m having so much fun talking to you ?” Theo asks, undeterred. I ignore his question, focusing back in on the line of code that I’ve restarted five times since he invaded my space. This is going to be a long few months.

Chapter 3 3

BROOKE “ Why does it have to be Theo , of all people?” I lament, poking my food around my plate with a fork. I’m glad my sister decided to stick around for dinner at the complex tonight, because the other girls on the IT unit are so charmed by Theo that my complaints would fall on deaf ears. I barely got anything done today after he decided to post up at my desk and torment me with his incessant chatter. “Is it that bad?” Fallon asks, tilting her head, eyes sympathetic. “Worse,” I scoff. “He actually tried hitting on me today.”“He what ?!” Fallon’s eyes fly wide, then she erupts in a fit of giggles. I narrow my eyes, stabbing a piece of chicken with my fork. “Ohhhkay, it’s not that frickin’ funny, Fallon.” I’m a little offended that she finds it so outrageous that I’d be hit on by someone. Just because I’m studious doesn’t mean I’m frigid. It isn’t always easy being Fallon’s twin sister. She’s got such a big personality that I’ve lived most of my life in the shadow of it. She’s so lively and brave and confident. Makes friends so easily. She’s fearless, reckless, but she always seems to squeak out of things on top. Things just work out for her, effortlessly. Then there’s me. Quiet. Smart. Sensible. Level-headed. Planning everything out to mitigate the risk. I couldn’t be more different from my sister, and honestly, I envy Fallon in a lot of ways. I wish I could be more carefree like her instead of always being the good girl, the nice girl. Sometimes I think when the embryo split to make us identical twins all of the ‘fun’ traits got bestowed upon her. “I can just imagine the look on his face when you shot him down!” Fallon laughs. Okay, so she didn’t mean anything negative toward me at her reaction. I guess I’m just being extra sensitive today after spending the afternoon being annoyed by Theo. I smirk, thinking back to how he just stared at me when I turned him down, hazel eyes blinking. “I don’t think the word ‘no’ was part of his vocabulary before today,” I chuckle, popping a bite of chicken into my mouth and chewing. “So how long are you stuck with him?” Boyd asks, leaning toward me. Boyd’s one of Fallon’s close friends from back home. He made the squad when she did, along with their friend Davis, who is sitting at another table for dinner tonight with his mate, Casey. Rounding out our table are Shay, Connor, and Judd- more squad members that were at training camp with Fallon and recently made the squad. I’ve become friendly with them, too, through my sister. “A few months ,” I sigh. “At least he’s nice to look at,” Shay shrugs, twirling pasta around her fork. “I’d do him.” Fallon and I both turn to give her simultaneous looks of disgust. “What?” Shay laughs. “The bad boy thing totally works for me.” She waggles her eyebrows, adding, “and I bet those alphas are all growly and dominant in the bedroom.”“You have no idea ,” Fallon smirks, taking a bite of her food. My cheeks heat in response to Shay’s vulgar comments. I stare down at my plate. “Ohhhkay,” Boyd groans. “Can we talk about something else now?” Shay and Fallon giggle together, while I go back to pushing my food around my plate with my fork. “Hey Brooke, are you coming out with us tomorrow?” Connor asks, peering over at me from underneath his shaggy brown hair. Connor and I have been enjoying a casual flirtation for the past couple weeks. He’s cute- athletic build, boyishly handsome, and a little on the quieter side, like me. I’ve been having fun getting to know him, though so far it has always been in a group setting. “Yeah, I think so,” I breathe. Theo was right, I could use a night out. Just not with him . Connor smiles. “Cool.” He goes back to eating, while I go back to playing with my food. Fallon and her friends talk about the drills they ran at practice today while I listen half-heartedly. Sometimes I feel like an outcast among them, a lone wolf. I know they’d never make me feel that way intentionally, but I just have very little interest in all the sporty stuff they’re into. My wolf perks up as the back of my neck prickles, a strange sensation coming over me like someone’s watching. My skin tingles as my wolf goes straight into paranoid protector mode, making me look around cautiously, on high alert. I scan the tables around ours in the dining hall, searching for the source of my discomfort, but everyone seems to be lost in their own conversations, eating their food. My eyes continue to skim across the room, stopping, flying back to meet another pair. Intense, hazel eyes staring into mine from under a furrowed brow. Theo’s eyes. My breath catches in my throat and my heartbeat quickens. Why the heck is Theo watching me from across the dining hall like a creepy stalker? He holds eye contact for a moment before he looks away, back to his friends at his table. My sense of unease remains, though. I take my plate in a hand and rise from the bench, throwing a leg over it to climb out. “I’ll catch you guys later,” I say, suddenly feeling the need to flee. When it comes to the fight or flight instinct, mine is decidedly flight. “Whaaat?” Fallon whines in objection, peering up at me from the bench. “I’ve got a lot of work to catch up on,” I reply flippantly. “So I can go out tomorrow.”“Fine,” Fallon sighs, spinning back around, her ponytail flying. She’s lucky it didn’t land in my plate. I drop my plate in the wash bin and head out of the dining hall, making a beeline for the squad dorms. I don’t lose that icky, prickly feeling until I’m tucked safely in my room. I pull out my laptop, flop down on my bed, and lose myself in lines of code.

Chapter 4 4

THEO I don’t know why Brooke Eastwick intrigues me. Call it morbid curiosity. She’s not my type at all . Buttoned up so tight, so prim and proper. A good girl. A brainiac. A nerd. She’s got glasses , for fuck’s sake. In normal society that probably wouldn’t seem like a big deal, but shifters typically have perfect vision; our healing abilities overcome any deterioration of eyesight. I sort of remember asking my mom about it, once, and her telling me that it was some kind of rare recessive trait that the Eastwick twins’ mom carried. That was a long time ago, though, so I don’t remember exactly. Either way, it’s weird . If our interaction yesterday is any indication, Brooke clearly wants nothing to do with me- which is strange, because I’m me . Some females throw themselves at me, others play a game of cat and mouse- but the end result is always the same. Even the waitress from the Goldenleaf bar who was obsessed with Gray let me fuck her in the storage room. I bet Fallon would’ve, too, if I’d gotten to her before Gray did. I’m not sure if I enjoy torturing Brooke or if I’m just trying to pass the time while I’m stuck in the IT hub, but I plant myself at her desk again the next day. She doesn’t even look up at me as I drag a chair over from the conference table, lean back in it, and slap my boots up on her desk. Today she’s wearing a Green Day t-shirt, a pair of ripped up jeans, and the same dingy chuck taylors that she had on yesterday. Her long blonde hair is down, tucked back behind her ears. Black framed glasses perched on her nose; her fingers fly across the computer keyboard. Her nails are painted purple, the polish chipping. I just watch her for a moment, studying her movements. The curve of her neck, the way she furrows her brow and gnaws on her lip in concentration. Definitely nerdy as hell, but also kind of… endearing? “Sup, kid?” I ask, shrugging out of my jacket. Slowly, she turns to look at me, and I watch as her eyes travel down to my biceps as I pull them out of my jacket sleeves, fly to my abs when my shirt rides up. “You like what you see?” I waggle my eyebrows. She scowls, turning away, resuming typing. “Are you going to sit here and bug me all afternoon again?” Brooke asks through gritted teeth. “Come on, now. I thought you liked my company.” I flash a smile, but she doesn’t even glance my way. I throw my jacket over the back of my chair, reclining in it as I study her again. Long, thin fingers glide across the keyboard. Her baggy t-shirt hides her body, but if she’s anything like her twin, I bet it’s bangin’. Her tits are a little small for my taste, but I caught a glimpse of that ass of hers in her yoga pants in the dining hall last night and I wouldn’t mind another peek. If she’d ever leave her desk chair. Fuck , this girl is obsessed with her computer. “So Green Day, huh?” I ask, fumbling for the pocket of my jacket to retrieve my afternoon snack. “What?” Brooke finally turns to look at me, her big blue eyes blinking behind her glasses. “Your shirt.” I gesture to it. “Green Day.”“Oh,” she breathes. “Yeah.” She goes back to typing. Click. Click. Click. “What’s your favorite album?” I ask. She pauses, side-eying me. “ You listen to Green Day ?” I chuckle. “Well no, but if I wanted to, what’s their best?” Brooke considers for a moment, eyes on the ceiling, biting her bottom lip gently. “American Idiot, probably. Or Insomniac.” I choke on a laugh. “Those are names of albums?” Her eyes darken and return to her computer screen. I sigh, still chuckling as I fish my granola bar out of my jacket pocket, tearing open the wrapper. “Didn’t I tell you yesterday that you shouldn’t eat in here?” Brooke murmurs, gaze still transfixed on her monitor. I take a big bite, chewing. “Gotta keep this body fueled, kid,” I say, patting my abs. Her eyes flicker to my stomach, then back to her computer, hands typing furiously. Click. Click. Click. “So Green Day… is that your favorite band?” She stops, whipping her head over to look at me. “What are you doing ?”“What?” I mumble, mouth full of granola bar. I chew as she eyes me skeptically, swallow. “I’m just making conversation. Seems like you wear a lot of band t-shirts, so I thought you might have some music recs.” I’m feigning innocence, but I’m a little titillated to be getting under her skin. It’s fun. “Seriously?” I nod. “Seriously. Whatcha got for me?” I twist around in my chair to pull my phone out of my jacket pocket, and once I retrieve it, I catch her taking another peek at my stomach before my shirt slides back down. Oh yeah, baby. Check out those rock hard abs . Her cheeks flush like she knows she’s caught, and she starts in on another staring contest with her computer monitor. I finish the last bite of my granola bar, tossing the wrapper onto her desk. She eyes it with annoyance as I unlock my phone, open my Spotify app. “Okay, where should I start?” I ask, hitting the search button. She studies me for a moment, looking from my phone up to my eyes curiously. Like she’s trying to figure out my game here. “Well what kind of stuff do you usually listen to?” Brooke finally asks, leaning back in her chair and swiveling it toward me. She has one long leg crossed over the other, bouncing the toe of her chuck taylor sneaker. I shrug. “Mostly rap. Hip hop. Whatever’s on the radio. But I’m open to suggestions.” Brooke sighs, rolling her eyes as if my music taste is deplorable. She reaches for her own phone lying face down on the desk, clicking the home button and navigating to the Spotify app. “Here, I’ll share a playlist with you. What’s your Spotify username?”“Huh?”“Your e-mail.”“Uhh… like the one I registered my account under? Can’t you just text it to me?” She groans, and the sound is eerily… sexual. It does something to my dick. “Here,” she sighs, tossing her phone into my lap. “Send it to yourself.” She’s got a blank message open on the screen with the playlist share link ready to go. I drop my own phone into my lap and pick up hers, entering my number and hitting send. My phone vibrates against my crotch. Message received . “Thanks,” I say, handing her phone back to her. I pick up my own, opening up the message and adding the playlist she shared to my own Spotify account. I start to scroll through it absently, not recognizing half of the band names on the playlist. Brooke resumes her furious typing. Click. Click. Click. “So are you coming out tonight?” I ask, still scrolling. The clicking stops, and I can feel her eyes on me. “Yeah. I’m going out. With some friends .” The way she emphasizes the word ‘friends’ is obviously meant to indicate that I’m not included in her plans. “Cool.” Click. Click. Click. “Guess I’ll see you there.” She stops again, and this time, I look up to meet her eyes. They’re so fucking blue- I swear I’ve never seen eyes as blue as hers. Not that I’m paying attention to chicks’ eyes very often. I scold myself mentally for even noticing. Brooke studies my face again. She’s still trying to figure me out. She purses her lips. “Maybe.” I flash her a smile. A faint blush forms on her cheeks and she looks away quickly. She totally wants me. Guess I’m making progress. With what, I don’t know, but I’m smugly satisfied with myself for turning yesterday’s ‘no’ into a ‘maybe’. There’s something about Brooke’s whole ‘good girl’ persona that turns me on a little bit. I’ve never been with someone like her before. I wonder if she’s really that good, or if there’s a bad girl lurking somewhere inside. I wasn’t sure what I was getting at with her before, but now I know. I definitely want to sleep with her.

Chapter 5 5

BROOKE Going to the bar in Goldenleaf is somewhat of a ritual for the squad members on Saturday nights. The girls trade their workout apparel for tight dresses, the guys for jeans and nicer t-shirts or button-downs. I don’t typically put a lot of effort into my appearance, but Fallon always gets really into getting dressed up for our Saturday nights out, so I indulge her. Tonight, she’s talked me into wearing a black pleather mini-skirt and a white lacy crop top with elbow length sleeves. I don’t know if it’s hers or if it’s borrowed, but I feel oddly exposed in the outfit. At least the skirt is high-waisted and the lace of the crop top dips down to conceal my midriff. My legs are really the only thing on full display, and I trade my usual chucks for a pair of heels because according to Fallon they ‘make my legs look longer’ and ‘complete the outfit’. My friend Carly from the IT unit is coming out with us tonight, and she’s more of a girly-girl, totally relishing in the process of getting all dolled up. She insists on curling my hair, but her efforts are in vain- within five minutes, the curls are limp, my long blonde hair taking on more of a loose wave. She also applies more makeup to my face than I’m comfortable with- typically I’m a mascara and lip gloss kind of girl, but Carly applies smoky eyeshadow and winged eyeliner to my eyes and bronzer to my cheekbones. At the last minute, Fallon talks me into swapping my glasses out for contact lenses. She always wears contacts, but I try not to fuss with them too often. I usually only wear contacts when I go for a run. I blink them into my eyes, glancing over at my sister. Fallon looks stunning as always, dressed in a red halter top, skin-tight low-rise pleather pants, red pumps, and her signature ponytail. Always eager to get going, Boyd finally comes into the locker room where we’ve been getting ready to hassle us and herd us out. We’ve got a big group tonight- it’s Fallon and me, Carly, Shay, Casey, Davis, Boyd, Judd, and Connor. Gray is meeting Fallon at the bar since she wanted to get ready with her girlfriends, but I’m not sure if he’ll join our group or pull her to his. Either way, I’m excited to get away from the complex for a night. The nine of us trek the short forest trail from the complex to the bar at the edge of Goldenleaf, filing inside and heading straight for the bar. In his typical fashion, Boyd makes a show of buying the first round of drinks for everyone- his family’s got money and he’s never shy to throw it around. Before the drinks even make it to our hands, Fallon’s mate is prowling up behind her, sliding his arms around her waist and tucking his chin over her shoulder. The two of them can’t keep their hands off of each other. I don’t know if I’m grossed out or a tad… jealous. Boyd hands me my usual vodka soda and I take it from him with an appreciative smile. I glance around the bar as I sip on it, Carly sidling up beside me. “Mister sexy is here,” she whispers, looking over toward the table in the corner where the alphas always post up. I roll my eyes. “Mister sexy?” Carly giggles. “Well yeah, he… oh crap, he’s looking over here!” She brings a hand up beside her face, blocking her view. I glance over to Theo’s table and sure enough, I’m met with those intense hazel eyes staring from underneath a furrowed brow. “Is he still looking?” Carly hisses. I sigh, spinning around to face the bar and bringing my glass to my lips. “Mhmmm…” I hum as I take a sip. I swallow it down, wincing a little as the liquor burns my throat. The bartenders here always pour heavy. “Total creep.”“Ugh, he’s so hot ,” Carly laments, flipping her brunette curls over her shoulder. Her hair holds curl much better than mine does. “He’s a jerk,” I mutter, taking another sip of my drink. Carly shrugs. “Well, he’s been really nice to me so far.”“Probably because he wants to get in your pants.”“I’d let him.” My eyebrows shoot up. I guess I’d just assumed that Carly was as inexperienced as I am when it comes to men. “What were you guys talking about today?” Carly asks. “He sat with you for a long time.” I toss back the rest of my drink, setting it on the bar top. “Music.”“Music?” She parrots, blinking. I shrug. “I sent him a Spotify playlist.” I lean forward onto the bar, throwing up a hand to get the bartender’s attention. Carly leans back onto the bar beside me, sipping her daiquiri. “Are you guys friends or something?”“ God no,” I sigh, exasperated. “I wish he’d just leave me alone so I can get my work done.” The bartender delivers me another drink and I fish some cash out of my bra to pay for it. “Feel free to send him my way instead, then,” Carly says, grinning mischievously. “I wouldn’t mind him posting up at my desk for the afternoon.”“I’ll do that,” I mumble, grabbing my fresh vodka-soda off the bar and taking a little sip. I glance over at Fallon and Gray, still tangled up in one another nearby. “You go ahead,” Fallon purrs, pushing at Gray’s chest. “I’m gonna hang with my friends for a little while.” Gray plants a steamy kiss on Fallon’s lips before he turns around to head back over to his table and Fallon swivels to face Carly and me, wiping her bottom lip with her thumb. “You’re so lucky,” Carly gushes, grinning at Fallon. She treats my sister like she’s a celebrity now that she’s mated to an alpha. “The luckiest,” Fallon winks. She steps closer to me, slipping an arm around my shoulders. “Gray said we can put our drinks on his tab tonight.”“Oh, that’s so nice,” I reply. It really is. Gray’s a good guy. I’m glad my sister wound up with someone like him, even if I may be just the teensiest bit jealous of her for it. It’s so obvious that Gray’s head-over-heels for Fallon. I hope I’ll find a love like that for myself one day. As if on cue, Connor makes his way over to me, giving me an awkward little wave and a lopsided smile. “Hey Brooke,” he greets, dragging his fingers down through his shaggy bangs. “I was gonna get another drink, do you want one?” Ugh. He’s so frickin’ cute. I glance down at the full glass in my hands, wishing I could take him up on his offer. “I’m good for now,” I say, holding up my drink. “In a little bit, though?”“Yeah, totally.” Connor swallows, looking down at the floor, fidgeting. “Well I’m just gonna…” he trails off, motioning to the bar. “Yeah, of course.” I sidestep to allow him access. Fallon rolls her eyes, grabbing my drink out of my hand. I open my mouth to protest, but she’s already downed it, tapping Connor on the shoulder. “Hey Connor! Brooke could use that drink after all,” she says, tossing me a wink. Connor swivels around, raising his brows. “Oh yeah?” I stifle a laugh, shaking my head at Fallon. “Yeah, vodka soda,” I say, my cheeks heating in a blush. “Thanks, Connor.” He flags down the bartender to order our drinks and Fallon leans in to me, waggling her eyebrows. She drops her voice to a whisper. “Don’t say I never did anything for you, sis.”

Chapter 6 6

THEO “Ah, he’s back,” I drawl as Gray approaches our table, stabbing his fingers through his hair. “What happened man, trouble in paradise?” Gray slides into his seat beside me, but not before he delivers a jab to my bicep. Jax snickers on the other side of me. I can always count on him to laugh at my smartass comments. I press further. “Don’t tell me you guys broke up already…” Gray rolls his eyes, reaching for the beer he left stranded when he got up to greet Fallon. Little does he know, I downed it in his absence, impatient for the waitress to bring over more. “Please,” Gray scoffs. “She’s hanging with her friends for a while. We don’t have to be together twenty-four seven. I know who she’s going home with.” Gray picks up the beer, realizes it’s empty, and reaches for a fresh one instead, bringing it to his lips and taking a swig. “I don’t know man, if she was mine, I wouldn’t let her out of my sight,” I say, casting a sidelong glance at Fallon. “With a body like that…” A warning growl starts in Gray’s chest, and I throw my hands up in surrender. “I’m just sayin’!” Across the table, Brock and Reid roll their eyes at me. Those guys are no fun. “Her sister’s not bad,” I shrug. “A little prudish for my taste, but…” Gray cuts me off by slamming his beer back on the table. “Leave Brooke alone.” I can’t help myself- I just love pushing people’s buttons. When I start to get under their skin, I dig deeper. “What, is she with you too, now?” I tease. “Was it like a two-for-one deal?” Gray’s jaw ticks and he takes another swig of his beer, setting it down and drawing a deep breath before he turns to face me. Even though I know I’ve ruffled his feathers, he’s calm, cool. “No, but she’s family now. And you’re the last guy I’d want sniffing around a sister of mine.” I roll my eyes. “Do you really think that little of me?”“When it comes to women?” he asks, arching a brow. “Absolutely. You know you’re a dog, don’t deny it.” I laugh, because I can’t. And he’s right to warn me to stay away from Brooke, though I don’t plan to listen. “Fuck,” Reid mutters from across the table, dropping his face into his hands. Slowly, he picks it back up, looking warily in the direction of the door. All four of us follow his gaze to see who just walked in. It’s Arabella, the girl that Reid was seeing and recently broke things off with- and she’s entering the bar arm-in-arm with Leo. He’s another squad member, one of our best trackers. Jax whistles, eyebrows raised. “She moved on fast.” Reid heaves a sigh. “I don’t even care, man. She can do what she wants, I just wish she wouldn’t rub my face in it.” He rummages through the beer bottles on the table in search of a fresh one. I finish off the last swig of my own, looking around for the waitress, Kelly. It’s busy as hell in here tonight and she usually stands out with her platinum and pink hair, but I don’t spot her anywhere. “What’d I tell you, man,” Brock grumbles, shaking his head. “Don’t get involved…”“Ohhhkay, Brock,” I scoff, rolling my eyes as I rise to stand. “Not everyone wants to live like a fucking monk until they find their mate.”“And not everyone wants to fuck everything that moves, either,” Brock bites back. I just wave him off, turning to head to the bar for more beers. I thread my way through the crowd, relishing in the way that women ogle me as I pass. What can I say? I like the attention. And I get a lot of it. Brooke and her friends aren’t posted up by the bar anymore, which is a damn shame. I spotted her earlier and from what I saw, nerd girl cleans up good . When I approach the bar, the other patrons part to let me through. Gotta love those alpha perks . I throw a hand up to the bartender, spreading my fingers out to indicate that I need five beers, and he nods in affirmation, heading to retrieve them. “Hey, Theo,” a voice beside me purrs, and I turn to see Arabella giving me major fuck-me eyes. Her sleek dark hair is in a single braid over her shoulder, dipping down to rest beside a truly spectacular pair of tits. Her tight black tank top accentuates her slim waist and flat stomach, and… fuck I need to stop checking her out . Arabella is smokin’ hot, but I’m not interested in Reid’s sloppy seconds. Not even when she pouts those full lips of hers and brushes her fingertips along my bicep. “Hey,” I grunt, turning back to watch the bartender carry over the beers I ordered. I can still feel Arabella’s eyes on me. “Put it on Gray’s tab,” I mutter, winding my fingers around the necks of the bottles so I can carry all five at once. I pick them up and turn away, heading back to the table. Again, the females pay attention as I pass. I smile at one, wink at another. Damn, it’s good to be me . When I reach our table, I dole out the beers. Brock actually thanks me when I hand him one, so I guess he’s done being surly for now. The five of us down our beers, order another round, then another. After awhile, Gray takes off with Fallon while the rest of us stay for another round. Then another. I’m feeling pretty fucking good when I get up to head to the bathroom, side-eyeing the scantily clad girls on the dance floor as I go. I pause for a moment to check out the talent when I feel a pair of soft hands snake around my waist from behind, sliding up under my t-shirt and cruising across my hard ab muscles. “Hey Theo,” comes a breathy whisper in my ear, and I glance over my shoulder to see a cute little brunette with big eyes and full lips. “Hey,” I breathe, swiveling around to get a better look. I recognize her- I think her name is Kailey? Hailey? Whatever her name is, I got a blowjob from her once out behind the bar. She used a lot of teeth. “You wanna go outside?” she asks, voice so husky that she’s practically moaning. I give her a once-over. Her full tits are spilling over the top of her strapless dress, eyelashes fluttering as she blinks up at me. She’s 100% my type- petite, brown hair, big boobs. I crack a smile. “For what?” Hailey/Kailey places her hands on my pecs, leaning in to whisper in my ear. “I want you to fuck me this time.” My dick twitches in my jeans. Who am I to turn down an invitation like that? I slide an arm around the girl’s waist, leading her toward the door. Despite the crowd, we cross the distance in thirty seconds flat, and I push open the door, tugging Hailey/Kailey out behind me. I step a few feet away from the bar entrance and she giggles, following me, reaching straight for my dick. It’s already semi-hard and she grabs at it through my jeans, biting her lip as she gazes up at me seductively. I sag back against the wall, let her do her thing. It feels good. Hailey/Kailey goes to work on the button on my jeans, unfastening it and pulling down my zipper, reaching into my pants. I jolt a little bit when I feel her nimble fingers wrap around my cock. Then the door beside us swings open. Hailey/Kailey is undeterred by the interruption, still fondling my dick, but I crane my neck to see who steps out. My eyes are met with a very surprised looking Brooke. She’s startled to see me, and then it takes her a second to comprehend what’s going on. Her eyes go from me, to Hailey/Kailey, to her arm, to where her hand disappears in my pants. “Oh! I, um…” Brooke stammers, but she doesn’t move. It’s like she’s frozen, glued to the spot she’s standing in. I smirk, raking my eyes over her body. Little miss goody two-shoes is dressed to kill tonight in a tight little skirt and heels. Her glasses are gone, her blonde hair falls in waves over her shoulders, and fuck , those legs . They go on for days . If I wasn’t all the way hard before, I am now. My dick strains against the fabric of my jeans and Hailey/Kailey’s hand. “A little privacy?” I arch a brow. Brooke glances around, flustered. “I… ew .” She doesn’t look disgusted though, not exactly. Her wolf appears in swirls of silver in her irises, and as her gaze trails down to the other girl’s hand in my pants again, there’s something else behind her eyes… curiosity . Brooke spins around, pulling open the door and ducking back inside the bar with lightning speed. I rake a hand through my hair, sighing as Hailey/Kailey starts tugging on my dick again. I pull her hand out of my pants, lead her around the corner to the back of the building. And yeah, I fuck her. Because I can, and because it feels good.

Chapter 7 7

BROOKE If I didn’t think so before, then last night’s run-in with him certainly cemented it- Theo Jacobsen is a pig . Who the heck gets a handjob in a public place? And he had the nerve to ask for privacy, like I was the one being rude? Who the hell does he think he is ? On Sunday morning, I head out for a run after breakfast. I don’t consider myself the sporty type like my twin is, but endurance has always been my jam. Running helps me clear my head, get centered. The endorphins don’t suck, either. The wolf inside of me is also particularly wily. It’s a struggle to keep her at bay, but running helps. Just getting out in nature appeases her, tiring out my body quiets her. I try to stick to my typical forest paths so I don’t get lost. I’m a terrible navigator. When I first moved to the complex almost two months ago, I got lost a few times on my runs. I had to shift and allow my wolf to lead me back, which sadly resulted in the loss of several t-shirts and pairs of leggings. Even my favorite sports bra. When I tried to go back out and look for it another day, I only wound up lost again. Shifter life . I’d guess I’ve covered about two miles when I spot something just off the forest path ahead. It looks like wadded up fabric and the closer I get, the more excited I am, because I’m hoping I’ve stumbled upon something I lost in the past. I skid to a stop, hopping off the path to stoop down and grab one of the pieces of clothing, shaking it out and holding it up. Dang . It isn’t mine- it’s a charcoal grey men’s t-shirt. Size large. I’m startled by the sound of twigs snapping and I draw a short gasp, whipping around to identify the source of the noise. My breath hitches when I see what it is- standing across the path from me is a giant, silver wolf. He stares back, shaking out his fur. He’s magnificent . So large, so sleek. I forget to breathe. Suddenly, the air around the wolf shimmers, body rearranging with his shift. The silver wolf recedes, and in his place crouches a large, muscular figure. The last person I wanted or expected to see this morning. Theo. He rises to stand, eyes burning into mine. And he’s… Completely naked. Holy frick . I’ve never seen a body like his up close. The sight of it immediately makes my cheeks flush, makes me break out in a cold sweat. Every inch of Theo’s body is covered in hard muscle, from his broad shoulders to his thick biceps to his corded forearms. One of his arms has a sleeve of tribal tattoos, winding from his shoulder to his wrist. His pecs are smooth, save for a smattering of dark hair, and his abdominals dip and curve to form an eight-pack. His Adonis belt points in a V to his… huge member. Like huge , huge. Oh my … “Hey, kid,” Theo drawls, cracking a smile. My face heats and I spin around, putting my back to him. The sight of his body does something to mine. There’s a heat, a pulsing between my legs. I squeeze my thighs together, trying to will it away. “Wh… what… what are you doing out here?” I stutter, staring down at the ground. I’m so embarrassed. I wish I could disappear. “I could ask you the same question,” he chuckles. I hear Theo striding toward me. My heart races. I feel him prowl right up behind me, leaning down to grab for a pair of athletic shorts by my feet. I hop out of the way, and in my peripheral vision I can see him slide them on, shimmy them up over his hips. “I… I was going for a run,” I manage, chancing another glance his way. His junk is covered up, but he’s still shirtless, all of that gorgeous toned muscle on display. “Will you put on a shirt?” I ask through gritted teeth. Theo chuckles again- a low, throaty laugh that makes my belly do somersaults. “I mean, I would but…”“But what?” I snap, finally turning to face him. Theo shakes his head, a devilish smile across his face as he reaches one of those burly arms up and rakes his fingers through his hair. “Well you’re holding it.” My eyes fly wide and I look down to find that I’m still clutching that charcoal grey t-shirt tightly in my hands. I throw it at him like it’s on fire and he snatches it out of the air, still chuckling as he shakes it out and slips it on. The shirt doesn’t help calm my nerves, not now that I know what his body looks like underneath. The shirt’s tight, dipping and curving with the well-defined muscle beneath the fabric. I try to come up with something to say, anything to say, but all I can manage is “are you stalking me or something?” Theo rolls his eyes, folding his arms across his chest. The sleeves of his t-shirt strain against his biceps. “Now why would I be stalking you, kid? I was out for a run, same as you.” Oh. Well that makes sense. Still, I’m annoyed by his interruption of what was supposed to be a leisurely run. I’m annoyed by the way he keeps calling me ‘kid’. I wanted to come out here to clear my head, and now it’s scrambled. An awkward pause settles between us before Theo speaks up again. “Did you have fun last night?” The question catches me a little bit off guard. I figured he’d pretend he didn’t see me last night, not be so brazen to bring it up. Then again, it’s Theo . “Not as much as you,” I scoff. He cocks an eyebrow. “Jealous?”“What?” My eyes fly wide. Is he crazy? “No.”“You sure, kid?” Theo smirks. The nerve of this guy! I want to wipe the smirk right off of his face. Instead, I stare down at the ground. “That would imply that I want anything to do with you, which I don’t,” I grumble, folding my arms and kicking at the dirt. “Come on,” Theo coaxes, his voice as smooth as silk. “You can’t tell me you’ve never thought about it.” My eyes fly up to meet his again. “No way.”“Liar.” I glare at him. “Trust me, you’re not my type,” I hiss. Theo cocks his head to the side, his eyebrow arching again. “Oh, Brooke Eastwick has a type ? Go on, hit me with it.” I roll my eyes, kicking at the ground again. “I like nice guys.”“I’m not a nice guy?” I stifle a laugh. “Nice guys don’t get handjobs in public.” Theo shrugs, unruffled. “Fair enough. But let me let you in on a secret, no guy wants to be called nice .”“And why is that?”“Haven’t you ever heard the phrase ‘nice guys finish last’? Nice guys never get the girl.”“Yes they do,” I scowl. “Some girls like nice guys.” Theo shakes his head, a mocking smile on his lips. “Nah. At the end of the day, even the nice girls want the bad boy.” I let out an exasperated sigh. Talking to this guy is pointless. Apparently, he takes my silence as an admission. “You do , don’t you?” Theo teases. “What?” I scrunch up my nose in disgust. “ You ? No. Absolutely not .”“Please,” he scoffs. “I saw the way you were looking at me when I shifted. Like you’ve never seen a dick before.” My jaw drops at his lewd comment, eyes thrown wide. Theo pauses, eyes narrowing. “Wait a minute, have you never seen a dick before?”“I’m a shifter,” I blurt. “Of course I’ve seen a… you know what .” Theo laughs, throwing his head back. “Oh my god, you can’t even say it!” My face flushes hot and I squeeze my arms tighter across my chest. I wish the ground would open up underneath my feet and swallow me whole. Theo’s still chuckling when he returns his gaze to mine. “Have you ever touched one?”“Shut up!” I yell. The anger rising in my chest is bringing my wolf forward- she’s agitated, ready to tear through. “Calm down, I’m just messing with you. I mean, I already pegged you as a virgin.” If looks could kill, Theo would be a goner. I stare daggers through him, gnawing on the inside of my cheek as I feel the sting of tears forming behind my eyes. The frickin’ nerve of this guy! “Good bye , Theo,” I huff, turning away from him and stomping back on the path. “Wait… come on, I was messing around!” he calls after me, but I don’t look back and he doesn’t follow. Angry, embarrassed tears spill down my cheeks as I take off in a sprint back in the direction of the squad complex, away from Theo, away from his nasty comments. He’s nothing but a jerk. An alpha-hole. A DICK. THEO I can’t stop thinking about that interaction with Brooke in the forest. I was just ribbing her a little, I didn’t mean to actually upset her. It’s not like me to have a crisis of conscience, but… she looked like she was gonna cry . I don’t know why I feel so shitty about it, why I’m letting it bother me. I’m laying in bed, scrolling through the Spotify playlist she sent me, when something occurs to me- I have her number. She texted me the playlist from her phone. I navigate to my messages, finding the one with the Spotify link. After saving it into my contacts, I open a new message and… have a staring contest with my phone for the next five minutes. Fuck, what am I gonna say to her? Sorry for calling you a virgin? I settle on something simple. Theo: Hey kid I stare at the screen for a full two minutes before I follow it up with another. Theo: It’s Theo I keep staring at the screen, the minutes dragging on. Maybe she’s asleep. I toss my phone down onto my bed, stare at the ceiling. Then it vibrates next to me. I lunge for it, swiping to unlock it, blinking at her reply. Brooke: Hi. Well that was certainly short and sweet. I heave a sigh. Now what? Theo: Just wanted to say I didn’t mean to upset you today. The little bubble shows up that indicates she’s typing, then disappears. Then pops back up, then goes away again. I groan, tugging at my hair as I await her response. Brooke: Is that supposed to be an apology? I groan again, typing out another message. Theo: FINE, I’m sorry. I was just joking around. She makes me wait several minutes before she responds again. Brooke: It doesn’t feel good to be the butt of someone else’s joke. Theo: Butt. Heh. Brooke: You’re immature. Theo: So I’m told. She doesn’t send any response, and I rack my brain trying to think of something, anything to say. I’m at a loss, so after about ten minutes, I just toss my phone back on my bed. I don’t even know why I apologized. I can’t remember the last time I apologized to anyone, for anything. I feel marginally better, though. Less shitty. Maybe she does, too.