Exactly. The antithesis of me. “I agree. That’s the type of person she needs.”

Which is why even if she and I both weren’t so damn scared of hurting Nathan, I still wouldn’t be the right person for her. My track record sucked.

When the front door opened, I kept to myself in the kitchen, pounding the back of my hand into the meat mindlessly when I should’ve been forming it into burgers. Farrah and her little friend were talking out in the living room. I wasn’t sure where Nathan had gone, maybe to change into his swim shorts. I really wished he’d get the hell back out here, though. He was supposed to be my buffer.

Footsteps approached the kitchen, and the next thing I knew, Farrah appeared, wearing a sundress so thin her nipples peeked through. Now that this guy was standing in front of me, I could see he was pretty short. That made me perversely happy.

“Hey, how’s it going?” Farrah asked.

“Good,” I said, moving to the sink to wash my hands. When I’d finished, I sucked it up and extended my hand to him. “How ya doing, man?”

“Good. Nice to see you again. Did you ever find any dirt on me?” he asked.

“No. You’re clean as a whistle. Which is the only reason you’re here.”

“Good to know. I respect you looking out for her.”

I stared him straight in the face. “I always will.”

Farrah smiled at me, and our eyes locked. Then Nathan came in, and my focus shifted over to him.

“Nathan, this is Colton,” Farrah said, her voice a little shaky. “Colton, this is my brother, Nathan.”

Colton extended his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Nathan took it. “Same.”

Farrah looked between them. “Nathan has assured me that he’s going to be on his best behavior today.”

“So long as no one gives me a reason to act otherwise,” Nathan cracked.

Forcing myself to extend an olive branch, I said, “Can I get you a beer, Colton?”

“That’d be great.”

“Miller or Heineken?”

“I’ll take a Miller. Thanks.”

As I walked over to the fridge, Farrah said, “What? No beer for me?”

I would’ve rathered Farrah not drink today. Her inhibitions would loosen, and then she might do something with this guy she wouldn’t otherwise. I knew how that went firsthand. Nevertheless, I once again sucked it up. “You want a Miller, right?” I knew that was her favorite.

“Yes. And I was only teasing, Jace. I can get it myself.”

The way she batted her eyelashes made me want to lift her up and take her the hell out of here. I had serious issues. I knew she’d rather be with me right now instead of this tool. And I got off on that in a strange way.

Forcing my eyes off of her, I walked over to the fridge to grab the beers.

After handing the bottles to Farrah and her friend, I popped mine open and took a long swig.

Farrah ventured out to the pool area with Colton, and I stayed in the kitchen, though my eyes were glued to her through the sliding glass door. When she slipped her dress over her head, my heartbeat accelerated. It took everything in me not to run out there and cover her up with a towel. I’d always known she had a beautiful body, but for some reason it looked ten times more perfect to me right now—probably because my jealousy was amplifying every thought and emotion.

What the fuck had my life become? A matter of months ago I was living in North Carolina, minding my own business with a thriving career. Now I was back in Florida, cleaning up messes my dad made and lusting after my best friend’s little sister. Worse than that, I was unable to stop myself from thinking about her even when she wasn’t around. And I criticized my family for having addictions? Being addicted to a human had the added risk of harming the other person.

Farrah jumped into the pool, and her boy toy followed suit. I continued to stay in the kitchen, slicing tomato and onion murderously as I stole glances out at the water. It was a wonder I didn’t chop my finger off.

Nathan came up behind me. “He seems okay.”

I practically jumped at the sound of his voice. Damn, was I on edge.

“Yeah. Too early to tell,” I said as I maimed a tomato.

He looked out at the pool and turned to me. “Since we’re hanging out here all day, you should invite someone over.”

“Why would I do that? Wouldn’t you be outnumbered?”

“Actually…” He flashed a smile. “This chick from work is coming by. So…”

“A chick?” I grinned. “Who’s this? And why haven’t you told me about her?”

“Her name is Crystal. She works the front desk at the dealership. She’s cool.”

“Nice. It’s about damn time.”

“Whatever happened to that Alyssa girl?” he asked.

Alyssa was the last thing on my mind.