Forever Blake (Once Upon a Player Book 3) by Elena Matthews (motivational novels for students .txt) 📕

“Fine,” I mumble under my breath as we exit my bedroom and join my brother in the living room.

We walk in, and I note that he’s made himself comfortable in the armchair and not the sofa he almost witnessed Ever and I having sex on. Good call.

He stands the moment he sees Ever and holds his hand out to her. “Even though I’ve seen you a few times now, we haven’t been formally introduced. I’m Jace, Blake’s older brother.”

She accepts his hand and shakes. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Reagan, but since I hate that name to the very bottom of my soul, you can call me Ever.”

Jace chuckles. “It’s nice to meet you, too, Ever. My brother has told me a lot about you.”

Ever glances up at me suspiciously. “Should I be afraid?”

“No, he’s just been keeping me updated on his woes of unknowingly hooking up with his boss’s daughter.”

“He told you, huh?” Ever asks, amusement creasing under her eyes.

“Don’t worry though; your secret is safe with me. To be honest, your dad gave me the heebie-jeebies the few times we met. No offense.”

She throws her head back with a laugh. “I get it, I really do, so no offense taken.”

“I haven’t spoken to Blake here for a few days, so this”—he points between Ever and me—“is new information. Care to clue a brother in?”

“It’s a little complicated,” I admit.

How can I tell my brother what’s going on when I barely understand it myself—and especially in front of Ever?

He must take the hint that I don’t want to talk about it, as he nods, saying, “Say no more.”

“Do either of you want a drink?” I ask, changing the subject altogether.

“I’ll take a beer if you have one,” Jace answers.

Ever shakes her head. “I’m good. I still have my iced tea from earlier.”

Jace sits back down on the armchair as Ever follows suit on the sofa. I overhear Jace ask how Ever’s internship is going as I take out a beer for him and a bottled water for me. I make it a rule not to drink during the week. I work such crazy hours that if I added alcohol into the mix, I would burn out really quick.

“I absolutely love it. It’s not quite how I imagined it though.”

“What do you mean, it’s not quite how you imagined it?” I’m the one to ask as I return to the living room, handing Jace his beer before taking the seat beside Ever on the sofa.

“It’s probably what I get for watching Suits. I assumed it’d be like boot camp—you know, only getting coffee, being screamed at…though I pretty much was on my first day after this one freaked out on me,” she says, pointing at me.

Jace busts out laughing, slapping his hand against his lap. “Oh, burn!”

Ever laughs with him while I pout.

“Yep, like I said before, it wasn’t my finest moment.”

“Did he at least apologize?” Jace asks Ever, amused with my misfortune.

“Yes, he’s pretty good at giving apologies now since he’s had to do it so often,” she teases, which cracks Jace up.

“I like you, Ever.” He turns to me, still laughing. “You’d better watch out, brother; she might steal your job.”

“Oh, I wish. I still have three years of law school to contend with.”

“You’re heading to Harvard, right?” he asks, sipping back his beer.

She peers at me from the corner of her eyes. “You have been talking about me. I thought your brother was just being polite.”

I just shrug, fighting back a smile. If she didn’t know how crazy I was for her, she does now.

She returns her attention to Jace. “Yeah, I start in the fall.”

My mood simmers a little at that, but I keep it well hidden.

“That’s impressive.”

“I like to think so. Harvard has been my dream school since I was a child.”

“So, one day, you’ll be Blake’s boss?”

Ever smirks while I glare at Jace. “Quite possibly, but I still haven’t decided what type of lawyer I want to be yet. It’s a toss between corporate and criminal.”

“Well, you have plenty of time to figure it out, but I have to say, though I give Blake a hard time, you couldn’t have found a better mentor.”

Ever flicks her eyes in my direction, a pretty smile on her lips. “He’s all right, I suppose.”

She affectionately nudges her knee with mine, and I swear, my entire body erupts with tiny goose bumps. Just the simplest of touches from her has every inch of my nerve endings on high alert. Gosh, she doesn’t even have to touch me for me to feel it. It’s like she’s got sexual magic powers. Maybe I was given the love potion when I wasn’t looking. Whatever this feeling is, it’s new…but I kind of like it.

Well, I mean, she’s got me risking my job to be with her, so that must mean something. Right?

I’m so clueless at this chick stuff…and that’s coming from somebody who thought he was an expert at women. That was, until I met Ever.

“So, will we see you at your father’s Fourth of July pool party?” Jace asks Ever a few moments later.

Shit.

I’ve been so distracted with work and everything Ever that I totally forgot Edwin invited me and my entire family for Fourth of July a few weeks ago.

That was before anything happened with Ever…I mean, again.

It’s one thing, trying to keep my hands to myself while I’m at work, but it’s another when Ever will be dressed in a skimpy swimsuit, looking all gorgeous and irresistible.

If I had known things between Ever and me would escalate, I might not have been so enthusiastic to say yes to attending and bringing my family.

“Yeah, I will, though I had no idea you were invited.” Ever faces me, humor creasing around her eyes.

“I actually forgot until Jace brought it up,” I admit.

“Well, that’s going to be fun,” Ever deadpans.

Jace throws back the rest of his beer before standing from his seat. “Well, I think