Unspoken Vow (Steele Brothers 2)

Law reaches out and pulls on my man bun. “And you’re doing a great job of it.”

“Man buns are cool.”

He laughs so hard he has to hold on to his stomach.

“Oh, fuck off.” I grab the box he dumped. His laughter follows me as I leave the apartment and take the stairs leading to the garage in the basement.

I don’t want Law to make a point, but I’m scared he does. I’ve been living alone for a few weeks since Law first started moving his stuff out. Maybe I need to keep living alone to prove I can.

If I could afford somewhere in a safe area, I’d do it, but unfortunately my options are getting a roommate or living in Stab City.

This is my only option.

One level down, I run into Brody coming the other way. He’s in tight jeans and another tight T-shirt. Gah, where are his stuffy suits when I need them?

I adjust the box on my hip. “What are you doing here?”

He tips his head behind him. “Reed came to pick me up to help with the moving, roomie.” He claps my back, and I try to hold in my flinch. Brody doesn’t notice. He bounds up the stairs as I continue my way down, but right before hitting the basement, Law’s voice travels down the stairwell.

“Hey, Brody, what’s your opinion on man buns?”

I love my brother, but sometimes I really fucking hate him.

4

Brody

I find Anders outside our apartment building, looking up at it with a box in his hands. He doesn’t pay attention to everyone on the street bustling by him and doesn’t even flinch at a guy on a bicycle who crashes in front of him because a car pushes him out of the bike lane.

Instead of startling my new roommate—I’m learning not to do that—I go and stand next to him, trying to look for whatever he sees up high.

There’s nothing out of the ordinary. The building is still gaudy and over-the-top and is situated along the Brisbane River, so it costs a mint.

I didn’t find this place. My father did. The outside might be pretentious, but inside my apartment, thanks to a decorator my father also hired, the style is modern and laid-back as per my instructions on how to furnish the place.

Without even acknowledging me or turning to face me, Anders says, “I can’t afford to live here.”

I glance at him out of the corner of my eye. “I don’t remember asking you for rent.”

“I can’t live here rent-free. How is it only occurring to me now to ask how much it costs?”

“Uh, because you’re only here until you find a permanent place?”

His skin pales. “Right. Of course.”

My eyes narrow. “I’m guessing you figured that’ll be a while.”

Anders finally turns to me. “I’m kinda … particular about things.”

Somehow, I think he’s understating that a bit.

“Finding somewhere in my price range that I’m comfortable with might take a while.”

“Take as long as you want. Like I said the other day, I work seventy, sometimes eighty hours a week. I’m hardly ever home.”

“I’m gonna pay you rent.”

“If you insist, you can, but you don’t have to.” I’m trying to explain to him the last thing I need is money but without actually coming out and saying My dad is rich and I don’t even pay rent. Or a mortgage. I also know how some people can be about money, so I respect his need to pay something—even if it’s small. “Anything you can manage will be fine. Whatever you can afford.”

Anders adjusts the box he’s holding. “Why are you offering this?”

“Like I said when I suggested you move in: we’re friends now. Friends do shit for each other.”

“Yeaaah, I’m not that type of friend. I’m the type of friend who promises to catch up with you but never sets a date. I say I’ll be there and then never turn up. I’m the guy who owes a million different favours with no intention of repaying them.”

I laugh. “At least you’re honest? Come on, let’s get all this moved in.” We already dumped most of his stuff off at a storage unit he’s renting for his big furniture items, so we’ve only got a few boxes to haul upstairs. At least this place has an elevator unlike his old one.

And as if on cue, a loud whistle comes from the front entrance. “What are you two doing?” Reed yells.

“On our way,” I call back.

Anders takes a deep breath. “I can do this.”

I have no idea what he means by that, but it sounds as if he has to convince himself living with me isn’t going to be like needing a root canal.

Maybe living with him will give me more insight into his quirky randomness. That’s not even coming from a place where I still want a date with him. I’ve promised myself to behave. In fact, seeing as he’s adamant we won’t hook up, I won’t allow myself to look at him like that anymore.