“I don’t know what to say right now,” I whisper. “But I can see why my dad didn’t introduce you to me. I would have been able to tell him you weren’t worth his time just by meeting you.”

   Pain flashes in her eyes, and she averts her gaze.

   And for a second, I regret my words, but then I remember that without her, I would still have my dad.

   She leaves my workplace without a word, and I let her.

   But now I’m more confused than ever.

Chapter Twenty

   A few nights later we invite Heidi over to my apartment for dinner. I make a roast chicken, potato salad, garlic bread and a salad with spinach, feta, cucumber and tomato. I might not be a master chef, but I can make do.

   Crow tells me how he owns the house Heidi lives in. “So you bought it as an investment house?” I ask, popping a piece of feta in my mouth.

   “I bought it for me to have a little privacy if need be, but I never ended up using it because I’m always at the clubhouse. I was going to rent it out, but then Heidi’s lease came to an end and she was freaking out, so I told her she could just move into my place,” he explains, turning the tap on to wash the sink of dishes that’s accumulated.

   “You’re a good brother,” I say.

   “What are you going to do with the house?” he asks, lining the plates up neatly.

   I shrug. “Rent it out, I guess. I was thinking maybe I could so something nice for someone, like rent it out to a single parent for cheap or something. I don’t want to live in it, but I don’t want to get rid of it either.”

   “And the money?”

   “I don’t know,” I admit, biting my bottom lip. “I really don’t. I do know I need to give back in some way. I don’t want all of that money—it’s money off other people’s addictions—and I don’t think I can ever be okay with that.”

   I know Dad did it for me, but I can’t accept that. It just wouldn’t feel right.

   Heidi arrives wearing red tartan leggings and a black crop. “Love your place,” she says as she steps inside with a bottle of champagne. “These apartments are all so new and modern.”

   “Thank you,” I say, beckoning her inside. She hands me the cold bottle of alcohol, and I thank her again.

   She turns to her brother and flashes him a big grin. “So this is where you’ve been hiding out recently?”

   “Something like that,” he replies, giving her a hug. “What have you been up to?”

   “Nothing much,” she admits as we head to the kitchen to pour us all some champagne. “I enrolled into another course for next semester, but until then I’m just going to chill.”

   “You could get a job,” Crow suggests in a dry tone, standing next to me and leaning forward over the counter. “You could even work at Kamikaze.”

   “I don’t have any bar experience,” she says, frowning. “I want to be a doula and help people give birth. I don’t want to serve drinks to drunk, sleazy men.”

   I have no idea what a doula is, but I know I’m going to search it online when she leaves. “If you don’t work, how do you...live?” I ask, even though I think I already know the answer.

   She smiles widely at her brother. “Crow gave me a debit card, so I just use that whenever I need anything.”

   I slowly bring my eyes to Crow, who avoids my gaze. “Really? So he paid for your vacation and everything?” I’m assuming she lives in his house and he covers all the mortgage and bills.

   I realize that Heidi is very spoiled, and that Crow must have paved the way for that. He’s obviously a very doting big brother, and she’s all he has, as his parents live overseas. It’s not really my business how he wants to spend his money and support his sister, but surely this plan isn’t sustainable? Maybe it’s just like the olden days and she’ll rely on him until she gets married, and then her husband can support her.

   Hey, who am I to judge? I have drug money coming my way soon.

   “Yeah, that was for my birthday present, though,” she says, taking the glass I hand to her and lifting it in the air. “To my brother and his beautiful new girlfriend. I never thought the day would come when he’d meet someone he actually enjoyed spending time with for more than just sex. Welcome to the family, Bronte.”

   I almost choke on my champagne, but manage to cover it up and swallow.

   I mean, it was a compliment, right?

   “Thanks, Heidi,” he groans, and looks to me with apologetic eyes. “I’m sorry.”

   “Always nice to know I’m not just a walking vagina,” I reply, shaking my head at him. Just how much of a playboy was he before me? Maybe he just liked a lot of casual flings.

   The past is the past, though, and I’m the one who gains from his vast experience. At least that’s what I tell myself.

   We all sit down, and Crow helps me set out all the food.

   “This looks amazing,” Heidi says, checking out all of the options. “I can’t remember the last time I had a home-cooked meal.”

   Of course she eats out every day.

   We all dig in and Heidi tells us all about her vacation in Hawaii. “It was amazing. You guys should totally go there on your honeymoon.”

   She definitely doesn’t have a filter, and I find myself laughing at some of her comments.

   “Think we’re a little way off that,” I reply, arching my brow at Crow.

   I would love to marry him one day, but we have a few loose ends to tie before we can even think of anything like that.

   He just laughs in reply. “Hey, you never know.” I do love that he doesn’t freak out about it, though.

   “Tell me everything about you, Bronte,” Heidi says, smiling warmly at me. “I always wanted a sister.”

   And just like that, I know why Crow gives her everything. She’s warm and sweet and makes you feel good about yourself.

   Hell, she can take my money, too.

Chapter Twenty-One

   “I didn’t know you were so into baking,” I say to Nadia, watching her make up batches of brownies, muffins and pizza rolls. “Can you meal prep for me?”

   “I’ve only just gotten into it,” she admits, whizzing around my kitchen. “And yes, I’ll make all of this for you and you can freeze it, just pull it out when you want them. How good is it?”

   “Pretty damn good.”

   “Where’s Crow tonight?” she asks as she makes dough from scratch.