Holding On (Memories) by Emma Hart Page A

couldn’t give a crap about annoying me.
    And I have to admit that I like it. A lot.
    I like it more than I should, since she’s actually not available – and in an odd kind of way, I’m not either. But that just makes me want her more, because wanting what you can’t have is both the best and worst thing in life. Jen definitely has the potential to be the best and worst thing in my life.
    And I don’t know what to make of that.
    Gram said it was time for me to “find a nice girl” before she died. Hell, maybe she’s right – but there’s no nice girls around here. At least, none that are capable of seeing past my dick. I’m pretty sure that’s the number one reason Heidi keeps coming back.
    I knock on the door to Lexy’s bathroom.
    “What?” she hollers.
    “Is Alec comin’ over?” I yell through the door.
    “Any minute. Why?”
    “I need a work out,” I answer.
    “Jen get you riled up?”
    “Always.” I turn away, knowing if I stay there any longer my sister will get ideas in her head. Hell, after my performance the other night at dinner she probably already has ideas and the fucking plans to go with them.
    I slam my door, change my clothes, and make my way downstairs as Alec walks through the front door.
    I motion for him to follow me, and he does without question. We pass down into the basement Dad converted into a mini-gym when I hit puberty, and I head straight for the punching bag in the corner. Alec stand behind it, grabbing it and holding it still for me.
    I work out my frustrations, one punch after another, letting out my frustrations. I let out all her sarcastic comments, her biting insults, her hard looks, and her disdainful attitude towards me.
    And as much of a git as it makes me sound, I’m not used to wanting someone I can’t have.
     

Chapter Seven
JEN
     
    Lexy purses her lips, and slams her phone on the side, screen down. I raise an eyebrow.
    “He will not leave me alone,” she grinds out. “Jayna is coming to the party tomorrow night because her parents know mine, and Adrian is her date. Which he keeps reminding me about.”
    “Well give Polly a cracker,” I spit out. Lexy smiles slightly. “Your friends are assholes.”
    “Yep,” she agrees. “This is gonna be a disaster, isn’t it? Adrian is gonna do everything he can to get under Alec’s skin.”
    “Then we have to keep him calm.” I shrug. “Number one, keep him away from Twat One and Twat Two. Number two, make sure Bing is around because he can calm Alec down – failing that, smack Adrian himself. And number three, keep me around.”
    “Why?”
    “Because…” I grin. “…If Jayna tries anything I will go country bumpkin ninja bitch on her ass.”
    Lexy laughs. “Country bumpkin against a city… A city what?”
    I tilt my head to the side. “Do we need to put a “city” in there? Can’t we just call her Crayola in honour of her make-up?”
    Lexy snorts, covering her face with her hands. She bends forward, her whole body shaking. I grin again, fighting my own laughter.
    Honestly, I’m so bloody brilliant I think people would pay to have my sense of humour.
    I’m just saying.
    Lexy sits back up, wiping under her eyes. “Yep. Yep, we could go for that.” She nods.
    Alec strolls into the kitchen towards Lexy, and wraps his arms around her shoulders from behind. He rests his chin on her shoulder, and her face automatically turns into his. I feel a stab of jealousy as I watch them together. I’m starting to really miss Carl – and as irritated as I am with him right now, I’d give anything for a cuddle.
    “All right, Princess?” he says to her.
    She smiles. “Yep. Just talking about tomorrow.”
    Alec grunts, sitting next to her.
    “Don’t be grumpy,” I playfully scold him. “It’s a party.”
    “Yeah, well I can’t say I’m looking forward to seeing Adrian.” His jaw visibly clenches. Lexy leans into him, resting her head on his shoulder. He kisses the top of her head.
    “It’ll be