Bradleys POV

"Lad, there literally is no point. We are indoors, it's night time. Why the fuck would you need your sunglasses?"

"Because it just finishes off the outfit nicely." JD replies, eyeing himself up through his bedroom mirror.

"Right, we've been going about this for too long now. I'm over it. I don't care what you do. Let's just go."

"Ok, just let me pump out a few push ups and sit ups first so these guns are nice and plump when Jules sees me." He says and quickly drops down to the floor.

For fucks sake.

I sit back down on the end of his bed waiting for him to finish.

"How do I look?" He breathes out heavily.

"You look the same."

He rolls his eyes. "Quit hatin on me." He replies as he brushes my comment off and reattaches his purple fairy wings.

"Why did we go as fairy men again?" I ask, feeling very idiotic.

"Cause the ladies love this shit." JD replies enthusiastically. "Seeing the soft and playful side to men, the cute carefree childlike behaviour... man they eat that shit up."

"That... is the dumbest shit I've ever heard." I retort, running my hand down my face in frustration. "Where the fuck did you hear this crap?"

"Some women's magazine or some shit." He shrugs.

I roll my eyes at him, quickly losing my patience. I didn't want to be late for Lexi's birthday and especially miss her entrance. I had been fighting the butterflies for a solid hour now and I was nervous as hell to talk to her after what happened this morning. I had quickly lost confidence in how she felt towards me but nonetheless, I knew how I felt and I knew I wanted her, no matter what.

"Are you done? Can we fucking go or what?"

"Yea but hold up. I need you to lend me your key pass." JD says cockily.

"The fuck for?" I shrug. "You honestly think Jules is gonna let you park your car in her garage tonight?"

"I don't know alright but it doesn't hurt to be prepared." He replies. "Now can you just quit giving me shit and hand me the damn pass?"

"Well what if I need it?" I bite back.

"Oh for fucks sake, I'll just ask Benj instead." He replies.

"Ask me what?" Benji replies as he enters the bedroom folding the cuffs of his sleeves up.

I feel my neck heat up, and I turn away from him to try and avoid saying something I would regret later. If there was something going on between my brother and Lexi, I didn't want him to know that I knew. Not yet anyway.

"Can I borrow your pass bro?" JD asks.

Benj glances over at me for a moment then back at JD. "What for?"

"I'm gonna ask Jules to stay over tonight, even if it's just to sleep. I am a gentleman after all." JD says. "So I'd prefer to slip out without announcing it to everyone that Julie and I are heading back up here. Is that too much to ask?"

I remain silent, waiting for Benji to talk and I can feel him looking my way but I refuse to make eye contact.

"Anyway, Brad says he might need it when he brings--"

I quickly cut him off before he reveals her name. "I might need it later." I say facing Benj now with my arms crossed over.

He shifts his weight and stares at me intently. "You still chasing blondie then?"

Who?

"Blondie? Ava?"JD questions. " You dirty dog, got your fingers in both pies ay."

I shove him hard, making him lose balance momentarily then I glance over at Benj and quickly change the topic. "The fuck are you meant to be dressed as?"

He looks down at his attire. Black dress shoes, black jeans with a black button up dress shirt.

"Isn't it obvious I'm dressed as someone who clearly doesn't give a shit about a damn dress code?" He says with sarcasm.

"You look like your going to a funeral." I reply. "But anyway, I couldn't give two shits. I'm heading out now."

I brush past him quickly and as I reach the top of the stairs, I notice JD is lagging. "Hurry the fuck up Jay."

"I'm fuckin comin lad, don't get your knickers in a twist." He yells back as I begin my descent down the stairs.

Ok just calm down Brad.

Benjamins POV

"You comin?" JD turns towards me halfway out the door.

"I'll head down in a bit."

"Alright bro. See you later." He replies then disappears from my sight. I hear them bickering from the stairs as I walk back into my room. I start to pace back and fourth, convincing myself that there was no point of me attending this stupid party. I was starting to get frustrated and impatient with myself. I walk over to the window, looking out at the gloomy skies as a hint of rain starts to show.

Great. Even the weather is telling me tonight's gonna be shit.

I walk over to my wardrobe and grab my jacket, deciding to go out somewhere else on my own since I was already dressed up. As I ease into the sleeves, the sweet scent of vanilla hits me at full force and I'm immediately intoxicated by it. Realising I must've been wearing this jacket when we were in the locker room, I quickly take it off but continue to grasp it in my hand.

What are you fucking doing to me woman?

I lean against the wardrobe doors with my head tilted back and as I close my eyes I finally lose control over my thoughts and allow the flood gates to open, drowning me with images and flashbacks of Lexi. I remember how she felt in my arms that last day I had seen her. I could feel her trembling. I could hear her heart beat. I could taste her sweetness. There was no denying it. I had as much of an effect on her as she did with me. Her words rang through my ears over and over. "Leave me the fuck alone Benj."

I convinced myself that I screwed up. That I was a selfish arrogant sadistic ass hole who truly thought that a simple sorry would make things better. How fucking stupid was I. Of course it wouldn't work. She was different and I knew that. Her being Different was the whole reason why I was in this fucking mess in the first place. Because I wanted different. I needed it and I'm betting my life that she does too.

I throw my jacket on the floor and quickly gather myself. I was going to this party whether she wanted to see me or not. I was almost certain she was playing a game with me. Testing me and clearly, .

Let's hope it's not too late to fix this.

I shove my phone and key pass in my pocket and head towards the lift. My body's bursting with static electricity and I tell myself to make sure to get a quick nicotine hit before I attempt a civilised conversation with her tonight.

Bradley's POV

JD and I make our way into the dimly lit private lounge bar hidden at the back of the hotel, which had a private balcony that overlooked the water. At first glance I couldn't make out any familiar faces. There was a live band playing and a few of the hotel staff dancing near the stage, all dressed up. The strobe lights momentarily land on the bar area and I could see Jules, Ava and another attractive woman standing over there. We exchanged glances and I watched her expression turn to confusion as she whispers something in Julie's ear.

"Found them." I say to JD.

"Well fuck me sideways. Just look at her." He says gripping onto my shoulder, forcing me to check out his woman.

Julie was dressed in a skin tight leopard print, low cut mini dress. Black thigh high fuck me boots and cute black pussy cat ears. You can tell she was dressed to impress and by the look on JDs face, it was working. The girls continued to eye us both up as we quickly make our way over to join them by the bar.

"Good evening ladies."

JD and I both acknowledge each of them then he bends down to plant a kiss on Julies lips.

"How's my little pussy cat?" He says, with his index finger tilting her chin up to look at him while he continues to hover over her lips.

Jules giggles and you can see in her eyes, she's just as smitten as he is. The unknown female subtly coughs. "Introductions please!"

"Oh right." Julie blushes. She places a hand on JD's bare chest and turns to the girls. "This is Jayden."

"But you can call me JD." He adds with a wink.

"And this is Bradley Vaughn." Julie continues as she gestures towards me.

"Guys this is Shan. Alexis bestfriend."

She was also dressed in thigh high black fuck me boots with fishnet stockings, a black pair of ass hugging shorts with a blood red corset to. Peeping out on top of her head were two red horns. Devil woman.

I immediately straighten my posture. Well shit. Lexi's bestfriend ay?

We eye each other up again, slowly this time, both waiting for the other one to speak first. I glanced over her face and she immediately cocked her eyebrow.

"Hey love, it's nice to meet you." I say breaking the silence.

"Ah, I was wondering which one you were." She replies. "You're that Bradley then."

That Bradley?

I feel a lump form in my throat as I watch all eyes on me now. "Sounds like you've heard of me already then."

"Well you are very well known Brad." Ava chuckles.

"Yes and only someone who has been living under a rock wouldn't know who you and your brother are." Julie says.

"Or how much of a womaniser you both are." Shan adds.

Well there goes my chance at making a good first impression.

"You shouldn't always believe everything you read in magazines or see on the news." I bite back.

They all continue to watch me, arms folded across their chest as they take in my words.

"So anyway--" JD cuts in, breaking the awkward silence. He continues to converse with Julie and Ava as Shan moves closer to me.

"I take it Lexi hasn't arrived yet?" I ask.

"No but I got my man to go pick her up so they should be here any minute now." She replies, still looking quite guarded. "So tell me, did Lexi enjoy her special birthday present this morning?"

"I don't know what you mean?"

She rolls her eyes then giggles. "No need to play dumb. I know all about you." She replies teasingly. "I was with Lexi when you called her this morning, so I know for a fact you also went over there to see her."

Fuck. How much does she know?

She giggles again at my silence. "Don't look so worried. I won't tell anyone about what you and Lexi got up to. That shits between you two and no one else." She says, then proceeds to inch closer to me, planting herself right in front of me with only a few inches separating us. "But as you know, Lexi is my best friend. She's different to the sluts you're probably used to. If it's just a fuck you want, then be real with her. Trust me, she can handle it. You're not the first male who wants a piece of that pie.

"Listen Shan it's not like that--" I bite back.

She quickly cuts me off. "Well then you better be damn sure about what you want and don't even think about stringing her along. Whatever the situation is, just make sure she's fully aware or so help me god if you do hurt her, I will rip those thirsty ass ball sacks off you and feed it to my dog."

As she finished her last words, I felt my balls retract and I could physically feel my insides churning. Fucking Psycho.

She brushes her outfit down and seductively tucks a strand of hair behind her ear as she looks me dead in the eye. "It's really great to finally meet you though. You're even better up close, I can definitely see what all the fuss is about." She says, lingering in my space momentarily. "Well I'm going to go wait downstairs for them. Catch you later."

She turns and walks away from me and straight out the door. My mind was all over the place, trying to piece together what just happened.

God I hope Lexi isn't a fucking bunny boiler.

I shake off the nerves, mentally telling my balls to drop back down but to keep their guard up in case of a surprise attack. I walk over to the group, placing myself next to Ava. She's decided to dress up as a sexy police officer tonight and I realise how much of an effect Lexi has on me, seeing as the sight of Ava in front of me now with her skin exposed in all the right areas, does nothing for me. Not even a hint of movement.

"Hey Vaughn. Interesting outfit choice." She states as she looks me up and down.

"Yea well it was a joint effort with JD so blame him." I chuckle. "How you been anyway? Last time I saw you was--"

Flashbacks of that night came into view. Her fuck me eyes. Her hands on my dick and her lips on my mouth. Vomit all over the bar floor. Her, laying unconscious in my arms.

"Was that night we went to Jaggers Bar." She cuts in. "Fuck I was a mess. So sorry you had to witness that."

I chuckle. "All good, it's not the first time I've had to take a drunk female home, but yea, you were pretty fucked up. Good to see you're alive though."

She raises her beer bottle in the air before taking a swig. "Well, I'm sticking to beer tonight. No cocktails for me, I don't want a repeat of that night."

"Good call." I reply.

The conversation falls flat as we stare awkwardly at each other for a shit long time before she finally cuts through the silence. "So, what's up with Benj?"

Random.

"There's a lot of grey area in that question. You're going to have to be more specific." I reply tapping my chin thoughtfully.

She places her hands on her hips then cocks her eyebrow. "Cheeky!... I mean, why was he so desperate to see Lexi the other day?"

He went to see her? Why?

"Oh, did you not know?" She continues as she looks over my confused facial expression.

"Can't say I do." I reply bluntly.

"Hmmm, apparently they had an argument and he wanted to smooth things over or something." She says. "I haven't been home so I haven't actually spoken to Lexi about it either. I just thought you might know what's up with them, you know, him being your twin brother and all."

I wonder if that's why he had been drinking that night?

Did he have a fight with her? What about? Fuck! This curiosity is going to kill me!

"I'm as much in the dark as you are Ava. But knowing my brother, he was probably being his usual asshole self and overstepped."

She sighs heavily. "Lexi's not one to bite her tongue so I can only imagine how that went. I'll have to make sure that the issue has been resolved."

"I wouldn't worry too much. My brother is a dick but we both know Lexi can handle herself. Plus I don't think he will be attending tonight." I reply, not 100% convinced that he won't show.

She seems content with my reply but continues to eye me up and I could tell by the way she's looking at me, she's got more to say.

"You look like you've got something to say." I state.