Right Man, Worst Brother

Rule One

Maya

~_<

The walk back home from the cafe is suffocating, the meeting with Ryder, Bree’s arrival and Liam’s outburst drained the little energy I had left.

Ryder mentioned something about helping me with rules on how to get Liam. I don't know why he’s helping me with this stupid bet. Maybe he just enjoys stirring up chaos. Maybe he wants to see me crash and burn.

But what really bugs me is that a part of me, some small, reckless part wants to listen to him. To try out his way and hope for a change.

The second I step into the house, I barely get a moment to breathe before Liam and Ray are on me.

“Maya.” Liam’s voice is sharp.

Is he serious right now? Did he report me to my brother?

Wow

Ray leans against the wall, arms crossed, watching quietly. Liam, on the other hand, looks pissed.

“You want to explain what the hell happened back there?” Liam demands.

I sigh, rolling my eyes at his unnecessary antics already annoyed. “I already told you on the phone. It was nothing.”

“Nothing?” He scoffs. “Maya, I saw the picture. You were practically in his lap.”

“I wasn't on his lap, I was on another seat.”

“Really? Because Bree made it sound like you couldn’t keep your hands off him.”

I clench my jaw. Of course, he would believe his bimbo girlfriend and not me.

Ray, who has been quiet this whole time, finally speaks up. “Maya, what exactly are you doing with Ryder?”

“Nothing,” I answer flatly.

Liam lets out a sharp laugh. “Doesn’t look like nothing.”

I roll my eyes. “You’re overreacting.”

Liam steps closer, voice dropping. “You shouldn’t be anywhere near him.”

“Says who?”

“Me. So, stay the f**k away from him.”

I don’t respond. I don’t need to. I just walk past them, heading straight to my room.

I barely make it before Liam follows.

It’s the first time he’s ever set foot in my room.

For some reason, I can't seem to feel the sparks in my heart instead I feel a growing irritation.

“What do you want?” I ask, voice sharper than I intend.

He doesn’t answer right away. His eyes roam the space; my desk, my sketches, the scattered notes from unfinished projects. Then they land back on me.

“Stay away from him.”

I let out a dry laugh. “Unbelievable.”

Liam steps closer. “I’m serious, Maya.”

“And I seriously don’t care.”

His jaw clenches. “He’s playing with you.”

“Funny, I could say the same about you.”

His brows knit together. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

I take a slow breath, forcing myself to stay calm. “You don’t get to control who I talk to, who I spend time with. You never cared before.”

Liam flinches, just barely.

His voice lowers. “I’m just looking out for you, I know my brother and what he's capable of.”

“No, you’re not looking out for me and I do not know what silly issue you have with your brother but keep me out of it.”

His fingers twitch at his sides, like he wants to grab my wrist, shake some sense into me. But he doesn’t.

I shake my head, stepping back. “Just leave, Liam.”

He doesn’t move at first. But after a moment, I hear the door click shut behind him.

I let out a slow breath, pressing my fingers to my temples.

I need a distraction.

I grab my phone and drop onto my chair, turning on my stream. The familiar setup calms me—the soft glow of my monitors, the quiet hum of my gaming PC.

It’s easier to sink into something else, to pretend the rest of the world doesn’t exist. To ignore the building insanity I've started.

But before I can even start, a notification pops up.

A message from an unknown number.

I open it.

Unknown Number:

Rule One: To get something you must first ignore your insistent need for it.

My pulse stutters.

I don’t need to ask who it’s from.

Ryder.

I make a mental note to finally save his number on my phone.

I read the words over and over again, figuring out how to put this into practice. How was I supposed to ignore my raging desire for Liam and how exactly is this supposed to work?

Why is he helping me with this bet?

And why did it upset me slightly that he was helping?

I don’t answer. I just lock my phone, breathing deep, trying to clear my head.

Then Ray walks in.

“We’re heading to The Echelon tonight,” he says. “You coming?”

“No.”

Ray shrugs, turning to leave. “Suit yourself.”

Then, from down the hall, I hear Bree’s voice.

“She doesn't seem like she likes clubs, she might get suffocated you know.”

I freeze. Her annoying giggle fills the room.

I don’t know why that gets to me, but it does.

I straighten in my chair, forcing a smirk onto my lips as I glance at Ray.

“Actually, I just realized I have nothing important to do, I will tag along.”

Ray raises an eyebrow. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” I say, grabbing my phone again. “And I’m bringing a friend.”

I shoot a quick text to Thomas, one of my coworkers at the illustration company. He’s always down for a night out.

Then I head to my closet, pulling out a short, strapless red dress, it’s not my usual go-to dress but tonight? I need to show Liam, Bree and everyone that I'm no longer a lost puppy.

~_~_~_<_<

The club is packed, the music ringing in my head loudly, I knew clubs were loud but I didn't think they were this loud.

I walk in with Ray, Bree, Liam, and Thomas, my heels clicking against the marble floor. The scent of expensive cologne and alcohol lingers in the air. I keep my shoulders squared, chin high, ignoring the heat of Liam’s stare burning into the side of my face.

I know exactly why he’s pissed.

This isn’t just any club.

It’s Ryder’s.

I knew it the second Ray mentioned the name, and I still agreed to come. On the drive here Liam had a problem with everything. He complained about Thomas touching my arm, complained about how short my gown is, complained about how loud the club isn't my type of scene.

I ignored him, and his bags. Truthfully he wasn't wrong, I hate clubs, short gowns, being touched but the second Ray mentioned the name of the club I wanted to come.

Maybe Bree’s snarky comment got under my skin, or maybe I wanted to rebel for just once. Or maybe because I want to see Ryder’s reaction to me being here.

I push the thought away.

Thomas whistles low beside me, leaning in his arm wrapped around my waist. “Damn, Maya. You never said you had this kind of nightlife.”

I smirk. “I don’t.”

His eyes flick to Liam, then back to me. “Still it is fun to come out once in a while.”

I don’t answer.

I just step further inside, my dress clinging to me as I move through the crowd.

Then, as if drawn by some invisible force, my eyes find him.

Ryder.

He’s lounging in the VIP section, one arm draped over the back of the couch, a whiskey glass in his hand. He’s relaxed. Like he owns the room.

Which, technically, he does.

His eyes lift, meeting mine.

And that lazy, knowing smirk spreads across his lips.

Heat pools in my stomach.

I hate that he’s able to cause such a reaction from me.

I don’t let it show. I wave at him acknowledging his presence, he reciprocates the action with his glass.

I turn away first, grabbing Thomas’s hand and pulling him toward the bar. If Ryder wants to play games, I can play too.

Liam grabs my wrist before I get far.

“Maya.” His voice is low, controlled.

What is his problem?

I yank free. “I’m getting a drink.”

He didn't like that answer.

I can tell by the way his jaw ticks, by the way his hands clench at his sides. But before he can say anything, Thomas slings an arm around my shoulders, grinning at Liam.

“Relax, man. I’ll take care of her.”

Liam doesn’t move.

I don’t wait for his approval. I just let Thomas guide me away, even as I feel Liam’s frustration clawing at my back.

We reach the bar, and Thomas orders for us.

I barely take a sip before I feel Ryder’s presence beside me.

“You’re trying too hard, Koala.”

His voice is smooth, teasing.

I don’t turn to him. “If this is trying, wait until I actually try, Ryder.”

His fingers brush my waist just a featherlight touch, barely there but it’s enough to make my breath hitch.

“Careful,” he murmurs, voice low. “Wouldn’t want Liam to get the wrong idea.”

I finally face him. “I don’t care what Liam thinks.”

Ryder grins, slow and wicked. “That’s cute, but we both know that’s a lie.”

I hate that he sees through me so easily.

I lift my drink to my lips, ignoring the way his eyes follow my every movement.

“What do you want, Ryder?”

He leans in just enough that his breath brushes my cheek. “I could ask you the same thing.”

Before I can answer, a voice cuts through the air.

“Well, isn’t this interesting?”