Playing the Player: Falling for Best friend's sister. (The Hartford Brothers Book 2)

by JA Low

  Nell looks up at me expectantly, waiting for me to continue with what I was going to say. “Just what?” she asks softly.

  “I can’t stop thinking about you, Nell,” I tell her, confessing my inner thoughts. Nell gasps at my honesty and shakes her head as more tears stream down her face.

  “Then why did you mess it all up?” she asks, sounding pained.

  “Because no matter how much my heart wants you, right now we can’t be together,” I explain, feebly.

  “Some time soon, Remi, someone is going to come along and sweep me off my feet, and there is nothing you’re going to do about it. Because they are going to erase your name from my heart and replace it with theirs,” she warns me darkly before turning on her heel and disappearing back into the party. She’s probably right.

  And I’m going to be the damn fool that will let them.

  8

  Nell

  After Remi’s graduation party blow up, he left me alone that summer to spend it with my boyfriend, and it was fantastic. I was moving on from my heartache until I caught my boyfriend in bed with his best friend. Of course, two guys can share a bed and it means nothing, but I’m pretty sure watching my boyfriend fuck his best friend means something else. So, I stumbled home in shock, and the first person I went to see was Sparkles. I wrapped my arms around her neck and nuzzled into her furry side. I told her all about what I witnessed, and she gave me a couple of reassuring neighs for good measure because, in the end, there’s not much I can do but laugh about it.

  “Wow, what a story,” Remi says in disbelief.

  I scream upon hearing his voice and spook Sparkles again.

  Remi rushes into my stable and gives Sparkles a couple of soothing commands which instantly calm her down. The floozy even gives him a kiss on the cheek. I can’t believe this has happened again. I storm out of the horse stalls; he’s the last person I want to see, let alone hear my inner thoughts over the breakup. Why is he always there? Like a damn creeper. Why can’t he just leave me alone?

  “Nell.” He calls after me again, and the déjà vu is setting in; we’ve been here before.

  “No!” I yell angrily as I turn around and stop him in his tracks. “I do not want to hear what you have to say. I don’t want your brand of sympathy,” I state coldly as my eyes drift to his crotch.

  “My brand of sympathy?” Remi repeats questioningly before a smirk falls across his face. “What does that entail? I’m curious.”

  “Oh, you know,” I say, flustered, my eyes dipping again to his crotch. Remi’s smile broadens as he folds his arms across his broad chest.

  “I don’t, actually. I think you might have to spell it out for me.”

  This guy is infuriating. “You know.”

  Remi scrunches his face up and shakes his head. “No, I don’t; that’s why I asked.”

  Is he thick? “Your dick, I’m talking about your dick, Remi!” I yell, annoyed at this entire conversation. Remi bursts out laughing. He’s laughing so much that he bends over, cradling his stomach.

  “I really just wanted to hear you say ‘dick’.”

  Anger boils beneath my skin, so I shove him hard, annoyed with his teasing. He topples over onto his ass and bursts out laughing even harder.

  Oh shoot, I didn’t mean to push him that hard. “Are you okay?” I ask, concerned.

  “Sure am,” he replies happily. “I could use a little help up though.”

  I take his outstretched hand and pull him up off the ground, except he steps closer to me, our chests almost touching, and he looks down at me, grinning. Those green eyes sparkle with mischief, and I can feel my resolve crumble.

  “Let me take your mind off things,” he whispers in my ear. “I can make you forget all about him.” I’m sure he could, but…Remi is bad news, such, such bad news, and I should really keep my distance from him because all roads lead to heartache. “Use me, Nell.” His words still me.

  “Use you?” I question him.

  Remi reaches out and tucks a lock of my hair behind my ear. “I know I’m no good for you, Nell. That I don’t deserve you, but what I can offer is a moment to forget everything he did to you. Let me make you feel better, Nell?” he pleads.

  I shouldn’t be thinking about any other answer other than no. Remington Hartford is bad news for my heart, I know this as a sound, logical girl but when he is near me all logic falls right out the window and all I can think about is why I am not already in his arms and enjoying what he offers.

  “One night, Nell,” he adds with hope in his voice.

  He can’t break my heart in one night, can he?

  No, it took him another six months to break my heart again.

  It was stupid to go back for round two, but I thought it would be different this time. I thought that now my brother was at one college and Remi at another, that we didn’t need to hide that we were dating. But once again, Remi’s out-of-control ego has destroyed everything I thought we had.

  The girls warned me not to surprise him up at Harvard because nothing good comes from that. They warned me in every teen movie that the girl going to her boyfriend’s college is going to end up being the one surprised. Of course, I didn’t believe them, and they were right. I was the one that was surprised when I knocked on his dorm and he opens the door rubbing blood-shot eyes, smelling of stale old beer, and wearing gray sweats with a dick imprint visible.

  “Nell?” He stares at me, confused as to why I would be standing there. He rubs the back of his neck nervously as he stares dumbfounded at me. “What are you doing here?” he asks, groggily closing the door behind him.

  “I knew it,” I whispered, defeat written across my face.

  “Knew what?”

  “That I couldn’t trust you.”

  “Babe,” he mumbles.

  “Open the door, Remi.”

  “I can’t do that, Nell,” he answers tightly.

  “Open the fucking door, Remi,” I say, gritting my teeth.

  “I fucked up, babe,” he mutters apologetically. “I got trashed last night and blacked out and woke up this morning with someone in my bed.”

  Ignoring his words, I push past him and enter his room. A girl squeals when I enter, and she looks as surprised as I do.

  “I hate you, Remi. I hate you so fucking much!” I scream angrily as I pummel his bare chest with my fists. “I can’t believe you fucked me over again. Why? Am I not good enough for you? Am I not pretty enough? Skinny enough? What am I doing so wrong that you keep fucking me over like this?” Tears stream down my face.

  “I was missing you and got drunk. Then things spiraled out of control.”

  My stomach turns violently at his pathetic excuse. I can’t believe he did it to me a second time. I’m an idiot to have fallen for his bullshit again. This is the last time Remi that I will ever let you fuck me over ever again.

  “I’m done, Remi. You and I are through,” I tell him seriously. “Come near me again, and I will make sure that I tell my father you broke my heart and then let’s see how long you last on his team.”

  Remi’s face pales at my threat. Good, because one phone call from me and his dreams will go up in smoke. And with that, I turn on my heel and disappear out of Remi’s life for good.

  9

  Nell

  It’s my eighteenth birthday today! And I plan on celebrating it to the fullest. Firstly, I graduated from high school. I got into Columbia with my girls. We are all doing a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Business Management. Maybe one day my mom might believe I’m good enough to join her company. She’s an ex-model turned fashion designer, primarily designing equestrian-inspired clothing which works well for around the farm, but I would love for her to get into more upmarket designs. Mom told me to come back to that idea once I got an education and experience in business before she would look at any of my suggestions. It stings how Mom won’t take me seriously. But I will not worry about that because it’s my birthday and I’m going to have the best day ever. Rainn and Audr
ey arrived last night, and this morning I’ve taken them out on the horses for a celebratory ride.

  “Can I ask the elephant in the room question?” Rainn asks cautiously as we trot along the beach on the horses.

  “Sure.”

  “How come Remi’s not here training? I thought he would have been?”

  I still as Audrey’s eyes widen at our best friend’s question.

  “He’s in Hong Kong with the Harvard polo team for the summer,” I say. My father mentioned it to me the other day in passing. “Why would you ask me about him?” I ask, questioning my friend.

  “Because I wanted to know how wild you were going to get tonight,” Rainn says. Turning her head and grinning at me. “I didn’t want Remi’s presence to put a dampener on your night.”

  “Have you spoken to him?” Audrey asks softly.

  “Nope. Not once in eight months,” I tell them proudly.

  “That’s good; his socials are nothing but thirst traps. And there are a lot of thirsty women out there,” Rainn tells me.

  “The guy goes to Harvard and looks like a Ralph Lauren model; of course he’s going to get attention,” Audrey adds dryly.

  “Good for him then,” I say, annoyed.

  My two best friends look at each other, knowing the topic of Remi gets to me.

  “Now that you’re eighteen, maybe you need to start posting sexy photos of your own,” Rainn suggests.

  “Yes. We can do a photoshoot when we get home. Really rub it in his face what he gave up when he cheated on you,” Audrey says excitedly. This is very true.

  The three of us over the past couple of years have built up quite a following on our social media, sharing our extravagant life. And I did get a heap of presents sent to me for my birthday from companies who want me to test them out and post about them to my following. I think that makes us influencers, which is crazy because we only share our life; it’s not like it’s our job or anything. But if people want to send us things, that’s kind of awesome. Maybe now that I’m eighteen I should consider this a little more seriously, that I could do something with all that influence, maybe even make money from it. That would show Mom I’m serious about business making my money instead of relying on her and dad. And if I can make Remi jealous in the process, seems like a win-win situation.

  “Okay, I’m in,” I tell them excitedly.

  “We have to do this quick before my parents come home. My dad will flip if he sees me half naked on the back of my horse,” I tell the girls nervously.

  “Just making sure there aren’t any nip slips anywhere for the camera,” Rainn says to me while Audrey helps to style my hair. This company sent me some gorgeous statement jewelry, and we thought it would be a good idea to look like I’m naked on the back of my horse draped in nothing but the jewels. In reality, I have a flesh-colored G-string on and bandeau bra over my boobs, well, barely covering my boobs.

  “We might need to hurry it up. Sparkles is getting moody. We have a diva on the set,” I tell the girls while I snort-laugh at my joke.

  “Okay, I’m ready for you to make love to the camera,” Rainn tells me.

  We get a couple of good shots and I’m finding my groove. I don’t know how Mom did it for all those years it’s kind of exhausting.

  “Hey, happy birthday, Nell,” a stranger’s deep voice calls out, which spooks Sparkles, and she decides she’s had enough and tries to buck me off. As I’m positioned laying on her back, the sudden movement jolts me off, and I tumble hard onto the earth as Sparkles gallops off. “Shit, Nell. Fuck,” Miles swears loudly. He drops whatever he is holding and rushes over to my side. “Are you okay?” he asks, turning into doctor mode, and oh my, is that sexy. “Where does it hurt?” Strong hands work their way over my near-naked body, examining all the places that could be broken. “I didn’t think.” Miles looks up at me with familiar green eyes and I know I shouldn’t melt, but I do. Something deep inside of me flips, and my stomach turns over Miles Hartford. The same way it used to over…doesn’t matter, he lost his chance a long time ago. “Can you stand up?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Here,” Miles says, holding out his arms to me to cling onto, and the moment I wrap my arms around him and feel the hard, tight muscles under his shirt sends my body on fire. He picks me up as if I weigh only a feather and holds me tightly against him. My nipples pebble and in the bra that leaves nothing to the imagination. As soon as I place my foot on the ground and put some pressure on it, I wince. Oh, that stings. “What hurts?” Miles asks, concerned, as he feels me tense.

  “I think it’s my foot,” I tell him.

  “When she fell off the horse, I think she hit her foot first,” Rainn explains to Miles.

  He nods in understanding before dropping to my feet and examining. He turns my ankle around, back and forth, and I tense again. Miles stares up at me seriously. “I think you’ve sprained your ankle. You’re going to need to put an ice pack on it and rest.” His eyes glance ever so briefly to my breasts before he stands up.

  “Oh no, your party. We’re going to have to rethink your outfit now that you can’t wear those cute heels,” Audrey whispers to me.

  “I’m sure Nell will look beautiful in whatever she wears,” Miles adds, and my heart swoons at his compliment. “Come on, I’ll carry you inside.” He holds out his arms again for me and I shift into place, and he picks me up and carries me all the way back to the house. I can’t help but take a deep inhale of his cologne because he smells amazing.

  “What were you doing on the horse in your underwear?” Miles asks as we walk.

  You know, just some revenge photos for my ex, who's your brother. Yeah, don’t think so.

  “Don’t laugh, but someone sent me all these jewels. Apparently, I’m an influencer. I thought now that I’m eighteen that maybe I would make the photos a little sexier,” I explain to him, my teeth sinking into my bottom lip nervously.

  “You don’t need to take your clothes off to be sexy, Nell. It comes naturally to you.” He compliments me and the butterflies in my stomach do an excited little dance. Maybe my eighteenth birthday is going to be okay after all.

  Miles places me on the sofa in the living room, and I feel awfully exposed suddenly. “I’ll go grab you some ice. Which way to the kitchen?” Miles asks, confused.

  “I’ll show you,” Rainn tells him.

  I watch as the two of them walk off together. “Oh my god, Aud. Miles is so hot,” I exclaim, excitedly fanning myself.

  Audrey gives me a small frown. “What about Remi?”

  “What about him?”

  “Miles is his brother.”

  “So?”

  Audrey frowns again but doesn’t push the subject. “I’m going to go upstairs and grab you some clothes. The last thing you need is your dad to see you naked on the couch with Miles.” She’s right. I’ve already slightly ruined my night with this stupid ankle. If Dad sees me like this, he’s likely to call off my entire party. Audrey rushes off to get me some clothes as Rainn and Miles walk back into the living room with a cold pack.

  “Here,” Miles says, placing the pack around my ankle. “Keep this on for the next hour. Take some Advil, and you should be ready to go for tonight.”

  “Are you staying? You’re more than welcome to stay,” I say, trying not to sound hopeful.

  “Um, well. I need to head back to the city, as I have an early shift in the morning. I was here dropping off your birthday present from Remi which I just realized I dropped in the yard.”

  Oh, my stomach sinks at the mention of Remi’s name.

  “Remi got Nell a present?” Rainn asks, sounding skeptical about this. I am too.

  “My brother can be thoughtful. Shocking, I know.” Miles grins at his joke.

  Rainn looks between Miles and me. “I might go out and look for that present,” Rainn says, awkwardly excusing herself from the conversation.

  “I heard what my brother did to you last summer, and I can’t apologize enough for hi
s stupidity,” Miles states sincerely. I’m not sure what to say to that. “He’s young and dumb.”

  “Guess so was I.”

  10

  Nell

  Four Years Later

  Freedom! College is done.

  There was a point there when I didn’t know if we would make it. Especially when we accidentally lit our apartment on fire with a candle and a strong breeze. Yeah, fun times. But outside of that incident that shall never be talked about, we made it, we’ve graduated. My besties and I are in Europe to celebrate the summer and the end of school and becoming fully functioning adults. Now the three of us are making bank from being influencers, we have put a pause on a career path for the moment. Getting paid for being you is fun. It seems shallow on the outside, but I enjoy it. We’re young, we have our entire lives ahead of us to worry about a job.

  The more followers we have online, the more companies want to work with us. At first, it was a little brand here and there, but now its multinational companies and the contracts they are offering are serious. Totally over our heads. Thankfully, Rainn’s oldest sister Meadow is COO of The Rose Agency, a PR and Influencer Agency. We signed with her agency, and they have been looking after our careers ever since.

  Dom tagged along on part of our journey to Europe, we’ve dropped him off in Brighton, England. He’s just graduated from Penn State with honors and is now studying his master’s in animal science over here. He also got asked to join the prestigious Cowdray Polo team when they found out he would be studying in the same area. Dad was super excited about the offer. Apparently, it’s a big deal, something to do with royalty and whatnot. But in all fairness, it is a great opportunity for him, and as disappointed as my father is that he won’t be joining his own team, he’s super proud of my brother. My brother jokes Remi is the son our father wishes he had. I know Dom is joking, but I feel like there is some truth to it. It sucks that Dad has more in common with Remi. They are carbon copies of each other. Remi is more into the playing, whereas Dom is more into the breeding of the ponies. Both are equally important, except my father was one of the world’s best players, so that is his passion. Not that Dom isn’t good at polo, he is, he’s just not as passionate.