pocket-watch tattoo peeks out from beneath the sleeve of his tight-fitting shirt. Kye.
“Then I’m probably already halfway there.” My lips twitch.
“Did you just work out who I am by my tattoo?” He points to his inner bicep.
My cheeks heat. “Um. Yes.”
Kye’s lips form a wide grin, and his eyes glimmer with amusement. “Smart. It’s kinda awkward when a girl can’t tell you apart from your twin.”
My face gets even warmer at his insinuation. “I didn’t want to be rude and ask, but I guess that was kind of rude anyway.”
“It was cute.” He winks. “For the record, I’m the better lookin’ one.”
“I plead the Fifth.” I offer a soft smile. “Sofie said to tell you we’re leaving in ten minutes. Which is more like five now,” I add apologetically. “I just need to get Aidan.”
“Got it. Meet in the lobby?”
“Yes.” I nod unnecessarily and, actually, kinda awkwardly, then pass him. I approach Aidan’s door and knock lightly three times after Kye has disappeared. If one person seeing me make an idiot of myself is one person too many, then two people is definitely overkill.
“Ella.” Aidan pulls the door open and— sweet baby Jesus where is his shirt?
My eyes widen. “Oh. Aidan. Hi. Um.” And now my eyes are flitting over his chest and stomach. Still wide.
Awesome.
“Are you okay, Ella?”
“Yes! I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting you to be, um, shirtless.” I cough and meet his eyes. “Sofie said to be in the lobby in five minutes.”
“Sure.” He smiles charmingly. “And you’re livin’ with a bunch of guys for the next couple months. You should probably get used to the no-shirt thing.”
“Got it.” I smile awkwardly and turn, hugging my purse to myself.
“Put a fuckin’ shirt on, Casanova.” Tate’s gravelly, annoyed voice follows me down the hallway. “Ain’t nobody around here that wants to see you naked.”
Aidan laughs. “You feelin’ threatened, bro?”
I pause by the elevator and glance over my shoulder.
“By what? Your weak ass? Fuck off.” Tate looks up and catches my eye. “What d’ya reckon, Els? Is this prick hotter than me?”
My lips part. Swallowing in a desperate attempt to kill the dryness in my mouth, I reply, “My name is Ella.”
“That wasn’t the question.” Tate’s lips quirk to the side. “Is he hotter than me?”
“Obviously I am if you gotta ask,” Aidan scoffs, shutting his door behind him. This time with his shirt on.
“Well?” Tate pushes, ignoring him.
“I, er . . .” I straighten. “I really don’t think I should answer that question, to be honest.”
Tate’s eyebrows go up. “It ain’t hard, darlin’. All you gotta do is say my name.”
I don’t know if I should laugh or be shocked by his brashness. He’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met, and I’m not sure if that’s a good thing. He’s completely arrogant, but not in an unlikable way. Which makes absolutely no sense to me, because the most arrogant person I know is the person I hate the most.
“But if I say your name, you might think I like you.” I hook my thumb in my pocket. “And then that would boost your ego, and if it gets any bigger, I’m afraid you won’t fit on the stage tonight. So, as your assistant, it’s in my best interests not to do that.”
Aidan bursts out laughing just as Kye’s door opens. He looks around and opens his mouth, but when he sees Tate, he shuts it again.
If Tate’s eyes could spit fire, I’d be going up in flames. His shadowed jaw is set tight, and I can see the tiny tic in his cheek from the pressure.
I reach behind me and push the button for the elevator. “You have to be downstairs in two minutes, ready to leave.” I look between all three of them, then step back. “Oh, and Mr. Burke?” I focus on Tate, my gaze steady. “To answer your question, I’m going with Kye.”
His eyes darken and he moves to speak, but it doesn’t matter, because the doors close on his words and end