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I slept surprisingly well,considering how upset I’d been yesterday when I’d gotten home. Watching your enemy sweat his balls off and nearly pass out had that effect, who knew? I woke at the usual time from my nightmares, three a.m. on the dot, but this time, I was able to turn over and go back to sleep, the image of Brody banging on the door and demanding to be let out playing in my mind like my favorite movie.

I woke up late. It was Saturday, and I didn’t have anywhere to be. The day stretched out without anything to fill it with, and that wasn’t good. Immediately, my anxiety kicked in.

My phone chimed on the table beside me, and I reached out and read the new text.

Aisha: Don’t forget, today at 1 p.m. I’ll meet you outside the drama building

Shit. I’d totally forgotten exchanging numbers with Aisha and promising to go to the audition with her. And now, it was too late to cancel. I had to get ready and be there in half an hour.

With a heavy sigh, I fought the urge to text her and say something came up, and forced myself out of bed. Brody seemed to be gone, thank God. I didn’t have time to face his wrath for last night. I brushed my teeth, washed my face, and stared at the clothes in the wardrobe.Damn it.There was no time to waste trying to make my mother’s closet picks into something I’d want to wear, so just for today, I’d have to go with it. I grabbed a knee-length, pale-pink linen dress, layered a cardigan on top, and blinked at my reflection.

God, I looked just like her. The girl I used to be.

My ghost.

I shoved my hair behind my ears, realizing that my usual messy cloud of a style wouldn’t really work with this outfit. I slipped my feet into the matching ballet flats my mother had thoughtfully bought to make me resemble a Country Club Barbie, then headed downstairs.

I was just reaching for an apple in the kitchen when Cal walked in. He was wearing wired headphones under his hood, which he pulled out as he stared at me.

“What happened to you?” he asked.

“Your brother happened.” I sighed, taking a big bite of the apple. It was tart and crisp and really, really good.

Cal shook his head, like he didn’t approve of Brody messing with me.

“Well, keep up the good fight,” he murmured and passed me by. “Don’t let them turn us into automatons without a fight.”

Then he was gone, and Brody strode into the kitchen in his place.

“Jesus, I barely recognized you.” He came to a stop to look at me. “You can’t be the same little heathen who tried to kill me last night?”

I rolled my eyes and turned away to hide my face from him. The shock and appreciation on his face heated my cheeks, and I didn’t know what to do with that information except ensure that he didn’t see me blushing.

“Stop reminding me of my failures, it’s cruel,” I muttered, and jumped a mile in the air when Brody reached around me to open the massive fridge. I skittered farther away and watched him take out one of his protein shakes, just like I’d known he would.

He chuckled. “Funny. You’re a funny girl, Selena, when you’re not being a fucking pain in the arse.”

“Really? I’ll have to work on that. I wouldn’t want to be the reason you smiled,” I said in a deadpan tone.

He sighed and shook his head. “There’s that family bond my father so desperately wants us to cultivate.”

I scoffed, finishing my coffee like it was a shot, and put the mug in the sink.

“Where are you going dressed so nicely?” He leaned beside me against the huge marble island.

His left arm brushed my right. His casual proximity had me feeling hot all over. The guy was just far too tactile and comfortable with himself.

“The auditions for the play?”

I glanced up at him. “None of your business, despite your best attempts to insert yourself into my?—”

Brody raised an eyebrow suggestively at my phrasing, throwing me off. “Insert myself into yourwhat?” His deep voice was full of mocking.

“Into my life,” I ground out. “You can’t, actually, control me.” I went toe to toe with him and stared up into his stupidly gorgeous face.

“I beg to differ,” he said. “You will follow my rules, Selena. Sooner or later, you’ll see it’s the only option.”

“Control freak,” I accused softly.