Uprising (Alternate Earth Series, Book 2) by S.J. West Page A

to prevent a small laugh. “Let me bathe first. Then you can make it up to me.”
    Mason bows to me. “I am here to serve your needs, whatever they might be.”
    “I’ll remember that,” I say, turning back around to walk into the bathroom. “And you might regret saying it!”
    I hear Mason chuckle behind me and say, “Never.”
    I take a very, very long and hot shower. I have to scrub my skin and wash my hair three times just to feel clean again. Once I’m dressed, I go back up to the attic to spend some quality time with my friends. Zack makes me laugh by mercilessly picking on Chandler.
    “Dude, when are you going to find a good woman to settle down with?” Zack asks. “You’re not getting any younger, you know.”
    “I’ll settle down as soon as Jess finds me someone to get serious with,” Chandler responds in earnest.
    “When did it become my responsibility to find you a wife?” I ask as I watch Chandler carefully cut around a sleeve pattern.
    “Since the moment you decided to let me know exactly what you think about the women I’ve brought home to meet you so far,” Chandler answers. “You haven’t approved of any of them.”
    “I don’t remember saying anything bad about them,” I defend.
    Chandler stops what he’s doing to look me directly in the eyes. “As if you had to say anything out loud; I knew exactly what you were thinking by the look on your face.”
    “Look? What look?” I ask, not realizing that I had ‘looked’ any particular way at Chandler’s numerous girlfriends over the past few years.
    “Do you remember the Australian swimsuit model?” Chandler asks.
    “The airhead?” I snort in response.
    Chandler points at my face with the scissors still in his hands. “ That look right there. See? You didn’t have to say you thought she was an airhead to her face. We could all tell that was exactly what you were thinking without you having to utter a word. Honestly, Jess, can you think of one woman I’ve brought over to meet you who you approved of?”
    “You don’t need my approval, Chandler. You can date whomever you want.”
    I hear Gabe start to laugh quietly over in the corner where he’s sitting on a stool, stitching a button onto a pair of pants.
    “What?” I ask him more curtly than I had intended. “Do you have something to add to the conversation, Mr. Kinlan?”
    Gabe looks up at me and smiles. “I just find it amusing that you think your opinion doesn’t matter, when yours is the one that matters the most.”
    “Why should it?” I ask, not understanding his reasoning.
    “Because, if you don’t like whoever Chandler marries, you won’t be able to hide it. Can you imagine how uncomfortable we would all be at family gatherings if you hated Chandler’s better half?”
    “Unbearable,” Zack chimes in, shivering slightly at just the thought.
    “I wouldn’t be that bad,” I say in my own defense, since it seems like no one else in the room will champion my honor.
    “Yeah, you would,” Zack and Chandler say, unintentionally in unison.
    I shrug. “So I’m not a good liar. I don’t think that’s a character flaw.”
    “Which is why I have decided you should find my next girlfriend,” Chandler declares. “Let’s see if you can do any better than I have.”
    I squint at Chandler. “Is that a challenge, rock star god?”
    “Yes, it is,” Chandler says candidly. “I want to know what kind of woman you think I should be with.”
    “Hmm,” I say, mulling this idea over in my mind. “I accept your challenge, Mr. Cane. Let me know when you’re ready to settle down.”
    “Settle down?” Chandler asks, looking puzzled. “Why?”
    “Because, if I find you a woman to date, I have a feeling you’ll end up marrying her and be permanently off the market. So, if you still feel like you have some wild oats to sow, get to it before I introduce you to your wife.”
    Chandler smiles. “I’m ready when you are, Jess. Living the life of a rock star