Invisible String - The Inheritance Games

two

...

I walk through the house, looking down at my phone. Just as I'm turning to go upstairs, I hear a thud from the end of the hall. Being a Hawthorne, curiosity takes over and I walk towards the library. I push open the door to find Nash pinning Xander on the ground and Avery standing next to the door.
"You gave her the keys?" Grayson asks, none of them noticing me.
"We were legally obligated to hand over—"
"A key." Grayson interrupts Jameson and starts walking towards him. "We were legally obligated to give her a key, Jameson, not the keys."
"I was curious how she'd do." Jameson arches a brow. "Do you want to hear her time?"
"No," Nash says , directing it towards Grayson, who is closing in on Jamie.
"Can I get up now?" Xander interjects, still pinned beneath Nash and seemingly in a better mood than the other three combined.
"Nope," Nash replies.
"I told you she was special," Jameson murmures.
"And I told you to stay away from her." Grayson stops moving.
"So I see that you two are talking again!" Xander says from underneath Nash. "Excellent."
"Settle down Grayson," I say, everyone turning to me.
"Hudson, nice of you to finaly join us. Where have you been all day?" Grayson narrows his eyes.
"Busy."
"Busy where?"
"Don't need to get your knickers in a twist, I've been home all day."
"No you haven't," Grayson slowly starts walking towards me.
"We looked for you everywhere," Jameson says.
"I was on the roof."
"We checked there," Grayson says, standing in front of me. "Were you with Benedict?"
"I wasn't."
"You're lying?"
"I'm not," I step towards him, warningly. Before either of us can do anything Jameson interrupts.
"Welcome to Hawthorne House, Mystery Girl," he smirks, reminding me we weren't alone.
"Stop calling me Mystery Girl. My name is Avery."
"I'd also be willing to call you Heiress," Jameson offers, stepping forward, now next to Grayson."What do you think, Gray? Got a nickname preference for our new landlord?"
"I'm trying to protect you," Grayson murmurers.
"I think we both know," Jameson replies, "that the only person you've ever protected is yourself." This makes Grayson go still.
"Xander." Nash stands up, pulling Xander up too.
"Why don't you show Avery to her wing?"
"Come on." Xander bumps his shoulder against Avery's. "We'll stop for cookies on the way."
"No cookies." Grayson says, drawing his attention away from Jameson,
"Fine," Xander says. "You drive a hard bargain, Grayson Hawthorne. No cookies." Xander winks at Avery. "We'll stop for scones."
Avery and Xander leave the room but before anyone can make a move my phone begins ringing. I pull it out of my shorts pocket and glance up at my brothers before answering the phone, not checking the contact first.
"Hello?"
"Hudson, where are you?"
"Oh Ben. Uhm I'm at home," I say, again glancing at my brothers.
"What are you doing tonight?"
"Nothing that I'm aware of. Why?"
"I'm taking you out."
"Yeah?" I immediately grin.
"You kept talking about it, so I thought why not."
"Where are we going."
"Dinner, dress nice. I'll pick you up at five-thirty."
"Okay sounds good. Bye, I love you," I say, just as he hangs up.
"What did he want?" Grayson asks.
"Nothing that concerns you. Now, where were we?"

...

"Here are your menus. Let me know when you're ready to order."
"Thank you," I smile at the waiter as he walks away. "What are you gonna get?" I ask, turning back to Ben.
"My parents say the Penne Alla Vodlka's good. What about you?"
"I'll just get chicken Fettuccine Alfredo."
"What wine do you want?"
"We can't order wine Ben, we're minors."
"I'll worry about that. Red or white?"
"Red," I sigh, making him nod his head in response. "How are your parents?"
"Good. My mom wants you to come get dinner with us soon."
"I'd love to," I smile.
"So, what happened with the will?"
"The boys got two hundred fifty thousand a piece. I got three hundred."
"What do you mean?" He looks up from the menu, confused.
"Remember the mystery girl?" He nods, making me continue, "she got basically everything."
"What?"
"Gray didn't even get the foundation."
"There has to be a mistake. No way he gave everything to her."
"Mr. Ortega said the will's ironclad."
"No will is completely ironclad. I'll talk to my dad, he's the best lawyer in Texas."
"I feel bad for Avery."
"She's rich as fuck, why would you feel bad?"
"We don't need to drag anyone else into our family dramas."
"Family drama," he scoffs. "I'm calling over the waiter," he says, snapping his fingers.
"Hey what can you I get guys?" The waiter says as soon as he walks over.
"I'll have the Penne Alla Vodlka."
"Alright," the waiter mumbles, writing it down before looking up at me. "And you?" He smiles.
"Can I please have the chicken Fettuccine Alfredo?"
"Of course. Anything else I can get you guys?"
"A bottle of your most expensive red wine," Ben says making the waiter hesitate before eventually nodding.
"Alright, your food will be over as soon as it's ready," he says before walking off.
"Might as well kiss him while you're at it."
"What?" I turn to Ben confused.
"If you're gonna flirt with a guy don't do it right in front of me."
"I wasn't flirting with him Ben."
"You practically just eye fucked him," he starts raising his voice.
"Eye fucked him? You've literally done worse with my own friends Ben."
"Please," he groans, throwing his head back, "stop believing every single thing your stupid friends tell you. They just hate that you have a boyfriend, you know I'd never do that to you Hudson."
"Yeah," i sigh, "sorry."
"I don't get why you won't drop them."
"They're my friends Ben."
"Not great ones."
"Yours are any better?"
"Don't talk about my friends like that. You have a place, stay in it."
"So you can talk about my friends but I can't about yours?"
"Don't start this right now Hudson. I don't have the energy to argue right now."
"Whatever," I mumble.