As for me, I find a contractual agreement airtight, and maybe this is because I don’t want the things my sister does, but even if I did, it wouldn’t matter.

My family requires something of me, and so they shall receive.

Are they assholes, far from a long hug when faced with a heavy dose of teenage ‘the sky is falling’? Oh, hell yeah, but again... dominant defense attorneys. They are built to be tough and take no shit. Highly respected and hardworking. They’ve spent my whole life building what we have, and the result is right in front of me—a hundred-eighty degree view of the Pacific Ocean. I’m sure the paycheck my mother received after my bio-dad’s suicide provided a nice cushion, but nobody dares to say so out loud.

Regardless, it’s my job as a Filano to respect, protect, and secure a future for our name. So, I will, the bonus is I get to avoid the mess people face along the way.

It’s a win all around.

“Classic Jameson.”

I snap out of my thoughts, turning to lean my back against the infinity pool’s edge and face my friend.

“Do you even realize how every party you manage to find the single spot nobody occupies and claim it as your own?” She smiles, offering me one of the two full champagne flutes she carries. “And always with empty hands.” Her tone is teasing, and she holds her glass out, tapping its rim to mine. “Now drink up. You are officially two bottles behind.”

I take a small sip, spinning when she approaches the edge and peers out at the endless darkness the ocean before us provides.

“Thank god for pool heaters, right?” She dips lower to keep the breeze from hitting her wet skin.

“Right. Imagine the shrinkage in the package Jules would be getting served right about now without it.”

We both sneak peeks to the far corner of the pool.

Jules and her man are tucked away, pretending none of us realize they’re secretly grinding under the stone waterfall when everyone knows the truth.

Cali and I look to each other and she giggles.

“What a travesty that would be.” She rolls her eyes. “Speaking of travesty, why are you not capitalizing on the open seat on Gentry’s lap?”

“Which Gentry would you be referring to?” I glance her way.

Cali bounces in the water. “I told Jules his brother was checking you out the other night! So, spill.” Her face lights up. “Did you bite?”

My nose scrunches slightly. “He’s a little extra for my taste.”

“Yeah, killing the music and gathering everyone into the gym for a dead-lift challenge in the middle of a party was pretty narcissistic of them.”

“You think?”

She laughs. “Still, the youngest Gentry wouldn’t be a bad way to pass the time. Gives you someone to fall back on for school events.”