Free Always & Forever Vive (The Undergrad Years #4) by Avery Aster

later, Jay Austin returned with a tray of drinks and some nuts, olives and other snacks.
    “Thanks, babe.” I took a sip, stuck a finger in the glass to stir the ice, then took a big-ass calm-yourself gulp, and then another.
    A half an hour or so must’ve passed with no sign of Poppy. Damn her. We were on our second or third round of drinks, the olives and nuts were all eaten, and so were the chips.
    “I’m already tipsy.” The cocktail had gone straight to my head. Foolish me. “Guess I should’ve eaten dinner before I came.” I’d been so focused on what the girl had to say about us in her damn book, I couldn’t do anything except get dressed and be there.
    “Do you think she’s going to stand us up?” Blake asked, unbuttoning a notch on his shirt. “It’s warm in here.”
    “I don’t feel so good,” Lex said, tucking her blonde hair behind her ears as perspiration beaded her forehead.
    “Me, either.” I stood, hoping this would stop the rush of heaviness going to my head. I made my way over to the artwork, photos of what must’ve been family members hanging on the walls.
    Everything became unusually quiet as I tapped one of my heels.
    Hardwood floors with crown molding decorated the room, along with a baby grand piano in the corner. Sterling silver frames, black and white photos, candid pics along with family portraits. “Who’s that?” I asked, clearing my throat, pointing to a woman with two boys on her lap as my mouth suddenly felt dry.
    “Mother,” Jay Austin replied, walking slowly in my direction. He took the drink from my hands and set it on a nearby ledge. Pushing himself gently against the hollow of my back, he massaged my neck. “Feel good, babe?”
    Yesss. “I have a knot…yes…right there. That feels…so good.” I smiled girlishly while his thumbs worked their magic over my tense shoulders. Suddenly, I felt a sense of exhaustion.
    I glanced at my besties who remained on the sofa. Blake’s eyes appeared sleepy. Poor guy was probably up late the night before with his lover, Diego. Taddy and Lex were growing quiet, Taddy rubbing at her temples, while Lex had stopped chomping on her gum.
    “Who’s the boy in the pic with you?” I asked. Something about him—maybe his blond hair, or his expressive eyes—looked familiar to me.
    “That’s my brother. We were babies then.”
    “You never told me you had a brother…”
    “Half-brother. We have different fathers and last names.”
    “Does he ever come to New York? I’d love to meet him.” About to yawn, I covered my mouth quickly. I don’t know what’s come over me.
    “Not anymore.”
    “Where’s he live?”
    “He passed away a few years ago.”
    “Oh, Jay Austin, I’m so sorry to hear that.” I whipped around to face him.
    His handsome features, usually warm and welcoming, seemed stoically smooth and expressionless with an extreme coldness I’d never seen on him before. Glancing over his shoulder, I noticed my besties passed out on the sofa.
    “Looks like Poppy isn’t gonna show. We should probably get going.” I grabbed his hand. It felt cold against mine.
    “You—killed—him.” His voice stammered in my ear.
    A sudden ringing in my head prevented me from hearing him correctly. I seriously need to lay off the gin. For a second, I thought he’d said I’d killed him. “What…did you say?” Everything seemed to go in slow motion.
    “My brother’s name was… Sanderloo .”
    “No!” I shouted, gasping for air, pushing him to the side while trying to side-step around him. My left heel caught on the Oriental area rug and I tripped, falling flat on my face.
    As I lay there, unable to move my legs and hands, it felt as if I’d been roofied all over again. Then Charmaine’s words came back to me.
    Trust no one!
    That was the last thing I remembered.

    Next thing I knew, I was in some type of a playroom with Baby Rose.
    Wide-open spaces surrounded us. A place for children to learn and socialize. There was