The Anti-hero (The Goode Brothers)

“You’re not even dressed yet?”

Sage comes barreling out of her bedroom, her long, shimmery black gown gathered at her bare feet. She’s pushing her earrings into place before showing me her back, which I take as a sign that she needs me to zip it. Meanwhile, I’m still in my boxers on the couch, petting Roscoe while he sleeps and scrolling through the comments on our latest video. It’s a fifteen-second clip of me thrusting into Sage’s mouth as she gazes up at me with teary eyes. This one is doing almost as well as the last one and we’ve gained another ten thousand subscribers. I love that we can make real videos now.

“Holy fuck. You look amazing,” I stammer as I take in the way the fabric clings to her hips, making her look elegant and sexy at the same time. This dress is nowhere as revealing as the last one. The neckline is straight across her chest, from one collarbone to the other, and the sleeves hang delicately from her shoulders.

As much as I appreciate her in leather and lace—or nothing at all—I can appreciate this too.

“Thank you,” she mutters as she finishes attaching her earring, bouncing in place and clearly nervous. “We’re going to be late, though, if you don’t hurry.”

With a laugh, I ease Roscoe off my lap and stand to zip up her dress, pressing my lips to the back of her neck as I do.

It’s cute that she’s so nervous tonight, attending this as my real date, or rather, my real girlfriend. Although we never really made things official, I don’t think we had to. I’ve barely been to my own apartment in the last two months. I sleep here, eat here, and sometimes even write here. My place just feels cold and lifeless, even on the rare occasion she’s stayed there with me. This place feels more like home, which is strange.

After one kiss to her neck, I slide my hand around her waist and inhale the feminine scent of her perfume, going in for a nibble on her earlobe.

“Adam,” she whines, enjoying my lips too much to want to pull away. “We have to go. Don’t start this.”

I grind my hips against her backside, sliding my hands down her sides just to feel her through the fabric.

Fuck, now I’m having a hard time dragging myself off her.

“Okay, okay,” I say, stepping away. With a shake of my head, I move toward the bedroom, where my suit is hanging in the garment bag.

As I slip into the rich black fabric, I think about how good this is going to feel, and not in the retribution sort of way. But having her on my arm for real. Seeing her with my mother again. Feeling her presence beside me as we face my father. I can’t remember the last time I felt this happy, but Sage has had that effect on me since the day we met.

I still haven’t told her how I feel about her, but I don’t hide my obsession either. It must be obvious to her how infatuated I am. I’d do anything for her. Anything.

“Ta-da,” I say five minutes later, as I walk out into the living room of her apartment while fixing the cuff links on my sleeves.

She whistles when she sees me. “Damn, Church Boy.”

“I told you I was fast.”

She’s still adjusting the strap on her heels by the time I’ve finished tying my shoes. Five minutes later, we’re out the door, dropping off Roscoe with Gladys at the front desk. Then, hand in hand, we walk to the lot across the street where my car is parked and she lets me open her door for her so she can climb in.

The moment we’re inside, I glance over at her in the passenger seat, looking so stunning I can barely stand it. Reaching over the console, I run my hand along her jaw and pull her toward me for a kiss, sliding my tongue over the gold hoop piercing on her lip.

“Let’s skip it. I want to fuck you in that dress instead.”

She laughs as she pulls away. “Who said we can’t do both?”

“Oh, we’re doing both,” I reply assertively as I start the car and pull out of the parking spot.

Fifteen minutes later, we’re pulling up to the winery where my mother’s ceremony will be held. It’s a much smaller gathering than the gala I took Sage to, which makes it feel more intimate. After dropping the car off at the valet, I take Sage’s arm in mine and lead her down the paved walkway toward the large event area. It’s under a canopy of trees covered in white lights, giving it a romantic vibe.

“This is beautiful,” she whispers, looking around. In the distance, there is a string quartet playing, and the warm Texas sun hovering just below the horizon gives the air a pleasant heat that puts me at ease. Tonight could truly be great.

But there’s something less tranquil lingering just beyond the peace that tonight promises. It’s the reminder that, after tonight, I have something truly impossible to do. I have to reveal my father for the man he is to my family.

It still feels impossible. Telling my mother about his transgressions might be the most unthinkable thing I can think of because it means I’m hurting her. But deep down, I know it’s the right thing to do.

Before the looming deadline of that conversation can sour my mood, I force it down and try not to think about it. Instead, I focus on the beautiful woman at my side and this perfect night together.

As we approach the party, I spot my mother at the front of the gathering. She’s surrounded by women, who all seem to be holding a cordial conversation with her.

Scanning the crowd, I spot my father in the corner, a mass of men standing around him.

My teeth clench as I force my eyes away.

“Hello again,” Briar, my brother Caleb’s wife, says as we approach her, standing by the bar.

“Hey. You look amazing,” Sage replies, going in for a hug. Briar looks momentarily taken aback by this gesture but wraps her arms around her anyway.

“Thank you. So do you,” she says in response, letting her eyes cascade up and down Sage’s dress. I can tell she’s a little surprised by how appropriately she’s dressed this time.

Caleb and Lucas approach a moment later, and we repeat the greeting process with them. Then the five of us fall into a casual conversation. The entire time, I’m struggling to hold back my satisfied grin because this all feels so goddamn perfect. We started as a ruse, but we somehow became the most real thing in my life. And she fits in so well, laughing with my brothers like she’s part of our family now.

In some way, I guess she is.

My hand slides across her lower back, and I tug her against me. Lucas notices, his gaze dancing down to where I’m holding her and back up to my face. As our eyes meet, he gives me a subtle smile, and I wish I could tell him just how good this feels. How he should try harder to find someone like this. I’ve never even known him to date. But I know it’s because he struggles with expressing himself. He’s not as outgoing or as social as Caleb or me. He’s devoted to his work at the university, and that’s it. That’s his life.

When we reach a lull in the conversation, I find myself glancing around the event space. I’m getting restless already and desperate for a quiet corner, somewhere to take my hot-as-fuck date to. Just the thought of lifting her dress and fucking her senseless has me itching to ditch this party already.

This is the effect she has on me. I never considered myself so sex-crazed before. But being with Sage has opened my eyes in ways I couldn’t imagine. Sex isn’t just sex anymore. It’s harnessing a part of me that feels natural and liberating. We play roles, tap into a deeper part of ourselves, and connect with each other all at the same time.

And I’m fucking addicted to it.

But that mood is quickly killed as soon as my mother finds us all standing together. I shove the sex thoughts away as we all congratulate her. She looks so happy, and it makes me feel like a monster for both holding secrets from her and eventually revealing them.

“Go take your seats,” she tells us in her gentle, motherly tone. “You need to eat before you all drink too much and make fools of yourselves.”

“Us?” Caleb asks as a joke before looking at Lucas, who only shakes his head with a furrowed brow.

“Not us,” he replies.

My mother rolls her eyes and turns her attention to my date. Taking Sage’s hands in hers, she gives her a warm expression that makes my heart melt.

“I’m so glad to see you again, Sage. You look beautiful tonight.”

“Thank you for inviting me,” she replies. “Congratulations on such an honorable award. You deserve it.”

My mother smiles, tears welling in her eyes. “Thank you.”

Then she pulls Sage into her arms, hugging her tight for a moment longer than the rest of us. My mom might be the kindest person on earth, but this display of affection for my girlfriend is real. I can tell.

And I am renewed with purpose.

I will make this right.

When their hug ends, I take Sage under my arm and walk with her toward our table. With my lips pressed against her head, I mentally prepare myself for the man we’re about to face. But I’m not afraid or nervous, and judging by the confidence in her step, neither is she.