Frat House Confessions: Brody

By Bethany Lopez

She’s looking for someone with a rich character, not bank account...

Emma’s life has not been easy. Rather than using her disadvantages as a crutch, they have fueled her passion for helping others. She believes in working hard, loves her brother unconditionally, and has no time in her busy life for a certain cocky playboy who has obviously never been denied a thing in his life.

He’s searching for something, but isn’t sure what...

Brody may come across as a fast-talking rich boy with a sweet car. He’s secured a position in the hottest frat on campus and has the attitude of a guy who’s never known what it’s like to go without. So, yeah, it’s a pretty accurate description. But there’s more to the youngest Temple brother than meets the eye.

When Brody keeps showing up in Emma’s world, her initial assumption is that he’s still playing games. As his confessions come to light, Emma starts to see beneath the surface. Will it be enough to change her perception of him? And will she be able to teach Brody that love is worth more than all his money can buy?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bethany Lopez
• Release date: Mar 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463778579

Bethany Lopez

Bethany Lopez is a USA Today Bestselling author of more than thirty books and has been published since 2011. She's a lover of all things romance, which she incorporates into the books she writes, no matter the genre.When she isn't reading or writing, she loves spending time with family and traveling whenever possible.Bethany can usually be found with a cup of coffee or glass of wine at hand, and will never turn down a cupcake!Sign up for her newsletter and get a free eBook! https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r7w3w5

Book preview

Prologue

Come in.

I opened the door to Papi’s room and peered inside.

Is now a good time? I asked, opening it wider when I saw he was alone.

Ever since Papi’s longtime girlfriend had cheated on him, his room in the frat had been like a motel, with the vacancy sign constantly flickering.

Yeah, bro, enter, our treasurer said, barely taking his eyes off of the soccer game he was watching on TV.

I come bearing gifts, I said, showing him the two bottles of beer I had in my hands.

I appreciate that, Papi said when I handed him one. Take a seat.

I perched myself on the edge of one of the two empty chairs and took a sip of my beer.

"What can I do for you, young Temple?"

I was the youngest of three boys, Ridge, Wes, and myself. All three of us were currently attending U of M and were all members of the Delta fraternity. Ridge, being the oldest, had been here longest and was currently the president.

I don’t know, Papi, probably nothing, I said honestly, playing with the label on my bottle. I’ve been feeling bored ever since we came back from winter break. I’ve been restless.

It’s your first year away from home, what did you do to keep yourself busy before? he asked.

Whatever I wanted, I replied with a sharp laugh. Hang out with my buddies, travel, spend money on stupid shit.

Can’t you do that stuff here?

I shrugged.

It doesn’t appeal to me anymore, ya know? I mean, traveling does, but I can’t exactly hop on the yacht and go sailing, or take a quick trip to Italy. Classes and shit kind of get in the way.

I knew I sounded like a rich asshole, but really, that’s all I’d ever been.

Don’t get me wrong … I love spending time with my brothers, but they’re both whipped. Not to say I don’t like hanging out with Karrie and Trixie, they’re already like sisters to me, but I’m kind of the fifth wheel now, which sucks.

Papi leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees.

So, you need something more … something other than the frat, school, and your family to keep you busy.

Basically, yeah.

Do you play any sports?

I started to nod, then shook my head.

Sailing, flying, and rowing … nothing that’s offered here.

Hmmm, what about women? he asked. Your brothers have both lucked out in that department, maybe you need to spend your time wooing someone.

The girls I’ve hung out with since being here have been more about a good time than anything serious, I said with a laugh. "I haven’t met any I’d like to woo. I’ll leave that to my brothers."

Even as I said it an image of a gorgeous dark-haired gypsy came to mind.

Emma, with her long hair cascading down her back, flowing skirts and fondness for jewelry. The girl who’d hated me and everything I stood for on sight. The one who’s brother used to be our Frat VP and now hated everything about Delta.

Okay, well, what if we think outside the box, Papi suggested. You could do something for the community. Put all that money to good use and spend your time doing something charitable.

Hmmm, that doesn’t sound like a bad idea. I always liked helping out when our school did outreach with the elementary schools in Chicago and I went with my friend’s family during the holidays to feed the homeless.

There’s a soup kitchen downtown, which is always in need of volunteers, he began. We also need a new brother to head up the chair that’s in charge of setting up our annual Habitat for Humanity build. And, one of my buddies said he’s currently helping recruit Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Any of that sound good?

Yeah, all of it does, actually. I’ll throw my name in the hat for the chair, and if you can get me your friends’ info, I’ll look into the Big Brother thing, I said, already feeling better at the prospect of doing something. Thanks, Papi.

I stood up and extended my hand, which he slapped.

No problem, bro, it’s what I’m here for, he said, his eyes drifting back to the game.

I started to the door, before turning and looking at the tall, dark-haired Delta with an atypical frown on his face.

"Are you all right?" I asked him.

Don’t worry about me, little brother, Papi assured me with a wicked grin. Papi always lands on his feet.

One

Emma

Benny, seriously, can you please start cleaning up after yourself? The last thing I want is to have roaches, or God forbid, rats living in the apartment, I called as I threw trash in a bag and scowled at the dirty dishes on the counter.

Bennet, my older brother, didn’t reply. Not that I really expected him to.

He’d only recently come home from rehab. The good news … he hadn’t done any drinking or drugs in months and was looking a lot healthier. The bad news … he hadn’t done much of anything else, either.

Johnny, Benny’s and my boss at the garage, had texted me earlier.

Crush gonna make it in today? he’d asked. Crush was my brother’s nickname.

Not sure, he was still asleep when I left for class, I’d replied.

I’d peeked my head in his room when I’d come home and, sure enough, my brother was still in bed. Wearing only his boxers and watching Ellen.

Once I finished cleaning up our apartment and taking out the trash, I went back to Bennet’s room and leaned against the doorjamb.

Johnny was looking for you again today. He’s been understanding up until now, but if you keep bailing on work, he’s gonna have to find someone else. You can only take advantage of his friendship for so long, Benny.

His eyes flicked away from the colors of the screen momentarily to meet mine, before focusing back on the TV.

I know, he mumbled.

"If you know, does that mean you’re going to hop in the shower and go put in a few hours … help the guys out?" I asked, knowing I was being pushy, but feeling like it was necessary.

Benny shrugged.

I sighed and said, Well, I have to get going. I only came by to drop off my books and grab my other bag.

What do you have tonight? he asked.

My little sister has a part in her school play. I promised her I’d go.

I’d been volunteering with the local Big Brothers Big Sisters for the last couple years. My current little, Rosie, was in seventh grade and a complete sweetheart.

You’re too nice, Em, Benny complained.

"There’s no such thing as being too nice. There’s such a thing as being an asshole, but not too nice," I countered.

"Har-har," he said sarcastically, causing me to smile.

At least he was participating in a conversation with me, I thought, and couldn’t help hoping this meant Bennet was finally starting to be himself again.

I’d missed my brother over the last year and a half.

He’d been with me physically, but definitely hadn’t been himself. Not since the day the Deltas kicked him out of the frat and the school paper came out with an article claiming he was basically a sexist pig and shouldn’t be trusted.

Both the Deltas and author of the article had since made amends, but although I felt better about the situation, Benny still held a grudge.

See you later, I said, turning to leave him before calling out, And don’t forget to eat and clean up after yourself.

"Yes, Mother," he shot back.

I frowned. I knew he was joking, but since our mother was the biggest flake on the planet, I didn’t like being compared to her, even in jest.

I grabbed my bag off the hook by the door and headed out, locking the door behind me.

I jogged down the steps of the low-end apartment building we’d lived in since I was sixteen and Benny was eighteen. For a few years I’d lived alone while Benny’d lived at the Delta house, but he’d been forced to move back after everything happened

The peeling paint and stained floors kept most U of M students from renting in this building, instead opting to pay hundreds, sometimes even thousands, on one of the nicer, more modern complexes by campus.

Which was fine with me. I’d much rather live with the sounds of kids laughing and televisions with the volume too high, than the constant partying and late-night music you had when living with a bunch of co-eds.

Plus, I grew up here. Well, at least became an adult here.

Luckily, I got to the stop just as the number thirteen bus was pulling up. The elementary school was only a few blocks away from the north side of campus, so I could take the number thirteen to that stop and then walk the rest of the way.

Hi, Marv, I said in greeting as I scanned my bus pass.

Going back again tonight, Emma? It’s Thursday. You don’t have class on Thursday nights.

Is it bad the bus driver knows my schedule better than my brother?

Rosie’s in the school play, I told him as I sat in the open seat right behind his chair.

Oh, well, you tell her to break a leg from ole Marv.

I will, I promised.

Rosie and I had traveled back and forth many times, so Marv knew her well.

Rosie had the habit of making friends everywhere we went.

When I got to my stop, I said bye to Marv, pulled my strap higher up on my shoulder, and started walking quickly toward Rosie’s school.

I was halfway down the block when a car came up next to me and slowed down.

I started walking faster.

Need a lift?

I stifled a groan and stopped when I recognized the voice.

I turned in time to see Brody Temple hop out of his flashy sports car and run around the front of it to meet me on the sidewalk.

What do you want, Playboy? I asked, using the nickname because he hated it, and it fit him perfectly.

Can’t you call me Brody, Em? he asked, not stopping until he was so close I had to tilt my head back to see his face.

I despised having to look up at someone … guess we were even.

Nope, and don’t call me Em. You know my name.

And, you know mine.

Touché.

I’m busy, I said, walking around him and getting back on course.

I can give you a lift, Brody said, his steps matching mine.

Don’t need one.

"Come on, Emma, when are you going to stop fighting this thing between us?"

I stopped and glared at him.

Contempt? I asked.

He grinned his charming, sultry grin and I fought the urge to punch him in the stomach.

I blinked as I looked at him; well, as I got past the handsome face he was blessed with and took in all of him.

What are you wearing? Where are you even going, dressed like that?

He looked down at his white shirt, which for some reason had dozens of tiny holes in it, and dark-gray cardigan.

What?

Did you buy that shirt with the holes in it? I asked, flicking my wrist at his chest.

This shirt cost three-hundred dollars, he deadpanned.

My jaw dropped.

You seriously dropped three hundred on a T-shirt with BB-sized holes in it? I could have put holes in it for a fraction of the cost, and put the money to good use, rather than giving it to a ridiculously expensive boutique.

I walked around him again, completely annoyed.

How would you put it to good use? he asked, catching up with me again.

I don’t know … buying pajamas and toiletries for the kids at the shelter, or paying our overdue phone bill?

Do you need help with those things? Brody asked, his voice totally serious.

I stopped again and glared at him.

Do you want me to punch you in the face, or do you think you’re being gallant?

Brody held up his hands and said, Just want to help.

I don’t need your help, Temple. Never will.

Careful, Brody said with that damn grin, his floppy hair moving in the wind and daring me to run my fingers through it. Don’t make statements you can’t stick to.

Gosh, Brody, I don’t have time for this. You’re making me late, so please, get back in your penis-mobile and let me get to where I need to be.

All right, I get it, you’re busy. You have my number if you ever need me or just want to talk, he said, his eyes doing that smoldering thing they did. Or … if you want to grab dinner sometime.

Don’t hold your breath, I retorted, going around him once more and hurrying across the street.

This time, Brody didn’t follow, but he did shout out, "I love you, Emma."

I shook my head, and since he couldn’t see, I allowed my lips to turn up and a small laugh to escape my lips.

What an idiot.

Two

Brody

I watched Emma hurry