Tuesday, July 25, 2023

The Office Nemesis Calamity (The Frat Brats of Santa Barbara #7)


Another day, another author crossed off my to-binge list. This is Hayden Hall's Frat Brats of Santa Barbara series. The seventh novel is "The Office Nemesis Calamity."

["I hate his pretty lips. I hate how good they taste.

Theo
He’s the most infuriating, immature frat brat I’ve ever had the misfortune of coming across. Again.
He’s also the guy I dumped in high-school when I realized I was straight after all. And he just so happens to be the intern at his dad’s company; the very same one I work for.
A terrible misunderstanding puts Justin Lewis into my care. I’m supposed to teach him how his father’s business works. But he’s determined to do it the hard way.
Four years ago, after breaking his heart, I experienced what Justin’s hatred could do. He ruined the final weeks of high-school for me. He scared me into skipping my prom night.
No more.
I’m not that frightened kid anymore. I’ve come far without anyone’s help and I’m not letting one begrudging ex ruin all that I’ve achieved.
If only he wasn’t so irresistible when he pouted.
If only I could stop leaning in to catch his scent.
If only I wasn’t about to make the same mistake all over again.

Justin
It was supposed to be simple; do the internship, make Dad happy, and go away to lick my wounds. I’m sick of the way I live, but a terrible breakup from four years ago still haunts me.
Until I start my internship and discover there’s Theo Wright in my office. Or am I an his office? Depends on who you ask.
The guy hates me and I know why. But I hate him just as much. He wrecked me for good when he turned suddenly straight after one encounter and I never trusted another guy since.
If I’m going to earn my ticket out, I need to do this boring internship. And Theo just so happens to be the only thing to help me pass the time. Annoying him is my new, favorite hobby.
Until I take it a step too far.
And he blushes like a maiden.
And my heart nearly explodes.
Maybe there’s more to him than I let myself believe. The way he looks at me while we work is almost enough to give me a glimmer of hope. If I was foolish enough, I might try something that could burn down in flames again.
Oh, who am I kidding? I’ve always been foolish enough."]

Let's just call this demisexual-awakening. Because, that's what it was and is (spoiler alert I guess--for those super interested in those). Or pansexual. Hayden used pan (attracted to the person, not the gender), but I see Thro more as demi (needing a connection first). Or like...both? Though that intense-as-fuck internalized homophobia didn't help (or the homophobic father) Theo figure himself out at all.

Either way, these two were explosive. And once they kissed again? Like, fuck. Que fireworks and butterflies and all that jazz. Then some embarassment. Then some confrontation. Then some...well, they finally started to actually communicate at that point (and not communicate at that point..if you know what I mean).

Very, very cute and fun (and a lot less angsty than I assumed) end to the Frat Brats of Santa Barbara series.

#thelastsummervacation #thefakeboyfrienddebacle #theroyalroommatedisaster #thewrongtwindilemma #thebitterrivalfiasco #theaccidentalhoneymooncatastrophe #thebedroomcoachagreement #theofficenemesiscalamity #fratbratsofsantabarbara #fratbratsofsantabarbaraseries #haydenhall #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

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