More than Friends

More Than Friends Sterling Sibling, Volume 5 Windsor Rowse Published by Windsor Rowse, 2023. This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental. MORE THAN FRIENDS First edition. April 5, 2023. Copyright © 2023 Windsor Rowse. Written by Windsor Rowse. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Contents Meet the Sterling Family Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty-One Chapter Twenty-Two Chapter Twenty-Three Chapter Twenty-Four Chapter Twenty-Five Chapter Twenty-Six Chapter Twenty-Seven Chapter Twenty-Eight Chapter Twenty-Nine Chapter Thirty Chapter Thirty-One Chapter Thirty-Two Chapter Thirty-Three Chapter Thirty-Four Chapter Thirty-Five Chapter Thirty-Six Chapter Thirty-Seven Chapter Thirty Eight Chapter Thirty-Nine Chapter Forty Chapter Forty-One Chapter Forty-Two Chapter Forty-Three Chapter Forty-Four Chapter Forty-Five Chapter Forty-Six Chapter Forty-Seven Chapter Forty-Eight Chapter Forty-Nine Chapter Fifty Chapter Fifty-One Chapter Fifty-Two Chapter Fifty-Three Chapter Fifty-Four Chapter Fifty-Five Chapter Fifty-Six Chapter Fifty-Seven Chapter Fifty-Eight Chapter Fifty-Nine Chapter Sixty Chapter Sixty-One Chapter Sixty-Two Chapter Sixty-Three Chapter Sixty-Four Chapter Sixty-Five Chapter Sixty-Six Chapter Sixty-Seven Chapter Sixty-Eight Chapter Sixty-Nine Chapter Seventy Chapter Seventy-One Sneak Peek (Juno’s Story) Be My First Get in Touch Obliterate Sneak Peak Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Meet the Sterling Family Character Guide James Sterling President of the United States Adopted his foster siblings when their foster mother died. Elizabeth Sterling First Lady, married to James. MarryMe James and Elizabeth ‘s gold retriever. James used MarryMe in his proposal to Elizabeth. Will Sterling United States Senator (youngest ever) Zadie Sterling High profile lawyer and activist Eli Sterling Tech Billionaire Declan Sterling Free spirit, nomad, always on an adventure Brooklyn Sterling Former schoolteacher works at an educational non-profit. Juno Sterling College Student Keene Sterling College Student, baby of the family Celeste Collins James’ campaign manager and Elizabeth’s sister Maggie Collins Elizabeth’s sister, artist and art dealer Ethan Miller Zadie’s partner and former bodyguard Kip Anderson Brooklyn’s partner Chapter One Declan Now I glance around the restaurant. Maggie asked me to meet her here. I loosen my tie as I look around. We don’t normally meet at places like this. It feels like a date. I’m confused as hell because Maggie and I don’t date. Hook up. Yes. Date. No. I check my watch. She’s late. She’s never late. I pick up my phone and text her. Me: You’re late. You okay? Maggie: I know – I’m sorry. Things have been crazy recently. I can’t wait to catch you up. Me: I’m normally the one who’s late. Maggie: (laughing emoji) Oh, I know. My Uber is stuck in traffic. Be there soon. Promise. Me: (thumbs up emoji) I lean back in my chair and exhale slowly. I’ve ordered drinks and appetizers already. I know what she likes. Maggie and I have been friends for years, best friends – with benefits. We get together – hang out and hook up – whenever we’re in the same town. She travels as much as I do. It works for us. Neither of us is interested in anything remotely resembling a committed relationship, which is why I’m a bit confused by the restaurant. I furrow my brow and glance around. It’s also public, and we don’t do public. Our friends with benefits thing is a complete secret. Maggie’s sister, Elizabeth, is married to my brother, James, and they would absolutely kill of us if they found out about this. More specifically - my brother would kill me. Since he’s the President of the United States, I figure he can murder me and get away with it too. I’m not sure why she’s chosen this restaurant. It seems so out in the open. I scroll on my phone mindlessly while I wait. When I look up, I spot her at the door. She floats across the room like a fucking goddess, and I stop breathing. She’s wearing a black dress that hugs every curve and makes her legs look like they are miles long. I drag my eyes down her body and back up again. I’m just imagining myself pushing that dress up around her waist while she hooks her legs behind me – stilettos digging into my back. “Stop looking at me like that,” she says as she gets closer. I arch my eyebrow playfully. “Like what, Maggie?” I stand up to greet her. She leans in for a hug and whispers, “Like you’d like to fuck me in the coat closet.” She wraps her arms around me and squeezes me tight. She smells fantastic. I could stay here all night and smell her hair. “Don’t wear a dress like that if you don’t want me to look at you like that,” I whisper in her ear. She lingers for a minute, pulling me just a little closer. “Oh Dex, it’s been too long.” We finally break our hug, and I motion for her to sit across from me. “It’s nice of you to finally join me.” She smirks. “You’re welcome.” She picks up her white wine and takes a sip of it, holding eye contact with me the entire time. “How was your trip? I lost track. Where have you been?” she asks. “Snowboarding in Pakistan.” She chokes a little on her wine. “Pakistan?” “Yup.” “Couldn’t you just have gone to Colorado like a regular person?” she grins. “Nope.” Her green eyes sparkle. “Honestly, I’d be disappointed if you had. How was it?” “Fucking amazing.” I pull out my phone and hold it up so she can see a picture. She reaches across the table and grabs it from me. “That’s Pakistan?” Her eyes are wide. “Yeah. Gorgeous, isn’t it?” She’s shaking her head. “It really is. I’m glad you had fun.” She hands my phone back just as the waiter brings the appetizers. “Declan, did you get me crab cakes? I’d kiss you but I’m too far