Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 94903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
He glares at me. “Are you fucking with me?”
I sigh dramatically, ignoring how hot he is when he’s mad. “No, Chase, I’m not fucking with you. But I’m also not sitting alone in your house on this beautiful day. That would be a little awkward, don’t you think?”
He turns away from me, not expecting that reply.
My feelings were more hurt at his about-face before, but now I’m just mad. His behavior makes no sense. I’m willing to cut him some slack because I know he’s stressed, but I’m not going to tolerate him being a dick for no reason.
“Besides,” I say, adding the creamer to my coffee. “Your mom is back now. There’s no reason for me to be here, and I want to tell Gavin goodbye.”
I hold my breath and wait, hoping he’ll give me a reason to stay.
“Are you glad she’s back early?” he asks.
“Yeah, if you’re back to this grumpy cat bullshit, I am.”
He stills momentarily before going back to searching through the junk drawer.
“I don’t know why you aren’t talking to me,” I say. “But it’s not a good look.”
“I’m talking to you. That’s what this is. Talking.”
“You know what? I’m glad you’re doing this.”
He turns around to face me. His eyes hold the shield between us that I haven’t seen in a long time.
“You almost had me convinced you were different,” I say, denying the lump in my throat to settle in and make itself at home. “But if you can act like this when I didn’t do anything but try to help you, then I can only imagine what you would be capable of in an actual fight.”
His chest rises and falls.
“You’re pathetic,” I say as Gavin pulls into the driveway.
I slide the creamer back in the refrigerator. Then I blow past Chase, leaving him brooding beside the sink.
Jerk.
“Stop looking at your phone,” I say. “Give me attention.”
Gavin looks up. “You realize we aren’t dating, right?”
“Obviously. I’d never date you.”
He snorts.
“I wouldn’t. You’re best friend vibes, not hot guy I wanna fuck vibes.”
He shakes his head like he can’t believe I’m saying this and returns to his phone.
“I’m not paying for your food if you don’t give me company,” I say.
“You are needy. Damn.”
“And you’re a terrible best friend. Damn.”
He sighs and exits whatever app he’s on. Then he sets his phone on the table. He folds his hands on the tabletop and smiles politely. “There. You just cost me a hookup on social, but there. Happy now?”
“Thank you.”
“What would you like to talk about?”
“First,” I say, swirling my straw around my Sprite, “I want to know why you let me fall for your brother.”
“Oh no. I warned you.”
I gasp. “You most certainly did not.”
“Well, knowing you, it wouldn’t have mattered anyway. You have this propensity of doing what you want regardless of what others think.”
I scoff.
“You do,” he insists.
“Like what?”
“Like … falling for my brother.” He grins. “You really fell for him, huh?”
I roll my eyes.
“So,” he says, sinking back in his chair, “what is this brunch thing, anyway? You aren’t using me to make him jealous or something, right? He’ll kill me, and that’ll be on you. Can you live with that?”
“I’m not making him jealous. You are literally the only person I know here, and I wasn’t about to sit in Chase’s house while he goes and does whatever today. It’s … awkward.”
Tabitha comes by and places our food in front of us. She makes quick chitchat with Gavin before scampering off to another table.
“Why are you guys fighting?” he asks, chomping on the end of a fry.
“Honestly? I don’t know.”
He looks at me like I’m joking.
“I don’t know,” I say again. “He told me last night that he didn’t think I was a good fit for his life—”
“What?”
“So I should go home or whatever.” My chest pulls so tight that I wince. “So screw him.”
“I don’t think screwing him is fixing your problems.”
“Ha.”
He takes a drink and watches me over the cup.
My energy begins to wane, and reality begins to settle in. Chase didn’t stop me from leaving this morning. He didn’t try to apologize. He didn’t even try to talk to me.
I frown. “I have a ticket back to Texas this evening.”
Gavin slowly places his glass back on the table.
“Could you take me to the rental car place this afternoon so I can get to the airport? I’ll pay you,” I say.
“Megs.”
I shove a fry in my mouth so I can’t respond.
He grimaces, moving his head around his neck. “Don’t do this.”
“I didn’t do anything,” I say after I swallow.
He picks up his phone again. His fingers fly over the keys.
“Will you take me?” I ask. “If not, I can try to find a taxi, but I don’t know that they come all the way out to Chase’s.”
He doesn’t look up from his device.