"Yeah, okay. You know... I know how you feel about—"
"You don't know a fucking thing. I fucked your sister. That's all. She did me a favor, and I'll be fucking someone new by tonight." The lie stings as it leaves my mouth.
"You know that's fucking bullshit, Jett."
"Well, apparently, bullshit is in the air today. So why not?" I say with a huff. "None of it matters anymore. I gotta go."
I hang up the phone before another word can be said.
Drowning.
In every aspect of the word.
Two weeks after Izzy ended it all, and I’m drowning in my pent-up emotions, drowning myself in work on the ranch,drowning in missing her.
The more time passes between us, the morerealit all feels. There’s no escaping this new reality that’s managed to bite me in the ass.
I hear his footsteps before I see him, and immediately my fingers dig into the leather of the armchair, already knowing what he’s going to ask. I came in here to try to fucking unwind, not be bombarded with his relentless heartache.I have my own to deal with.
"Maybe you can call Iz again to check on V?" Ander asks out of desperation as he stalks into the living room.
I get it. His heart is broken, and he misses Via. He thinks life as he knows it is over. Little does he know that he isn't alone in that feeling. While he's openly hurting, I'm doing it in silence. Still, the fact remains that we’re both suffering. Unlike him, I’m not wallowing in fucking self-pity. Just… drowning. It’s different, and the way he’s letting his grief of losing Via take over his entire being is triggering for me. I wish I could snap him out of it.
“You call her,” I deadpan. “You’re friends.”
“I tried. She stopped answering my calls and texts. Please, Jett, can you—”
"I'm not calling Izzy," I say firmly, cutting him off and letting a bit of annoyance leak into my tone.Take the goddamn hint.
"Why not?" Ander's reply comes back quickly, clearly confused.
Fuck.
"Me and Iz don't talk anymore.”
“What? Why?”
I raise my voice. “It's not any of your goddamn business.”
“Look, man,” Ander says, scrubbing a hand over his face. “Can you just fucking try? I’m begging you.”
“I said no! Jesus fuck, Ander!” I growl, quickly standing. “I get you’re worried about Via, but she doesn’t want you anymore.Just like Izzy doesn’t want me. The difference is, you don't see me over here crying about it."
Ander’s jaw clenches as he takes a step toward me. "That's because you're a fucking pig and treat every female like they're disposable."
I scoff, folding my arms across my chest. “And what the fuck makes you say that?”
He scoffs right back, disgusted. “You’re my brother. I fucking know you better than anyone.”
I almost laugh.He doesn't know a damn thing.
"Look, brother, you just need to accept it for what it is,” I say, dropping my arms, trying to defuse the situation. “It's time to move on. You can't keep wallowing over some chick. It’s pathetic."
But it backfires. On both of us.
"What the fuck!? Accept it for what it is. SOME CHICK!?" Ander screams out and rushes toward me, appalled and frustrated. His hands connect with my chest, shoving me backward. "How could you even talk about her like that, asshole!?" he spits out, eyes narrowed on me.
If looks could kill, I'd be his only target. The thought only pisses me off more. Out of everyone in our family,I’vebeen the one constantly by his fucking side.
