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, nothot guy I wanna fuckvibes.”
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, butthere. 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.”
