“I’m sure you think you love him, but you barely know each other. And…” She paused, and Brandon, already sick to his stomach, wondered what else she could say to tear his heart to pieces. “How well does he know himself? He’s a nice guy, of course. I’m not saying he isn’t. But he’s coming off a horrible situation for years and finding his brothers. I’m sure he’s confused and looking for someone to cling to.”
“So you think that’s what I am? A security blanket?”
A trickle of fear ran through Brandon’s blood as he listened to the resigned tone in Tash’s voice. Now Brandon knew why people shouldn’t eavesdrop. Acid churned in his stomach, and he had a sickening suspicion his entire world was about to come crashing down.
“What I think is that he’s looking for a place for himself and needs someone to guide him. I don’t doubt he has feelings for you, and you, because you’re so lonely and kind, mistook them for more than they are.”
Brandon waited for a response from Tash, an emphatic denial. He wanted Tash to tell his sister in no uncertain terms that he loved Brandon, and Brandon loved him.
“Do you really think so?”
“I do. I’m not saying it to be mean. I’m being realistic. And don’t forget all his legal troubles. The last thing the man needs is to think about a relationship right now if he could be going to jail.”
Brandon held his breath.
“Maybe you’re right, and I’ve been the fool all along.”
Nauseated, Brandon fled from the top of the stairs back to the bedroom. He had trouble catching his breath. Was this happening? How could Tash have so little faith in Brandon? In the two of them?
Maybe he was wrong not to go downstairs and confront them, but Brandon didn’t have the strength, not if he had to convince not only Valerie that he loved Tash, but Tash as well. All he wanted to do was curl up and lick his wounds. He laced up his sneakers and returned to the stairs. Neither Valerie nor Tash were in the front room. On silent feet, he made his way down the steps and took his jacket from the hook by the front door and picked up his backpack. He turned and scanned the interior of the house, his gaze stopping briefly on the two cats stretched out on the sofa before he turned the knob and opened the door. Brandon closed it quietly behind him and walked into the darkness.
Chapter Twenty
Tash had come home, expecting to find Brandon waiting, and hoped to spend a nice evening curled up on the sofa together watching a movie. Instead, Valerie had stopped by his office as his last patient was leaving, insisting she wanted to talk to him.
Tired as he was, he couldn’t refuse her. They hadn’t seen much of each other in the past weeks, and he knew that was his fault, so he invited her home with him. He had the idea for the three of them to spend more time together, reinforcing the relationship he and Brandon had forged in front of Valerie. Then maybe she’d see how happy Brandon made him.
Coming home to a house warm and fragrant with the smells of something delicious in the oven made him think of the future. A future where he and Brandon lived here together, making a life together. Perhaps, if he allowed himself to imagine it, they might one day get married and have a family. Brandon would make an amazing father.
But now, Valerie was acting so out of character he didn’t understand. She’d always been the constant in his life, the one person he could always trust to stand by and support him. Seeing her standing in front of him with her lips pressed in a tight, angry line, he almost didn’t recognize her. Displeasure rolled over her in visible waves.
“I must be crazy to let you mess with my mind.” He couldn’t wait for Brandon to wake up from his nap. When Tash had peeked in earlier and seen Brandon curled up in the middle of the bed with a peaceful smile on his face, he’d wished Valerie wasn’t waiting downstairs so he could climb into bed and hold Brandon close. “You’re wrong about Brandon, and you’re certainly wrong about me.”
“I don’t think I am. He’s—”
“Stop telling me who he is.” He slammed his hand down on the wooden table so hard the plates Brandon had set out for them earlier rattled. “You met him how many times? Once? Twice? And you’d already formed an opinion based on what Luke told you, that I was too old for him. You don’t know anything about him. You’ve never seen how caring he is, and how he thinks of everyone before himself. How he spends his time helping his students or at the center with the kids.”
He stopped breathing hard, his gaze locked with Valerie’s. “You have no idea how he makes me feel.”
“How?” Valerie put her hand on his arm. “How does he make you feel?”
“Wanted. Needed. Alive.” The taste of Brandon remained on Tash’s tongue long after they’d kissed, and the press of his lips and touch of his hand lingered warm and vital. “It’s never been like this before. Even with Danny.”
He put his hands on Valerie’s shoulders. “I love him, Val. I can’t explain why or how it happened like a flash bang of fireworks. But trust me.” He pulled her close, and she clung to him. “It’s the real thing. For both of us. I want you to love him like another brother.”
“I don’t want to lose you again. I love you so much it almost killed me the way you withdrew from everyone after Danny died.” Her voice was muffled in his chest, but he understood. Val had always been a mother hen, the one who worried about everyone else.
“I promise you won’t. And I think it’s high time you stop thinking of my life and find yourself a guy to worry about.”
She let out a gasp. “Oh God!”
“What’s wrong?” He opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of water.
“I forgot I have a date, and if I don’t leave now, I’ll be even later than normal.” She spoke over her shoulder, already hurrying out of the kitchen to the front hall to get her coat.
“So are we good?” He had to ask. She was his little sister but also his friend. It wasn’t only a promise he’d made to his parents to always look after Valerie; it was one to himself.
Valerie flung her arms around him. “I’m sorry for what I said.” She hugged him hard and pulled back to speak to him face-to-face. “I watch your eyes and how, when you speak of Brandon, there’s a glow there I’ve never seen before. So if you’re happy, then so am I.” Her lips curved up in a mischievous smile. “I always wanted a little brother.”
