“Needy,” he retorted.
I laughed at that. I couldn’t help it if I tried. “I’m needy? You’re the one with your panties in a twist because I’m not at your beck and call tonight.”
“I never asked you to be.”
“No, but you sure did assume that I would be there waiting.”
“Because you come over every night. I was just letting you know when I would be home,” he snapped.
“And I said I won’t be there!”
“Fine!”
“Fine!” I shouted, wishing he would just leave.
But he didn’t leave. He stood there, chest heaving as he stared at me with contempt. It was only my brother’s footsteps that broke the animosity in the air.
“Everything alright out here?”
“Everything’s fine,” I answered, not taking my eyes off JR for even a second.
“Right,” Sawyer said slowly. “So…you’re just having a staring contest?”
“Actually, I’m just waiting for him to leave so I can get ready for work. But since you’re up, you can make sure he knows his way out.”
I turned on my heel and strode toward my bedroom, leaving JR in my rearview mirror. God, I was really sucky at this wholekeeping my emotions locked up. I would have to really work on that.
I slumped down on my bed and buried my face in my hands, desperately trying not to cry. I would not be that upset over a man who didn’t want to depend on anyone.
“Josie?” Sawyer knocked. “Everything okay?”
“Just peachy,” I grumbled.
The door opened and my brother walked in, eyeing me warily. “What’s going on with you?”
“Nothing. Why do you ask?”
“Uh…because there’s one very pissed off male who just stormed out of here, and you guys were fighting.”
“We always fight,” I muttered.
Milo trotted in and jumped up on my bed, snuggling into my side. “Hey, buddy.”
“Seriously, what’s going on? I thought you two were doing fine.”
“We are,” I sighed. “It’s nothing, really.”
Groaning, Sawyer walked in and sat on my bed. “You fell for him, didn’t you?”
“What?” I scoffed. “Of course I didn’t.”
“Yeah, you did. I can see it all over your face. Trust me, I’ve been there enough to know the look.”
Crap, if he could see it on me, then everyone else in town would as well. “I didn’t mean to.”
“Nobody means to,” he sighed, tugging me to his side. “I figured it might happen, though. I mean, with all the nights you’ve been spending over there?—”
“Because you won’t fuck your cougar quietly,” I accused.
