Matt rolls his eyes so dismissively, my fist balls at my side. He shouldn’t fucking treat her like this. “Yeah, because that went so well last time.”
“And no one can grow and learn after a mistake? Forevermore, you’ll all consider me a child who needs to be cared for.”
“That’s not what I’m say—”
Finley cuts him off. “Let’s be honest. You don’t think anyone can handle my brand of mess. I should do what Mom and Dad want, keep my stress low, live a small little life. Make everything easier on all of you and stopburdeningyou with my existence.”
The impact of those words lands on Matt’s face like the smack of a puck against the crossbar. He doesn’t say anything for a moment. When he finally speaks, his voice is quiet. “Fi, I love you. I want what’s best for you.”
“I’m tired of being careful. I want to live.”
Her voice cracks, shattering my heart along with it. I wrap my arm around Finley’s shoulders, wanting her to know she’s not alone because she’ll always have me. Her turquoise eyes find their way to mine, full of apology.
Matt follows the movement, and it revives his anger. “And living involves hooking up with my teammate, who can barely take care of himself—”
Finley’s head whips toward Matt, her tone matching his. “He had a concussion.”
“He’s not that different without one.”
Well, fuck. That hurts.
I beat Finley to the punch, telling Matt, “Dude, you crossed a line.”
“Icrossed a line?” Matt thunders. “You fucked my sister, Briggs.”
He’s got me there.
I say quietly, “It’s not like that.”
A disgusted sigh escapes his lips. “Did you tell him?”
He’s referring to the mysterious condition I’m apparently too much of a dumbass to understand. This might be the only pointthe Harris siblings agree on. What other reason could Finley have for keeping something so important from me?
“You didn’t, did you?”
Finley leaps off my lap, rushing to her brother. “Matt, don’t.”
“You know I’m right. It’s why you haven’t told him. He can’t handle it.”
“Stop talking about him like that,” Finley snaps.
I launch to my feet. “What the hell, dude? I thought we were friends.”
“Youfuckedmy sister,” he repeats. It’s the refrain that will allow him to win every argument with me for eternity… if he’ll even speak to me after tonight. “You’re lucky I’m not breaking your bones right now.”
Gemma appears in the doorway behind Matt. “Baby, I can hear you yelling from downstairs. What's going on here?”
She closes the door, blocking the noise from the party and concealing our conversation from prying ears.
“Your husband is out of line,” Finley says.
At the same time, Matt replies, “Found these two playing grab ass.”
Gemma says nothing, her lack of reaction revealing she already suspected Finley and I were in a relationship.
“Is this why you insisted Briggsy stay with us after his concussion?” Matt asks.
She bites her lip, saying nothing.
