Aiden’s suggestion from last night takes this moment to float to the surface.
I hate that he wants me to talk crap about him, but if it works in the long run and helps Brandon like me as more than a friend, then it’s worth a shot.
“An asshole?” I say.
“Hey, I didn’t say that,” Brandon says. “But yeah, he seems like a huge dick.”
I relax in my seat with a sigh.
“I didn’t mean to offend you by saying that,” Brandon blurts.
“It’s not that. You’re not wrong about him.”
“Oh?” Brandon’s chair creaks from the other side of the headset.
“I don’t like how he talked to you. He’s been jealous and controlling ever since we got together.” The words spill out of me before I can think them over. I’m prone to word vomit when I’m nervous, and talking shit about Aiden to win over Brandon makes it worse.
He listens to me vent about fake scenarios that never happened. My stomach churns, and I bounce my leg to ease the building anxiety. I want to claw my arms and peel my tightening skin after lying through my teeth. But by the time I’ve finished, I’m shocked—and pleased—to see that Aiden was right. Shit talking him has Brandon eating out of the palm of my hand.
“I knew something was off yesterday, but I’m glad to know the real reason,” he says. “I’m happy it wasn’t me and what I said to you before he interrupted.”
I shake my head. “It’s not you. As you said earlier, the honeymoon phase is wearing off, and I’m seeing the real him.”
“Then leave him.”
I dig my nails into my arm. “It’s not that easy.”
“But it is. If you want, I can be with you when you break up with him. Just so he doesn’t try anything.”
Son of a bitch. Aiden was right. Brandon is trying to be a hero.
I don’t want to say yes before I talk to Aiden about the next step, so I force a smile. “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
He scoffs. “If you don’t want my help, then at least have your brother with you when you break up with your boyfriend.”
I shake my head and check my phone again. “He’s been busy lately, and I don’t want to bug him.”
“Busy doing what?” Brandon asks.
I open the home screen and notice a new message from Aiden. Tapping his name, I read the new text while mumbling, “Kidnapping some jerks.”
Aiden
Something came up, and I won’t be back until nine.
Wear a dress for me.
“Wait, he’s kidnapping people?” Brandon’s shock rips my attention from the texts.
“He’s not actually kidnapping people.” I blow a raspberry with a roll of my eyes. “I mean, he’s doing God knows what, but definitely not breaking any laws.”
“Right,” Brandon drawls, not falling for my lie.
I force a laugh and abandon my phone on the desk. “Anyway, I got some time to play another game. You in?”
Brandon and I fall into our normal rhythm of playing games while chatting. Aiden isn’t brought up again, but he’s on my mind the whole time. He’s never told me what to wear before, always saying I’ll look good in whatever outfit I choose.
I can’t help wondering what he has planned and why it involves a dress, but I only have a few hours until I find out.
