“I don’t give a fuck about Brian anymore, and you know it. I don’t want you to feel bad.”
“You don’t give a fuck about me either. You’re always selfish! You never think about the consequences of your actions.”
“I’m selfish? Go fuck yourself, Amelia! You only come to me when you need something or to bust my balls with your teenage-girl-in-love bullshit.” The cruelty with which I said that startled both of us.
“My family took you in like a son. Aren’t you embarrassed to say something like that?”
“You just pretended to be my friend.”
Saying that out loud set off a strong pain in my gut.
“I’m not your friend anymore,” she stated.
“And do you think I give a shit?” I threw out.
“You’re an asshole! If you say you love me, how could you treat me like this and betray me and my brother?”
“I’m so sorry if—”
I started to say something, but I couldn’t finish it, because her quivering lips drew nearer to my mouth.
“What, James? Go on, say it.”
Her nose grazed against mine, so I closed my eyes. Was she about to kiss me?
I felt my heart race, but I lowered my head to avoid that contact. I couldn’t kiss her. I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to make things even worse.
“I hate you! How could you do this to me? What will I tell Brian now?” she shouted, tears welling in her eyes when she realized I’d pulled away from her impulsive gesture.
And the next second she was the one to walk away, so I grabbed her wrist to stop her.
“Amelia, stop. You’re upset. Look, nothing happened—”
Brian’s timing was terrible. He burst right into the room and caught us in the act.
I was in my underwear, still with my erection.
I was grabbing his sister by her arm, and she was in tears, desperate. There wouldn’t have been enough words to convince Brian nothing had happened.
“What the hell are you doing, Hunter?”
His green eyes narrowed, and there was nothing I hated more than his gaze.
“Amelia, why are you crying?” he asked.
I thought for sure she’d sayJames was in bed with Ari, but she didn’t have the guts.
“What did he do to you?” he demanded, his eyes burning with rage. “Did he try to force you to do something?”
And that was how Amelia decided to punish me. She was too hurt. She nodded and ran away.
She knew how her brother lost control when he got angry. But she’d lied all the same.
19
June
“I couldn’t breathe anymore. I didn’t even hit back once. Maybe I deserved it,” I heard him say through clenched teeth.
