“Good luck,” Cole wishes.
“Oh, it’s not me I’m worried about.”
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
SUNNY
The warmthof Tyler’s home dowses my body as I enter, but a shiver runs down my spine nonetheless. When I make it to the living room, I see Sam and Anthony on the couch together.
“I’m going to go on the roof,” Anthony says, getting up and dismissing himself. He squeezes my hand as he walks by. I can’t determine if it’s a warning or a go ahead.
Picking her nails like she always does, Sam watches the fireplace. “It's about damn time.”
“You really need to stop doing that.” I sit next to her.
“You really need to stop doing my brother.”
I choke on the laugh trying to escape from me to keep the moment serious.If only you knew, Sam.
“I’m sorry. That was a low blow.” She finally looks at me.
“If it makes you feel any better, we haven’t done…that.”
“That right there tells me all I need to know about how he feels for you.”
I sit up straighter. “What do you mean?”
“Tyler won’t wait around or chase a fuck. He can get a fuck whenever, wherever he wants. He could close his eyes, tap a number in his phone and the bitch would be there before the hourends. Yet, he still chooses to refrain from that and do…whatever he does with you. That means he cares, Sunny. He cares about you if he hasn’t fucked you yet.”
I stare wide eyed at Sam, not really sure what to say. I have no other explanation as to why that line hasn’t been crossed except for the fact it could mean more than it’s supposed to.
“People talk, Sunny. I’ve had the unfortunate encounter of hearing women talk about my brother's bedroom skills.”
The idea of Tyler with anyone else does something inside me I don’t appreciate. I toy with a loose thread on his hoodie. A small imperfection among his perfect clothing. A fatal flaw. Kind of like me. One pull, one wrong move and the whole thing can come apart.
“I’m not mad that you’re with, or doing, or whatever it is you have with my brother. Which, I don’t even think you two know what it is.” She gives me a pointed look.
“That’s fair,” I agree.
“I’m mad at the fact you hid it from me. And I’d be lying if I said my ego wasn’t bruised by Cole basically announcing to the world my feelings for him while simultaneously picking another girl over me. Not to mention, said girl is supposed to be one of my best friends, my sister, and lied to make me look bad and save her ass.” She rolls her eyes.
“What do we do?” I ask, genuinely unsure of how to approach this.
“It’s something I need to talk to Mace about. I just can’t believe we were so blind to it? Like how did we not see it?” She picks her nails again.
“I have no clue. But once it was aired, it honestly made so much sense.” I watch the fire.
She shakes her head. “Anyways, tell me more about you and Tyler.”
I gnaw on my lip. “I really don’t know what we are. A lot of factors play into it. I just figured we were just friends, withbenefits…maybe?” I let a nervous laugh out. “I don’t think it’s like that for him anymore.”
“Tyler is… so intense,” Sam laughs. “He loves so deeply. He loves his friends more than anything in the world and though he doesn’t want to admit it, he will destroy himself if it means healing the people he loves.” With a sigh, she looks at the fire. “I had my suspicions about you two, I just didn’t know it was the extent that it is. I just thought maybe it was innocent flirtations, a chemistry between you two, maybe a good fuck every now and then, but I saw the way he looks at you.” She meets my eyes. “Only a man in love looks at a woman like that.”
I break her eye contact, trying to hide the damn tears that threaten my eyes. God, when did I become so emotional?
“I was too caught up in myself to see what’s happening to my brother. I always wondered who the girl would be, the one to finally make him fall flat and wipe that stupid womanizing grin off his face. But it makes sense it’s you, Sunny.” She smiles. “Something shifted in him when you came around. He became more alive. I got worried there, for a while. Not to say he wasn’t present, but he was just on autopilot. Especially after Shelby. I don’t know what she did to him. He needed something to pull him out of that and you did it. I was shocked he so willingly invited you to family dinner after only meeting you twice.”
“He…He invited me?” I ask, clearly shocked. I’d thought it was Sam all along.
