Instead of acknowledging Reina, his gaze narrowed on me."I told you to take care of her, and this is how you do it?"
"She needed a place to stay, and I had a room—" I repeated, wondering why this excuse that had sounded so reasonable a few weeks ago was falling flat now that Tom was hearing it.
"You fucked my sister."
Reina winced."Stop saying it like that.You're making it sound cheap."
My stomach dropped.This was not going well, and I wasn't doing anything to help the situation.I had to appeal to Tom before he jumped to conclusions and pushed me away."It wasn't something that either of us planned.It just happened."
That actually sounded worse out loud than it did inside my head.
Reina crossed her arms over her chest and glared at me.
"I rescued her from a fire in her apartment.She was scared that night and needed a place to live.It made sense for her to stay here.I tried to stay away from her?—"
Now I could feel Reina's glare boring into the side of my face, but I couldn't stop now.
"But it was impossible."Was I admitting that his sister was a temptation?It was possible he was going to hate that.
"Tell me how fucking her is taking care of her," he growled.
Reina screeched in frustration, her arms falling to her sides."You two and your stupid promises.I'm not something to be taken care of.I'm a grown woman who can take care of herself."
Then she spun and stomped upstairs.
I was fairly sure she was packing her things, which was not how I saw this evening going.I thought I'd have more time.
I zipped my pants which only made Tom angrier.There was no easy way to fix this."I'm sorry about how this went down.I was planning to tell you, but I didn't want to stress you out while you were deployed.But I think I'm in?—"
He held up his hand."Save your excuses.I don't want to hear them."
"It wasn't an excuse."I was going to tell him I loved his sister.I should talk to her first, but the situation called for brutal honesty.I didn't see how I'd salvage our relationship otherwise.
He shook his head."I can't believe you'd betray my trust like this."
"I didn't mean to?—"
Reina returned with a suitcase in hand.She waved her hand between us."I'll let you two hash this out.Apparently, my feelings don't matter."
"This is just one more example of you being immature.How could you fuck my friend?"Tom asked Reina.
I knew it was the wrong thing to say.
She drew up to her full height, and her eyes narrowed on him."What I do is none of your business.I'm not something that you need to handle or deal with."Then to me, she said, "I'll get out of here so you two can salvage your bromance."
I grimaced, fairly sure that was not meant as a compliment.She was pissed at both of us.I'd bungled this thing terribly, and I wasn't sure I'd have a best friend or a girlfriend after this.
"Cut and run.That's what you do best," Tom said, and I kind of wanted to punch him.
He might have been my friend first, but I was in love with Reina.I'd never felt it more acutely than when he was criticizing her.I needed to protect her, but I couldn't seem to say anything.
Reina walked toward the front door, rolling her small suitcase behind her."I will not let you talk to me like that.I make my own decisions, and shockingly they have nothing to do with you."
Tom's brows furrowed.
He probably thought he was in the right in this situation, but he'd made a fatal error.He'd treated his sister like she was someone who needed to be managed, and that couldn't be further from the truth.
She paused at the door, turning her head and throwing her hand between us."You two deserve each other."
