I pull back enough to look at her, my jaw tight.
“Never,” I say.
The front door flies open and my neck snaps as I look that way.
Noel stands in the doorway.
“What the hell is this? Morgan?” he says, aghast. His eyes fill with horror.
I’ve never moved so quick as I jerk my shorts back on. Morgan is already off my lap. She stumbles as she collects her heels and purse.
As if someone is chasing her, she bursts past Noel and runs to her truck without a second look.
My heart thunders in my chest.
Noel is speechless, his mouth opening and closing several times.
“Bro, uh, I’m sorry,” I stammer.
He rushes forward, slamming his palms hard against my chest.
I let him.
“I’m sorry,” I repeat.
He throws a punch, but I lean back. Another. I block it on instinct. “Stop, Noel. It was a mistake.”
“You fucking traitor! I knew you wanted her!”
“It just happened,” I defend myself.
“Liar!”
He attacks again, but I push him back. He steadies himself. His fists are clenched, nostrils flaring.
Then—
His eyes pool with tears.
It fractures my heart to see him cry. To know I caused him one more ounce of pain in his already shitty life.
“Noel, I swear. I didn’t go after Morgan.”
“Yeah right! She wouldn’t want a nonbeliever like you. A snake in the grass. You’renotmy brother anymore.” He wipes tears away and storms to his bedroom.
My heart pounds against my eardrums.
“Fuck,” I curse loudly and punch a hole in the wall.
Tommy rubs his eyes, having awoken from the commotion.
“Where’s Morgan?” he says, apparently already missing her.
“She’s gone, buddy,” I answer, and press my forehead against the drywall. “It’s just us.”
Just us.The way I should’ve left it.
Chapter 10
