Page 7 of Protected By my Brothers Best Friend

“Right. I think that applies here.”

I tilt my head. “Does it?”

“Yeah. Dad was talking about some math trick, but that doesn’t change the fact that one plus one doesn’t always equal two. Sometimes, it equals zero.”

“He used to say that, but I still never saw how he did it.”

She laughs. “You’ve always hated numbers. Sorry. My point is, you can love someone and sometimes it doesn’t work out.”

“Was that your rationale for leaving Max? Which side of one plus one were you on with him?” I can hear the silent tension on the line as I say, “You’re back in town, and he’s in town. I’m sure he’s thinking about you.”

“That’s not what this is about.” Her tone is rattled.

“I mean, you’re in love with him, right?”

“Max and I settled things a long time ago. There’s nothing else to say.” I don’t say it out loud, but I don’t want to end up like Collette. I don’t want to regret anything with Cooper.

“We aren’t talking about me. What are you going to do?”

I shrug. “Honestly… probably nothing. I hate to admit it, but it feels incredibly selfish. I’m going to get through the weekend, go home, and try to move on.” The second the words leave my lips, I want to quickly regather them all like scattered puzzle pieces to the only image of my life I ever thought made sense. “Anyway, I should probably go. I bet Shanna needs help with the twins and I’m just up here sulking like a jerk.”

“Okay, well if you need a math refresher, just give me a ring.” I hear the smile in her voice. It’s funny how we all bring something different to the table. If I were to call my sister Kenzie, she’d have fed into everything I was saying. She’d probably have called Cooper and ordered him to kiss me. Maybe that’s why I called Collette. I knew I needed some sense talked into me and she’s the best at that. She always has been, which is why it’s so weird she can’t do the same for herself.

I stare out the window. Cooper and Alaina aren’t walking in circles anymore. In fact, the lake is clear and empty, void of everything.

Kind of like my heart.

I’m being dramatic again. I hate when I get like this.

What happened to women empowerment?

My heart slams against my chest. Where did they go? If I’m going to take control, I need to keep them in my sight.

“Dinner,” Shanna calls up from downstairs. “I had pizzas delivered.”

I stand from the bed and check myself in the mirror. My hair is a mess, my clothes are disheveled, and I need to retouch my makeup, but I don’t have time for any of that. Right now, I have to get down there and remind Cooper that I’m not a mess, even if I’m feeling like one.

Chapter Four

Cooper

To say this is awkward would be an understatement. Alaina is handsy. Really handsy. I’ve pushed her away multiple times, but she doesn’t seem to be getting it. One second her hand is on my lap. The next her head is on my shoulder with her arm slung around my neck. It’s too much. We just met less than an hour ago.

I stare toward Bryan trying to give him eyes like this isn’t working, but he doesn’t catch on. Instead, he mows down two slices of pizza at once like he hasn’t eaten all day. “Damn, I’m starving. You two have a nice walk?”

Alaina speaks up first. “Yeah. Turns out we’re both huge fans of blue jays.”

“Cooper doesn’t like blue jays,” Iris says with snark, readjusting herself at the table. She looks cute as hell when she’s being feisty.

“I like blue jays,” I say, glancing toward her. “They’re just not my favorite.”

“Right. She said they were your favorite.”

“Actually,” Alaina adds, “I said we liked the same bird.”

The tension is thick, and I could easily end all of this right now. The second I walked out that door, I knew nothing would ever come from the walk Alaina and I just took. She’s not my type from a looks perspective, and her personality… she’s got to be one of the most judgmental people I’ve ever talked to.

Iris rolls her eyes. “You know what I like… dogs. Big dogs, little dogs. All kinds of dogs. I like them fluffy, or with flat coats, and sometimes… I even like ‘em with no hair at all.”

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