Page 58 of Secret Marriage To My Bosshole

“You know me too well.” I spoon a bite of the chocolate cake into my mouth. “This is so good. Thank you.”

“Want to talk about what’s on your mind?” Kaleigh takes a bite of the cake and crosses one leg over the other. “I’m a pretty good listener.”

I sigh and grab a little bit of the icing that’s smeared on the plate. “My life outside work has been a shitshow lately. I’m seeing this man… and my brother is pissed about it. My brother thinks there is a problem with the man even though I’m happier than I’ve ever been.”

“That sounds like a lot.” Kaleigh leans back in her chair. “Is that all that’s going on?”

“Nope. My brother is also best friends with this man and has been for a long time, so there’s that on top of everything else.”

Kaleigh hums and points her fork at me. “I think you need to knock some sense into your brother. This might be hard for him, but if you’re happy, then that’s all that matters.”

“You might be right.” I squeeze my eyes shut and tilt my head back to look at the ceiling. “I miss life when relationships were easier than this.”

“Holding hands in the parking lot and smoking stolen cigarettes really was an easier time.” Kaleigh’s lips twitch with amusement as she nudges my chair with her foot. “Everything's going to work out how it’s supposed to.”

“I hope so.” I finish the piece of cake and shove the plate to the edge of my desk. Maybe I’ll go see my brother after I'm done here today.”

My stomach twists at the thought, but if I keep letting this wound fester between us, nothing is ever going to get better.

I just hope he doesn’t end up hating me more.

Jake opens his front door, his broad arms crossing over his chest. Without a word, he steps to the side and lets me in.

I kick off my flats and make my way into his kitchen. I pull out two bottles of beer and open them, passing one to him and taking one for myself.

As I sip my beer, Jake reaches for his and sits down at the kitchen island. He watches me as he tilts the bottle and takes a long drink.

When he puts the bottle down, the tension between us spreads thick. “Cora, what are you doing here?”

“You’re supposed to be my older brother, but you’ve been avoiding me. I thought it would make sense to come down here and see if you’ve decided to grow up.”

Jake’s eyebrows soar. “Are you kidding me? You and Griffin are supposedly dating, let alone getting married behind my back, and I’m the one with the problem?”

“You’re the one who made your best friend believe you hate him, so yeah, I would say you’re the one with the problem.” I lean against the counter, one leg crossed over the other at the ankles.

“What I said is nothing compared to what you two have been up to.” Jake downs half the beer in one go.

“Because this is the reaction we would get from you. Not only that, but he is also my boss. It'd be too risky if we don’t keep our mouths shut. Griffin could lose everything he’s built—"

Jake bangs his fist on the counter and cuts me off. “I’m your brother, Cora! You’re not supposed to keep secrets like this from me!”

“Look at what’s happening now that you know the truth!” I put my bottle down and stand taller. “You’re throwing Griffin under the bus even though he needs you in his life.”

Jake’s upper lip curls into a sneer. “And what about you?”

I shrug one shoulder, my chest tightening. “You’re my big brother. I'll always need you, but if it ever comes down to making a choice… you should choose Griffin.”

Jake presses his lips together, staying silent as he burses the beer bottle.

I stand across from him, not knowing what I can say. I wish I could make this storm go away, but there is no turning back time.

I rap my knuckles on the counter, pulling his glare from the veining in the marble and back up to me. “I love you, Jake, and I never did this to hurt you.”

He scoffs. “You know, what I don’t understand is how you changed your mind about him. You used to think he was nothing but trouble, and now you’re defending him.”

I sigh and try to force down the lump in my throat. I grab my bottle and down the rest of the beer.

It calms my nerves a little, but my stomach still twists itself into tight knots.

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