Page 70 of Anti Player

“You’re Miss Independent. Always have been,” he points out.

“That may be true but I’m learning to hand the reins over to Brett a little,” I admit.

“Good for you,” he says.

“I spent the day with Ellie. We went for lunch and shopping. She saw us the other night, I mean she noticed we couldn’t keep our hands off each other.”

“That’s a problem,” he replies dryly.

“Drink the electrolyte drink slowly. You remember the drill,” I say to him.

“When Jack and Jane got sick,” he says, remembering.

“Yeah. Why is it that you aren’t in touch with them?”

“You’re nosy,” he replies.

“I would be insulted but you’re sick. I don’t get it. You took good care of them.”

“They were young when they left. They probably don’t remember, and it doesn’t matter. They were better off far away from my house.”

“But they aren’t better off without you,” I say.

“My life is fine the way it is,” he insists.

“Right,” I reply sarcastically.A twenty-seven-year-old virgin who doesn’t trust anyone and doesn’t want to let anyone in.

I keep my thoughts to myself.

“I’m going to go make you soup,” I inform him. “You need to eat something.”

“That isn’t necessary.”

“I wasn’t asking,” I retort. “Make sure you drink that fluid. I’ll be back soon.” I get up and leave, locking the door behind me.

I return to Brett’s apartment feeling peeved.

“What’s wrong with you?” my brother asks as I bang the pots and pans.

“Kaleb is a stubborn mule. What is his problem?” I ask Brett.

“What do you mean?” he asks.

“You know what I mean. The guy is a twenty-seven-year-old virgin,” I begin since its unnecessary to mention I took his V-card. “He’s a loner and doesn’t want any help.”

“He has a hard time trusting people,” Brett says. “You remember what it was like for him growing up. The stuttering, kids made fun of him. His dad left him. His mom was in her own world. He’s always had to rely on himself.”

“He had us, Brett.”

“True, but he was always guarded. Still is,” Brett says. It makes my heart hurt.

I get the soup going on the stove and then I go to hang out with Asher, who is super excited he got to spend so much time with Brett. I can see how much he was missing male companionship since we arrived. He’s never really had a consistent father figure.

When the soup is ready, I take it over to Kaleb’s. I bring him a steaming bowl to his room and leave the hot pot on his stove.

“You didn’t have to do this, Maddie.”

“You’re always taking care of and helping everyone. Do you think we don’t have the right to return the favor?” I’m pissed but I can’t help it.

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