Page 95 of Prized Possession

“I’m good, thank you. Pleased to see you.”

I give him another squeeze before taking a step back. Marcus is by my side and reaches his hand out towards Jake. “Glad you could come, Jake.”

Jake looks down at his outstretched hand before flicking his gaze up to Marcus’, glaring at him in a very unfriendly way. Somewhat reluctantly, he shakes Marcus’ hand, but doesn’t say anything.

As Marcus takes a seat in the armchair again, Jake looks around for where he’s going to sit, his gaze landing on Miles, who is still lounging in his chair.

He’s so relaxed, he’s practically reclined, with his arm thrown over the back of the seat and his legs stretched out in front of him. Though the tense expression on his face tells a different story.

Jake’s expression darkens, his nostrils flaring as he turns to face Miles. “Why the fuck are you here?”

Miles’ lips turn up into a lazy smile that makes Jake clench his hands into fists. “It’s my day off, so I’m just hanging out here,” Miles says, sounding far more jovial than the situation calls for.

“You don’t fucking live here, do you? So I don’t see any reason for you to be here. You should get the fuck out,” Jake snarls, taking a threatening step towards Miles, who doesn’t even flinch.

“Jacob! Don’t be so rude,” I chastise, wondering where all this hatred has come from.

“Yeah, this isn’t your house, and you aren’t my boss, so you can’t kick me out. Some of us can do whatever we want, we don’t all have to do as Daddy tells us, Pretty Boy,” Miles adds unhelpfully, and somewhat cryptically.

It’s like he just added alcohol to a simmering flame, and Jacob’s barely contained rage explodes.

“Fuck you. Who the fuck do you think you are talking to me like that?!” Jake yells, striding quickly towards Miles until he’s towering over him threateningly.

Miles just rolls his eyes, like he’s bored by Jake’s outburst. Marcus rushes to my brother's side and grabs hold of his arm, which Jake quickly tries to pull away from.

“Calm down, Jake,” Marcus says, his tone tinged with a warning.

Miles starts to stand up, and Jacob is forced to take a step back to give him room. Once Miles is at his full height, they’re standing almost nose to nose, not much of a height difference between them, glaring at each other.

Marcus is hovering beside them, ready to intervene if needed.

“Jacob is too busy behaving like a spoiled teenager throwing a temper tantrum to calm down,” Miles says to Marcus, before turning back to Jake. “Looks like you still haven’t grown up enough to deal with your emotions like an adult.”

Jake takes a step back on a gasp, like Miles slapped him. “Fuck you.”

Miles shakes his head, looking more disappointed than anything. “Let me know when you decide to stop acting like a petulant child,” he says, giving Jake a small smile before stepping away from him.

Both Marcus and Jake are looking at Miles with the same confused expression I’m sure is reflected on my face too. I have no idea what is going on between Miles and my brother, but he’s not wrong. Jake is lashing out in all the wrong ways.

Just as Miles is about to leave, he turns to face me. “I’m out of here. Good luck. You’re going to need it.”

The door slams shut, leaving behind an awkward silence as we all just stand there, waiting for someone to be the first to speak. Marcus looks over at me, ignoring Jake as he sinks down onto the sofa.

“I’m going to go and check on Miles. Will you be okay for a moment?” Marcus asks, his intense gaze watching me to make sure I answer honestly.

“Of course. Go, make sure he’s okay.” I give him a reassuring smile, and he seems to like what he sees as he jogs over to the door, seeking out his friend.

As soon as the door closes, leaving me alone with my brother, I sit down on the opposite end of the sofa to him, giving him my best disappointed stare.

“Is this where you yell at me?” Jake asks, his eyes locked on where his fingers are picking at an imaginary piece of lint on his trousers.

“I mean, it probably should be. You were a real dick to Miles, when he’s done nothing wrong that I can see.”

I hate how old I sound when I’m telling him off, and I wince at the knowledge that it’s only going to get worse from here.

“There’s a lot you don’t know.”

“That may be true, but I still don’t think that excuses your behaviour today.”

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