Page 19 of Mine

Chapter Seven

Quentin and Jordan were in a hostile stare down.

“You better start talking,” Jordan said.

“Do you think I would do anything to hurt her?”

“Oh man, don’t give me that shit!” Jordan paced the length of the room. “I can’t believe this.”

“Would you calm down?” Quentin said.

“Calm down!” Jordan stuck a finger out at Quentin. “We agreed, family is off limits. You don’t see me trying to date your sister. We agreed!”

“My sister is married,” Quentin said.

“That’s beside the point!”

“Look, I didn’t set out to date your sister,” Quentin said.

“Then how the hell did you end up doing it? I swear to God, Q, you better not be…” Jordan’s words evaporated, but Quentin knew what he meant.

“I haven’t touched her,” Quentin confirmed.

Jordan seemed to breathe easy.

“Not in the way you think.”

Heat suffused Jordan’s cheeks, but Quentin quickly surrendered his hands. “I kissed her,” he said.

Jordan closed his eyes. “And what else,” he said, gritting his teeth.

“We haven’t had sex if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“This is some bullshit. This shouldn’t even be a conversation I’m having with you, of all people! You are practically her brother! You watched her grow up!”

“You say that like we didn’t grow up together. She’s grown. We’re not that much older than her.”

“You’re fucking serious,” Jordan said. “We agreed.”

“What are you so worried about?” Quentin asked.

“Don’t go there, man, just don’t do it,” Jordan said. “Jonathon is going to lose his shit.”

“I’ll tell Jonathon the same thing.”

“Which is what?”

“I want to date Phoebe, brother. I’m going to,” he stated.

The men had another intense stare down.

“You’re going to,” Jordan said.

“I’d rather have your blessing first,” Quentin assured.

“You don’t,” Jordan said sharply. “So now what?”

Quentin hadn’t wanted it to come down to this. Having to choose between dating Phoebe and sticking with his agreement to his friends was like shooting knives.

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