Page 102 of My Brother's Best Friend

“But I don’t want you turning into someone who runs around Redwood, killing people.” He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me on top of him, his fingers dancing underneath the hem of my shirt. “You’re my cute little girlfriend who loves playing video games and watching anime.” He chuckled softly. “Maybe even some hentai.”

Cheeks flushing, I curled my fingers into his taut chest. “How’d you know about that?”

He cracked a smirk. “I have my ways.”

He grasped my hips and pressed his up into mine, staring at me with those sad eyes.

“Don’t,” I whispered, gently pushing myself off of him. “You’re hurting.”

While he hadn’t said anything, I knew he wanted to have sex. Or … maybewantwasn’t the right word.Needfelt better for this particular instance. Guys like Alec didn’t like showing their emotions.

“But—”

“It almost happened a second time,” I said, referring to Piper. “Let me hold you this time. I don’t need sex as a form of you validating your love for me, Alec. I know your guilt would’ve killed you if that had happened again.” I took his hands in mine and brought his knuckles to my lips. “And I know you love me.”

He curled his lips into a soft smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You’re more important to me than anyone in this entire world, Maddie. You know me better than anyone. I don’t know what I would fucking do without you.”

I lay back on the bed, curled up into the crook of his arm, and pulled him tight to me. “Come here. Let me hold you tonight because you’re mine to protect. And I already promised you that I wouldn’t let anyone hurt you.”

CHAPTER63

ALEC

Once Maddie fell asleep on my chest, I gently placed her on the other side of the bed and shuffled to the door. I had been parched all night since we had left Imani’s house, but I hadn’t wanted to say anything to Maddie. She loved caring for me, and I loved that about her. And I had just wanted to hold her all night until she fell asleep because we both needed it.

So, I walked down the hallway, then down the steps to the kitchen. My gaze lingered on the huge living room, where Oliver’s wild parties had taken place many times over. Where I had gotten so drunk that I could barely see.

I wished I could say that I’d ever had fun at his parties.

But I hadn’t. Not once.

The only reason that I had come to them—most times—was to see Maddie, to make Maddie jealous enough that she’d make the first move, or to get myself drunk enough to flirt with her, like I had a few weeks ago.

Who knew that night would be so shitty?

After turning on the light in the kitchen, I grabbed a glass from the cupboard.

“You’re up late,” someone said from behind me.

I jumped back slightly and turned around to see Oliver sitting on the island, drinking from a glass that definitely didn’t have water in it. I could smell the booze halfway across the room. I turned back toward the fridge and poured myself some water.

“Yeah, that’s what happens when you don’t want to close your eyes because you fear having another nightmare.”

“I’m sorry, dude,” Oliver said. “I should’ve believed you.”

I set down my glass, placed my hands on the counter, and stared out the window over the sink. “It’s a bit too late for that, Oliver. I needed you to fucking believe me weeks ago. And all you did was”—I sucked in a shaky breath—“make everything worse.”

Oliver didn’t say anything.

“You made everything worse,” I repeated, voice cracking at the end. “I fucking needed you.” Rage rushed through me, and I whipped around and grabbed him by the collar, balling his shirt in my fist. I pulled him off the counter and slammed him against the wall. “I needed you, and you made fun of me with the rest of the school.”

“I know,” he said quietly.

But I wasn’t nearly finished. I wanted him to hurt as badly as I had. He had done nothing but betray me, almost get me thrown off the hockey team, which would’ve made me lose all my chances at getting out of this shithole.

“I would’ve fucking believed you!” I sneered, tears burning my eyes. “I would’ve brought you to the hospital, helped find the girl who did it to you, been there if you needed someone to cry to, but I had to do all those things alone.”

Tears glistened in his eyes, and he dropped his gaze to our feet.

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