Page 102 of Hold On Me

“Yeah, I know it. So what d’you want? Come to beat me up for upsetting your sister?”

I limp back to my seat and slump down into it. I know I look a mess. My suit is rumpled, hair probably looks like it's gone through rounds of tugging—which it has—and I haven’t slept properly since before the gala.

“No, you idiot. I came to see my brother because he isn’t answering any of our texts. Mama’s not happy with either of you.”

He finally moves out of the doorframe, circles around my desk, and drops into the sofa behind me. Reaching over to spin my chair so I’m facing him, he hits me with a look that screams ‘talk.’

“What?”

“Tell me what happened. Tell me why you haven’t stormed over to Buttercup’s house and told her to snap out of it. Do you not want her?” He leans forward, his elbows on his thighs, and returns my scowl.

“You’re a fucking idiot. I love her, but she doesn’t love me. I told her on Christmas, after she reamed my arse for trying tosaveher in front of you all. And do you know what she said? Nothing.”

He sits back, a frown still on his face, but the dam’s broken now and he’s about to get the full flood of my frustration and anger.

“You know I told her about my mum? How she was a fucking golddigger who ruined my dad. Told her that was why I didn’t want a conventional relationship with anyone. But she broke down all my fucking defences, Jen. She made me want her.

“What Mama and Pops have. You and Angie, Jameson and Jonathan—I wanted that. I wanted to be your Pops. In years to come, I wanted to look at Penelope with the same love in my eyes that he has for Mama.

“But look at me now. Being sued for the team I’ve worked my arse off for because I couldn’t keep my temper in check.”

His scowl gets deeper, and I take a deep breath before continuing. “And when I getherlawsuit for breaking the NDA I signed—and I’d deserve it—I’ll be penniless.

“I threw everything away for a chance at love. Because she had this hold on me. And you know what, Jen?” I let my gaze meet his and half grimace, half smile. “I still love her. Still want her. How fucking pathetic is that?”

He blows out a breath and I let my gaze drop to the floor between us. I wasn’t prepared to pour my heart out, but here we are.

“I’m fucking broken, Jen. And I have no idea how to fix it this time. I can’t fucking win.” I stop trying to hold the emotions back and let the tears flow. I haven’t cried since I was a kid.

Jenson grabs my arm, dragging me into a standing position, and wraps his arms around me. “Real fucking men cry, dude. Let it out. You’re safe with me. I’m gonna fix this. Bradys help each other out, and I’ll fix it all. I promise.”

53

PENNY

“PENELOPE RICHARDS.” Jenson’s voice booms through my living room. He sounds furious.

I jump out of my bed and rush to see him looking as mad as he sounds. Jameson scowls next to him, and I want nothing more than the world to swallow me whole right now.

“What do you two want?” My voice sounds confident, but I feel anything but.

“What do we want? I swear to god, if you were our brother, I’d beat some sense into you.” Jenson throws his hands out to the side and I let my hands fall onto my hips in defiance.

“You could try, but I’d take you both and you know it.”

“Really? You’re really gonna stand there and act like you’re not in the wrong here?” Jameson shoots me a disappointed look and it eats away at my conscience, but I don’t show him that. Instead I straighten my shoulders and narrow my eyes.

“Oh spare me the ‘big brother’ lecture. I’m allowed to keep things private in my life. Just because you two and Jaxson can’t go a second without sharing everything with each other, doesn’t mean I’m wrong for not.”

My heart is pounding and my mouth is dry, my tongue sticking to the roof of my mouth, but my stare is strong as I glareat them. I know I shouldn’t be doing this to them. Iwasin the wrong for hiding everything from the people I care about, but I can’t admit that now.

“I feel like I don’t even know you.” Jameson shakes his head as Jenson seethes next to him. The looks of disappointment, the words, their tone of voice, it all makes me feel incredibly sad and lonely—something the Bradys have never made me feel before. And the worst part is, it’s all my own fault.

“Slightly dramatic, but okay.” I’m definitely counting on the sarcasm to hide how my heart is breaking for the third time this week. Ben broke it first, then my dad, and now these boys.

“Nope, it’s not dramatic at all. I always thought of you as a Brady, but this isn’t Brady behaviour. Must be a Richards thing.” Jameson’s words hit their target, but I keep my face schooled.

“Nope. Hank wouldn’t act like this. It’s not a Brady or a Richards thing. She gets this from her mom.”

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