Page 48 of The Chance

I’m always second to Rex. Constantly playing catch up. Getting the leftovers of life.

Literally playing behind him every night.

“But are you?”

I rock back in my seat, my heart aching for a whole other reason.

No. I’m not really. How can I be when my brother gets everything I’ve ever wanted without even trying?

When the universe just dumps shit in his lap, but still makes it good. Turns his shit situations into the love of his life and what do I get?

Nothing. I get nothing.

“You practically lived on my couch and now I never see you.”

That ache becomes a stabbing that just gets deeper with each of my brother’s words. Because while it’s true … it’s also partly his doing.

Rex hates my bodyguard for being my best friend, even though I’m in love with him.

It started with a deep fake that got Jordan fired, his nose broken by my dear brother, and a whole lotta proving he was with me at the time of not only the leak, but the recording’s timestamp.

After I admitted to Rex I’d found feelings.

“You don’t want me on your couch,” I mutter instead and drop my sight back to my ticking sticks.

“More likeyoudon’t want to be on my couch when the twins go to bed.”

I can feel the smirk in his tone.Gag.

But alsoache.

Goddamn it.

My grip tightens.

I want that. I want that life so fucking bad.

Someone to come home to. Someone to call. Someone to just fucking hug me when I need it.

I blink against the burn in my eyes and swallow back the reigning disappointment, hoping like hell he won’t pick up on the thickness of my words. “Pleasestop talking about your sex life. I don’t wanna know.”

Rex chuckles and tosses a wadded-up napkin at my chest. “Bro, you were right outside the door most nights.”

Because I was waiting for him to hang out with me.

Pathetic, right?

I fake a gag and still my sticks with a tremble to my hands. “That’s different.”

He scoffs and rolls his eyes.

“What? I have toseeAria again. I never saw those ladies come back.”

Someone behind my brother sputters out a laugh and I bite the inside of my lip.

Rex levels me with a look, one that sears me so deep that I nearly break right down the middle.Just like that night on the bus all those years ago.“We’re playing cards later,” he says and tips his chin. “Be there.”

Sighing through clenched teeth, I nod.

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