Page 50 of The Step Dare

Brenner clearly expectsme to say something, but I’ve been thrown ever since he got back to the apartment. He’s off. In a way I’m not used to ever seeing him.

When I bumped into Dax on campus after my last class, he said he had some free time, so I didn’t think twice about inviting him over. Didn’t even cross our minds we might do anything else—well, maybe it crossed Dax’s mind a little.

I definitely didn’t think Brenner would mind.

But it’s not just Brenner throwing me. Why was I relieved when he said he hadn’t messed around with anyone either? I mean, I’ve been waiting for him to start messing around with someone, which would rip the Band-Aid off because I know it’ll bother me. I’m not like him. I don’t hook up with people without feeling anything, Dax excepted.

And it’s been worse recently because I’ve enjoyed our cuddling and watching movies together. Enjoyed feeling closer to him than ever before, and the thought of someone sliding in between us and fucking that up makes me feel…ragey.

Brenner’s still looking at me in a way I can’t make sense of, and I have no idea what to say, so I go with the first thing that comes to mind. “We cool?”

He flinches, like that was definitely the wrong thing. “Huh?”

“You’ve been weird since you got home. Did something happen at work?”

Though why would dealing with a fussy customer or a tiff with a coworker make him come home and start talking to me about hooking up with Dax and about not hooking up with anyone else since we started messing around?

Bren rests his hand on his chest and searches around the kitchen. “I think I might need to go to bed.”

He darts out of the kitchen, but I tail behind him. “I’m not letting you out of this that easy.”

“I just need to lie down. I’m not feeling good.”

“I can tell something’s up, Bren.”

“Well, I’m about to be down.”

I roll my eyes, still behind him as he reaches his bedroom door. I take him gently by his arm, and he turns around, his gaze shifting to where I’m touching him before locking with mine.

The fuck is happening?

I glare at him. “Talk to me, dude.”

He hesitates, and my chest knots up as he has one of those rare moments when he seems to be struggling for words. It’s like seeing my mom tear up—it dries my throat, makes me want to do anything to make it better.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I told Mila about us, and she thinks I have a crush on you,” he spits out, looking deadly serious.

I burst into a laugh, partly because I’m sure this isn’t what’s on his mind, but mostly because it’s the most ridiculous thing he could have said.

I can’t stop laughing, but I feel my cheeks warming as the idea starts to settle in.

I wouldn’t mind if he did have a crush on me.

Fuck, where did that come from?

It’s not a thought I allow myself to entertain for long because it’s so ridiculous, and because the way Brenner’s looking at me, he doesn’t seem to find it nearly as amusing.

“Why did you think that was funny?” he asks, his jaw stiffening.

“Shows me that Mila isn’t replacing me anytime soon because I’ve known you for how long? You don’t crush.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” he says, his gaze wandering.

“Why did you say it like that?”

“How did I say it?”

“Like you aren’t convinced.”

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