Page 16 of My Ex's Brothers

Panic floods me. No, that can’t be right. I…I know I have enough in my account, I just moved five hundred from my savings, I?—

“Try it again, please,” I say with a smile, even though my insides are twisting with anxiety. One look behind me and I can see a line is building. Tripp bounces Lyla on his opposite hip, sliding his hand down his side.

I watch with bated breath as the cashier swipes my card again. The heavy beep burdens me. “Declined.”

“Here—” Tripp balances Lyla, who is still giggling, as he hands me his wallet. “Use mine.”

“No, it’s fine. I—let me see if another one will?—”

Tripp shakes his sleek, black wallet at me. “No, seriously, Mia. Use mine.”

I look from his wallet to the cashier, to the line of angry shoppers who must be cursing me up and down in their minds right now, judging from their expressions.

I take his wallet, opening it and feeling more than just embarrassed.

I feel like an absolutefailure.I know I have enough, I just…when I get to the car, I’ll check my account.

I used up most of my savings in the move to Florida, and after Lyla was born. Though Dex was insistent I stay home with Lyla, and his trading deal covered our basics, I still wanted to be able to do things for Lyla myself. Had I known that in a few short months I would need the funds to move again, I would’ve been better about such things.

I pass Tripp’s card to the cashier, and like butter it slides through, no beeps or boops to chastise me. I hand the card and his wallet back to him as he passes Lyla off to me, heading down to pack the bags into the cart alongside the bagger.

“Tripp…”

“Shush,” he says with a lopsided grin. “Don’t worry about it.”

His words should make me feel better, but they don’t. In fact, I feel worse. But when he jumps up on the bar and rides the cart like a skateboard toward the doors, Lyla laughs and I have a hard time not appreciating the change in her behavior, thanks to Tripp.

“Where you at?” he asks, popping the cart like it truly is a skateboard.

“Blue Jeep Cherokee,” I say, nodding to my spot. He rides the cart over as I slide my hand in my back pocket, unlocking the car.

When I get there, he’s already got half of the bags loaded, and I head for the back seat, immediately putting Lyla in her car seat.

“So…what, uh…what else are you two up to today?” he asks as he leans against the side of my car. He watches me intently as I fasten her in. Before I can answer him, he says nonchalantly, “I did this car seat training thing once with Mark when he was doing the firefighter thing.”

“Really?” I say. “Which one’s Mark? The dark-haired one?”

“Nope. He’s the one with the anime shirt,” he says with a shrug.

I can’t help but let out a laugh. My nerves start to settle as I glance up at Tripp. I shut the door, rounding to the driver’s side. “Thank you, by the way. You didn’t have to do any of this.”

Tripp shrugs. “Told you, it’s fine. I’m glad to help.” His blue eyes rove over for me for a moment and he twists his lips.

Just as I think he’s done, and this awkward exchange is coming to an end, he stares me dead in the eyes and says, “Dex is a dick.” Before I can respond, he takes a step forward. “Between you and me, I never liked the guy.”

His gaze softens and soon his stern expression is replaced by a boyish grin.

“Yeah, well, I guess that makes two of us, then.” I tease, but it feels good to say it. It feels good to be honest. Dex is a dick, and I’m pissed.

Tripp licks his lips. “We should, uh…hang out sometime. Catch up,” he says.

Part of me feels like his words are simple, and I’m reading too much into them. Because the way he says them…it’s almost like he’s asking me out or hitting on me. Which would be insane for a number of reasons. He’s my ex’s stepbrother, he’s twenty-four, and we are nowhere close to even being in he same fuckingballpark.

But I also feel the strangest spark of excitement because I’m fairly certain heisasking me out. Which is crazy, right?

Absolutely.

“Maybe,” I say, biting my lip. “Once I get settled.”

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