Page 50 of My Ex's Brothers

So the idea, the very notion that he could be fostering some sort of attraction for the same woman, makes me feel even more on edge.

“Problem is, her car is a piece of shit and kicked the fucking bucket.”

I turn the burner off, not wanting my eggs to burn as I turn to face him. “You’re kidding.”

Rich takes a long sip of his coffee. “Wish I was.”

“Shit, that’s going to cause another problem, if Amelia can’t get around…”

He holds my gaze. “I know, believe me. I took a look at it, and it needs a new catalytic converter, so…”

“So she’s better off getting a new car, but that’s not an option unless?—”

He holds his hand up. “I told her I’d look at it for her. We both know she’s not in the market for a new car, and?—”

“Since when do you know what Amelia needs?” I ask, not missing the bitterness lacing my own voice.

Richie raises his eyebrow. “Easy, Dane. Don’t act like you wouldn’t do the same thing.”

I look away from him, tossing my eggs onto a plate with a grunt. I toss some bacon in the pan and it sizzles rather loudly.

How fitting…

“I mean, if she needs a car, I can get her a fucking car…” I mumble. “Mom’s got the Prius still sitting in the driveway…”

“That thing is worse off than Amelia’s Jeep.”

“Yeah? And who’s supposed to befixing it?” I say with animosity, glaring at him.

“Iamfixing it, Dane. Not my fault the part is on fucking back order. Calm your bloody tits.”

I angrily flip the bacon, and like clockwork, Tripp comes out from his room.

“What’s all the yelling about?” he asks, rubbing his eyes.

“Dane’s pissed we talked to Amelia,” Richard says with a shrug.

“I’m not pissed about that, I’m pissed about?—”

“Anyway,” Richard says, clearing his throat, completely steamrolling over me. “Tripp here called me, I came, I saw, I assessed the damage, and I had the piece of shit towed back here, and then I took her to lunch and asked her to move in with us.”

He says the words so nonchalantly, I have to wonder if I heard him correctly.

I slam my plate down. “You what?” I ask at the same time Tripp calls out, “You took her to lunch?” like someone told him there are no cookies left.

The vein above my left eye is now throbbing.

“Oh, don’t get all pissy, Dane. You wanted this to happen, does it matter how?”

“Yes, yes, Richard, it fucking matters,” I say, my cheeks heating with anger.

“What did she say?” Tripp asks, his voice quiet amidst our escalating ones.

“She said she’d consider it,” Rich says, glaring at me. “As long as you idiots are on board.”

I let out a frustrated growl. “Of course we’re on board, we?—”

“She wants to hear it from you. Both of you,” he says as he looks between us.

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