Page 51 of My Ex's Brothers

“Fuck,” Tripp curses, running a hand through his hair.

“Do you have a problem with this, Tripp?” I ask, noting the look of panic on his face.

He shifts uncomfortably, and I think perhaps he does. Have a problem. And if he’s the one thing that keeps Amelia from getting what she needs, I swear to God…

“No,” he says, crossing his arms. “No, I don’t have a problem with Amelia moving in here.” He looks at me, chewing his lip. “I have a problem with you acting like a damn possessive asshole who thinks she belongs to you.” He purses his lips. “Because she doesn’t.”

His words strike me harder than Rich’s admission that he asked her to move in here.

Because Tripp’s words are fully loaded with jealousy. Just like Richie’s.

“I never said?—”

“You don’t have to, Dane,” Rich says. “It’s written all over you. Look at you, you can barely have this conversation right now without busting a damn blood vessel. If you really want Amelia to be here, to be withus…” He sighs. “You have to get out of your own way and accept that the choice is notyours.It’s hers.” He sets his coffee down. “Besides, I’m picking her up at one today to bring her over here to talk tobothof you. So whatever issues you have, work it out now before she gets here, otherwise our shot is blown.”

And with that, Richard leaves us, heading for his car.

“See you at practice, Dane.” He stops at the door, turning to Tripp. “Have a good day at school, kid. We’ll see you when you get back.”

“Fuck,” Tripp says after the door shuts. I grab my plate of eggs and bacon angrily, practically stomping over to the dining room table to scarf down my food as fast as I can, even though I’ve lost my fucking appetite.

I finish my plate, trying to calm down from my brothers’ behaviors this morning.

When Tripp speaks, it startles me. I almost forgot he was here, spiraling into my thoughts.

“I’ll clean up,” he says, standing just inches away from me. I look up at him, narrowing my eyes. He looks tired. Annoyed. He grabs my plate. “Seriously, just…go.”

I don’t have to be told twice, especially by Tripp. I get up, sighing as I relent.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “I didn’t mean to snap at you, I just?—”

“I get it, Dane. Really. Just…relax, okay? If you want her to stay here, you’re going to have to chill the fuck out.”

He’s right. But I won’t tell him that. I won’t give him the satisfaction. The last thing I need is for Tripp to let my praise go to his brain.

I nod, grunting in agreement as I head for my car and off to practice.

The whole practice,I feel like my skin’s practically buzzing. My stomach is tied into knots.

Rich gives me a wide berth on the ice. Not enough that our teammates notice or say anything, but enough that I can feel his seething bitterness. But knowing Rich, he’ll get over it once he hits the gym. Nothing works out his aggression quite like training.

The entire practice I try my hardest to focus on the game, and for a little while I actually do. Until the buzzer sounds, and it’s time to hit the showers, which is around ten a.m.

I settle next to him in the locker room, undressing until I’m down to my briefs. I grab my shower supplies, fully fine with him not speaking to me at the moment.

“I’ll get her,” I say, my voice solid.

“What?”

I turn to him as I shut my locker. “I said I’ll get her. After I finish up here.”

Rich’s jaw tenses, his gaze holding mine steady. “I said?—”

“I know what you said. But you already fucked this up by asking her before we could discuss how to proceed with this, so I’m going to make sure you and Tripp don’t fuck this up anymore.”

“You act like we’re the enemy, Dane,” Rich says briskly. “We’re not the enemy here.”

“No, you’re not. But don’t for one second act like you did this out of the goodness of your heart. You did it because you wanted to be the one in charge. You wanted to be the fucking hero.”

---