Page 89 of My Ex's Brothers

I’m just finishing up with the brakes when I hear a knock on my garage door.

“Come in,” I say, and a moment later I hear the door shut. I slide out from underneath the car, looking up to see it’s Amelia.

Standing there in pink cotton pajamas with white hearts all over them. She looks dainty, soft. Sweet and feminine. Her blonde hair is pulled back into a loose ponytail, and in the light of my garage, she looks younger. Softer.

Her blue gaze catches mine. “Hey.”

“Hey,” I say as I lean forward, dropping my arms over my knees. “Something I can do for you, baby girl?” I ask.

She twists her lips as she walks across the garage to my couch. I watch every stride, her bare feet padding across the concrete. She holds herself as she sits down, staring at me, and I can see the concern in her eyes.

“Something wrong?” I ask as I get up, tossing my rag on the ground. I make my way over to her, but I don’t sit down. I don’t need a repeat of last time, and I know if I sit on that sinking couch, we’ll both end up not talking. And I think right now, talking might be good. For both of us.

“Are you really okay with this?” she asks.

I don’t have to ask what she means. I lean against the car, crossing my arms. “You mean am I okay with you dating and fucking my brothers?” I ask.

Her cheeks heat. “I haven’t fucked…all of them.”

I smirk at her. “Good to know.” I let out a chuckle, watching as her cheeks pinken and she gets all flustered.

“I’m not going to lie to you, you know that,” I tell her, holding her gaze. “I’m notokaywith it, but…I’m okay with you doing what feels right for you.”

“That’s the thing, I don’t…I don’tknowwhat feels right. It’s like everything just hits me at once, and I’m jumping from moment to moment like?—”

“A leapfrog?” I ask.

She chuckles. “Yeah, I guess.”

“Can I ask you an honest question?” I ask.

She shrugs. “I guess.”

“Did you love him?”

She looks at me in question.

“Dex. Did you love him?” I watch her expression shift, watch her contemplate her thoughts. It’s quiet for a moment, but I don’t fill the silence unnecessarily. I wait for her answer. I give her time to process the question.

“No,” she finally says, and the word is faint. Small.

“Mmm.” I sigh. “Then what is it that really bothers you about this, Amelia? Because if you aren’t in love with Dex, there’s no reason you can’t explore other options.”

“Other options being you, you mean,” she says.

I shrug. “And Dane. Tripp too, as much as I detest that.”

“You don’t like me and Tripp being together, do you?” she asks softly.

“I just don’t see what you see in him. He’s like a fucking golden retriever. Bouncing around with all that fucking energy.” I groan. “You already have a kid, you don’t need two.”

Her eyes widen and she sucks in a breath, looking away from me for a moment, before she schools her face and turns back to me.

“I just meant?—”

She laughs, and it’s genuine. “No, that’s pretty spot-on actually.”

I smile at her. “And Dane is like a good, trusty, German shepherd. Begging for attention, a workhorse, and so fucking loyal.”

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