Page 25 of Study Buddies

“It’s here? I-I don’t understand.” Tori looked completely and utterly confused, but I couldn’t think of the right words to make any of this make sense.

Kyle glanced my way, but I kept my gaze on Tori.

Finally, Jayden spoke up. “They’re stepbrothers.”

“What?” Her eyes flashed between me and Kyle, as if trying to spot some similarities between us—which wasn’t how stepsiblings worked, but maybe she was still trying to process everything. Hell, she was probably still trying to fully wake up.

“My dad married his mom when we were in high school,” Kyle said. He left out the part about how it was his idiot father’s third marriage. My dad had died when I was a boy, and my mom had been single for years—until she met his father at a fundraiser at our school. Things moved quickly after that. “Our parents bought this house so we’d have a place to stay while we’re at Langley.”

“But don’t you live at a fraternity?”

“He does.” For Tori’s sake, I made an attempt to keep the snarl out of my voice. “Since the beginning of summer—until he conveniently showed up twelve hours after finding out you were staying here.”

Tori’s brow wrinkled with concern as she looked up at Kyle. “Well, if it’s your room, I should?—“

“I don’t mind sharing,” Kyle said with a wink at her. “Unless you hog the covers.”

Before his words could fully settle in my mind, I was striding across the kitchen toward him.

Jayden inserted himself between us at the last second. He looked angry, too, but all he said was, “Let’s take this out on the front porch.”

Kyle smirked. “Are you going to make me? Because if so, firstly, it’s not going to work. Secondly, you’d have to find the balls you lost years ago.”

Jayden didn’t rise to the bait, but then again, he didn’t have the same history with my loser stepbrother as I did.

“I think Tori has seen enough pointless displays of testosterone for one morning.” Jayden’s voice hardened. “Out on the porch, both of you.”

Tori’s eyes were wide as she stared at us.

Kyle shot her a smug look. “See you soon.”

I managed to keep my temper in check until we were out on the porch. Then I shoved Kyle hard, my hands on his chest, and watched with a certain amount of satisfaction as he had to slam his hand against the front wall of the house to keep his balance.

But that didn’t wipe the arrogant look from his face.

“You been working out?” he taunted.

“Enough to beat your ass.”

He gave me a mocking look, clearly not scared, and I struggled to get my anger in check.

Jayden stepped between us once again. “Just say what you need to say and then get the hell out of here, Kyle.”

Kyle shook his head. “Ilivehere. You two are supposed to be smart—seems like you could remember that.”

I glared at him, but I forced myself to take a deep breath. Anger hadn’t ever been my best weapon against him. “We all know you only came here to piss me off.”

“He pissed both of us off,” Jayden said, still in just his boxers. “He’s that good.”

“Is it possible that I might like this girl?” Kyle asked. “You sure do.” That last part was aimed at me.

“You don’t know anything about me anymore.”

“Bullshit. You look at her in the same pathetic way you used to look at Natalie.”

I saw red and slammed my chest into his like a goddamn ape—something I’d never done in my entire life. “Don’t you ever mention her name again.Ever.”

Jayden gave a low whistle as he stared at Kyle. “That was low, dude. Even for you.”

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