Page 106 of The Accidental Text

“You’re also my brother.” I should have gone with lady problems. Devon has no ability to deal with that.

“What are your boy problems, Mags?”

“Okay, fine,” I say, expecting little from this conversation. “I have feelings for Chase.”

His brow crinkles. “The guy that I gave a ride to? The one with Mom’s number?”

“The very one.”

“I knew it,” he says.

“What? You know nothing.”

“I could tell when you told us at Dad’s. There was something going on.”

“Joke’s on you, because nothing was going on then. These are … newer developments.”

At least, I’m pretty sure they are. I try to think back to that night, the night I’d busted out this info like I was confessing a crime or something.

Were the feelings starting then? We’d already been ATVing, race car driving, zip-lining, and spelunking. I remember sitting on his couch, with Oscar in my lap, feeling like myself … a feeling I hadn’t had in so long. Had I been feeling this way for a while and just didn’t recognize it?

“And?” Devon asks, his voice carrying notes of impatience.

“He does not reciprocate.”

“Ah,” he says. “Well, he’s a jackass.”

I might have been wrong about Devon. That actually makes me feel a little lighter. Just that one sentence.

“What did he do?”

“It’s kind of a long story.”

“I’ve got too much ADD for a long story. Give me the shortened version,” he says.

I chuckle. “I thought he liked me. We spent a lot of time together, but I told him how I felt the other night, and he did not feel the same.”

“Did he say that?”

“Pretty much.”

“Can I punch him?”

This time I laugh. “Sure,” I say. “He’s leaving for London on Friday for six months, so you’d better act fast.”

He punches a fist into his hand. “Tell me where to go.”

We both smile at each other now.

“There’s clearly more here than you’re telling me, which my ADD appreciates, but just so you know, I think whichever guy finally gets you is going to be pretty lucky.”

I blink rapidly again. “Thanks, Dev.”

“No problem.”

“You’re a pretty great brother. And I guess a pretty great guy too.”

He shrugs. “I try.”

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