Page 41 of Tight End

“No, but it does mean he’s a dick,” I grunt.

Davis laughs. “You’re still my favorite front man.”

I stiffen, my hand frozen on the door handle.

Whoever is singing…isn’t Sam.

But who the hell is it?

I grab my jeans and pull them on along with my shoes. Then I stuff my phone into my back pocket. My eyes fall to my cum-stained t-shirt.

Fuck it.

Then I open the door and creep down the hallway, my shoes squeaking on the tile floor. I stop short when I get to the doorway to the kitchen. I stare into the dark eyes of a guy who looks almost exactly like Sam.

Almost.

Actually, he looks like a dark-haired version of Steve Rogers before he took the super serum inCaptain Americawhile Sam’s the after-serum version.

My heart hammers so hard, it drowns out Adam Levine’s annoying as fuck voice, but I can’t even be happy about it.

Because…it’s him.

Chase Hartley.

The guy who took my brother’s heart.

It has to be him.

I reach for the edge of the counter, my fingertips digging into the granite.

He’s got the last living piece of my brother inside of him.

“Holy shit,” he says, dropping the piece of toast in his hand. He shoots up from his chair and takes a few steps toward me.

“This is so surreal. Sam didn’t tell me you were staying over last night.”

I just stare into his eyes. Can’t speak. There’s a strange sensation creeping into the air, winding around my limbs. The hairs on the back of my neck spring up as if they’re on high alert.

I’ve never felt him so strongly before.

But it doesn’t bring me comfort.

Only sadness.

And anger.

Chase shoots out his hand. “I, uh, I’m a huge fan. My name’s?—”

“I know who you are,” I choke out, edging away from him and toward the front door.

“I can’t believe you’re really here,” Chase says, his face lit up by a huge smile. “It’s such an honor to meet you. I know things got a little crazy last night, but just so you know, that guy at the bar was a total asshole. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

A lump forms in my throat, closing it off to oxygen. I grab onto a chair as I move farther away from Chase.

“The whole social media circus is out of control. But don’tworry. Your secret’s safe with me. As far as I know, you and my brother are dating.”

Chase pauses and his eyes drop to the floor for a second. Then he sweeps his hand through his hair the same way Sam does. His smile fades, his face eclipsed by remorse.

---