Page 46 of A Moment for Us
I’ve said that a hundred times—more than that, but when he said it with that finality, it bugged me.
Or maybe it upsets me because, when he said it, I thought of Delia.
No, this is what women do. They get in your head, make these stupid ideas seem possible, and then tragedy strikes washing the dream away.
I shove all of it down and use a different angle to decide against this.
“Why would I buy a big house for you, me, and Oliver to live in when I know you’ll both leave?”
“Investment.”
I point over at where the construction is happening. “I have one of those.”
“This is different.”
“Listen, I did this RV thing because, once the resort is built, I plan to live on the property. I don’t need to buy a house for you and Oliver, my stupid brothers who have their own money.”
Alex rubs the back of his neck. “I get it. I just don’t want to be living in the RV during winter. A foot of snow does not equal fun when trying to run the generator.”
He has a point. “Maybe we rent a house during the winter.”
“We could. Delia mentioned her extra room the other day. I’m thinking of taking her up on it. At least then I’m not locked in.”
My anger surges so quickly I don’t have time to temper my response. “Yeah, that’s not a good idea.”
Alex’s gaze snaps to mine. “Why the hell not?”
“Because you’d be in her way.”
“Last I checked she and I were still best friends,” Alex challenges. “Not sure how the hell I’d be in the way. She’s not dating anyone and she offered. What am I missing, Josh?”
He and Delia have been friends since they were kids. I know my brother doesn’t see her that way, and still, I want to punch him in the face at the suggestion of him being in a house with her.
I get to my feet, needing to move and get control of myself. “I . . .”
“You?”
Hate him.
I glare at Alex, who just smirks. “I’ll answer that for you, Josh. You are a fucking asshole. You have liked her and wanted something with Delia for years. You’re afraid of love, human relationships, anything that can hurt you. But, the best part of that is, you’re afraid of someone else stepping in and doing what you can’t for her. Let her fucking go. She deserves better than you.”
“I know that.”
“Do you? Because that woman has a heart bigger than any of us knows. And for some unknown reason, she fucking loves you when you’ve done nothing to earn it.”
I move back to the chair and sit. “We slept together,” I confess.
Alex just stares at me. After a few times of opening and closing his mouth, he groans. “Jesus. When?”
“A few times over the last few months.”
“Josh, I’m going to kill you if you hurt her. I’m telling you this as your brother and someone who has looked up to you my entire life, I will never forgive you if you hurt her.”
There is anger in his voice, and I deserve it all. For my whole life, I’ve tried to be more of a father than a brother. I did everything I could to be a good man because we all knew our father was incapable of it.
Hearing Alex makes me wonder if I’m any better.
And right now, I don’t think he believes so.
