“You seriously put up with that kind of bullshit?” She asks, her voice going soft as her brows draw down in concern.
“Yeah,” I sigh. “I’ve never been good enough, ever since I was a kid.”
“She treats your fucking brother like he’s the second coming, seriously, what the hell is his deal? Considering you’re doing a ridiculous amount of stuff like saving Southside omegas and working on legislation to make sure that god damn omega scholarships are well funded, he’s got to be some crazy doctor or scientist, right?”
Looks like Charlotte must’ve spoken to Reyna about me. I wonder what she’s said.
Maybe that’s what has Reyna all fired up on my behalf. But as I look Reyna, truly look at her, I think there’s something more here.
There’s so much emotion swirling in her deep gray eyes it’s threatening to pull me into the storm that resides there.
“He’s a failed entrepreneur,” I say, unable to hide the bitter laugh that leaves my throat. “My parents have bankrolled him ever since he barely passed his business degree. He still lives at home.”
“You’rejoking,” Reyna sputters, throwing her head back as she laughs loudly.
I wouldn’t be able to drag my eyes from her even if I tried. And I have no interest in trying. The sound of her laugh and the way her raven black hair flows around her shoulders steals my breath away. It’s like the world moves in slow motion.
“No wonder you’re a little bit of a dick sometimes," she says, crossing her arms over her chest. “If I had a mom who was such a bitch, I’d be a bit of a bitch too!”
I purse my lips, my brows drawing down.
“I didn’t mean anything bad by it," she clarifies. “I just mean that I’m starting to get why you act the way you do. It’s a defense mechanism. I mean, I have plenty of defense mechanisms that served me at a particular point in time that are a pain in the ass to have now.” Her expression softens. “For what its worth, I think they’re full of shit. Anyone with eyes can see how hard you work. They’re fucking stupid for not seeing that.”
Fuck.
I take a shaky breath.
“Wow,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. “Really?”
“Fuck yes.”
My lips tug up into a genuine smile as I look down at my hands.
“Good to know,” I nod. “I’m sorry you had to get dragged in there, at the end. And I’m sorry in advance for whatever happens when we go to dinner on Saturday.”
Her shoulders tense as she blows out a deep breath, her cheeks puffing out with the motion.
“I don’t care what they said, I’ve been called a lot worse than a bitch, so don’t worry about that.”
I bristle at her words.
I should cut out the tongues of anyone who’s ever said shit to her.
Damn.
That was intense.
“I think what I’m worried about is your parents asking questions about me. Sounds like I’m one of the first few girls you’ve brought back home in a while, right?”
“Not since my sophomore year in college,” I say, softly. “My brother fucked her in my bed on Christmas Eve. Haven’t had a relationship since.”
“You’re fucking kidding me," she says, her eyes going wide. “That jackass is insane.”
“Yeah,” I say, rubbing out a tightness in my shoulder muscle that seems to always lock up after talking to my brother.
“Well, I can promise you, that fucker isn’t going to get anywhere fucking near me.”
She says it with such fiery conviction that I can’t help but smile. I believe her.