“You have to trust me.” He grabbed my arm. “Something big is going to happen, and you can’t be here when it does.”
“Where are you getting this information?” I asked.
“What? No, I don’t have proof. It’s just a gut feeling.”
“Well, I’m not gambling on your gut feeling.” I yanked out of his hold and went back to filing. “I have work to do.”
“It’s always been you and me.”
“Don’t.” I pointed at him. “Making me feel guilty isn’tgoing to work. Everything I’ve done is for you, including giving myself to Milo.”
“Don’t you get how twisted that is?”
“It could have been a lot worse, but instead, Milo has respected me and given both of us a life we were struggling to find. I trust Milo with my life. This is where I want to be.”
“You’re a fool,” Chance said.
“He’s who I want, and that’s the end of this discussion.”
I turned back to the cabinet, trying to calm the rage building inside me. As crazy as my brother made me, and despite the anxiety he had caused me over the years, we always supported one another. I had done everything I could to keep him safe from the time he was a baby.
“Why can’t you be happy for me?” I asked. “Can’t you understand that I have feelings for him?”
“Sable,” he said. “Don’t be mad, but you have to?—”
Milo stormed into the office. “Why aren’t you working?”
Milo’s irritated voice caused me to drop the files. “Oh.” I bent down and scooped them up. “I was just doing some filing and…”
“Not you.” Milo looked at Chance.
“I’m on a break,” Chance said. “I came up to visit Sable. I didn’t know I needed your permission to see my sister.”
“Chance.” I raised my voice. “Didn’t you hear anything I said?”
“I heard you.” Chance glared at Milo. “I just didn’t like what you said.”
Milo ignored Chance, and when he stared at me, his jaw tightened. “You’re upset.”
“I’m fine,” I mumbled.
“No, you’re not,” Chance said. “That’s what I’m trying to tell you.”
“Idon’t care what the two of you were talking about.” Milo stepped toward Chance. “But I do care about her feelings and the way she is treated. If you can’t respect her choices, then keep your opinions to yourself.”
“Milo, it’s okay.” I touched his shoulder. “Chance and I are having a disagreement, but we’re fine.”
“You don’t like me?” Milo pushed Chance against the desk. “Good.”
Chance clenched his fists by his sides as he lost his balance.
“You want to hit me, kid?” Milo tapped his jaw. “Go ahead. I’ll give you the first one, but I promise you won’t get up after I hit you back.”
“Stop it.” I got in between them. “If you care about my feelings, you won’t fight with my brother.” I looked at Chance. “And you’ll stop provoking Milo.”
“I’ll respect you,” Milo said. “But your brother better start learning that he’s either on my side or in my fucking way.” He motioned to the door. “Get back to work.”
When Chance rushed out of the office and slammed the door, my heart hurt. I didn’t want to sacrifice my relationship with my brother in order to have one with the man I couldn’t stop falling for.