Page 27 of One Night to Fall
“Dude, you’ve got it bad. I’ve never seen you like this.”
“What? No. It’s just,”—I face my cousin, ignoring the way he already has an eyebrow arched in disbelief—“the sex is wild and I’m a little out of my element.”
“Meaning…”
“Meaning I feel like an addict. I don’t do this. I don’t hook up with the same guy, but I can’t stop.”
“I mean, here’s a thought. Why don’t you actuallydatehim?”
“What? No.” I scrunch up my nose for emphasis, making Reid roll his eyes.
“You’re being dramatic.”
“I’m being honest. Ilikemy freedom and I like not having to answer to someone all hours of the day and night.”
“Whatever you need to tell yourself,” he murmurs as he turns back toward his desk.
“I’m not like you,” I tell him a little more defensively than I mean to. “I don’t need someone else to make me happy.”
Reid opens his mouth and then closes it, and I wish I could take the words back as his eyes cloud with unshed tears.
Shit.
“Reid, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean?—”
“Yes, you did,” he mumbles, clearing his throat. “Excuse me.” The door slamming behind him is jarring. I drag my hand down my face as I gather myself, the apology already forming on my tongue when the door bangs open again.
“What the fuck is the matter with you?” Harlan barks, his eyes cold and his face flushed as he closes the distance between us.
“I know. I was just gonna go after him but now you’re blocking my way.”
“Seriously, out of everyone, Reid is the one you want to tear down?”
“No. I got defensive, and I took it out on him. I didn’t go looking to pick a fight. I don’t try and hurt people. That’s not who I am.”
Harlan’s eyes flash with anger, and I squeeze mine shut.Could I fuck this day up any more?
“Why don’t you take some time to figure your shit out, and I’ll promise not to kill you for hurting Reid?”
“Sounds good,” I rasp, sagging against the counter when the door bangs shut and silence falls over the office.
Fuck.
20
JESSE
“Hey,” Reid says as he stops in front of me, not that he has a choice considering I’m blocking his driver’s side door.
But it’s beenthreedays.
My cousin hasn’t talked to me for three days. The shame of that statement had me hiding from Adrian too, leaving his messages unread on my phone.
Because I don’t deserve him—not right now.
“I’m sorry,” I tell him, taking a tentative step with the basket of gourmet hot chocolate I put together—all his favorites—and a mug that saysworld’s best cousin.But I crossed out cousin and wrote brother.
Because that’s what he is to me.
