Page 14 of Setting Limits

Shay gives me a small goodbye as they leave. Lochlyn does not. He’s clearly still very angry with me, and I can’t help but wonder how long that’ll last. Will things ever be the same between us?

Or have I ruined the relationship with my brother forever?

Chapter 9

Resistingtheurgetothrow my phone across the room, I slam it into my comforter as rapping sounds against my door. With a heavy sigh, I launch myself from my bed.

I’ve gotten more used to being alone in the couple of weeks since Lochlyn and Shay got back together. It’s a frequent occurrence, as they said it would be. But I find I don’t mind, because when Shayishere, she’s happier than I’ve ever seen her. Still, it takes some getting used to.

“Oh. Hi, Wes,” I say as I fling the door open. My heart flutters the tiniest bit at those cobalt blue eyes that sit under thick black hair.

When we first met, it was impossible to deny how attractive he is. But I was sixteen and somewhat newly sexually active. Not to mention, he was a college guy, so what would he want with a high school girl who could barely drive?

I’m not sure if it’s the time, or if I’m somehow noticing it more now, but Wes is breathtakingly handsome. When we came up for the concert in the spring, he tried to help corral me when I got a little out of control and angry with Lochlyn. Being near him and his gorgeousness made me a little tongue tied but loosened my tight muscles. He was like a walking Chelsea bomb disarmer.

“Hey, Chels.” When he runs a hand through his hair, one tendril falls to his forehead. I have to tighten my grip on the door handle so I don’t reach up and tuck it back. His eyes widen and darken as he takes me in. “Your hair. It’s different.”

Instinctively, I reach up and run my palm from the crown of my head down the back to the ends. “Is it bad?”

“Huh? Oh, no. It looks…incredible.”

Suddenly, I can’t catch my breath. Shay’s been helping me embrace my waves and slight curl. She swears it’s all about product and that I can ditch the straightener and have beautiful hair. That may be so, but it’s tough to let it go. Plus, my hair will never be like hers.

Weston clearing his throat pulls me back from the concerns about my hair. “Is Loch here?”

“Nope, not right now. Shay has a lot of classes today. I’m sure he’s somewhere on campus, maybe the library? Anything urgent?” Shay loves that library, so there's a good chance to find both of them there any given day.

“Nah, not really. Wanted to ask him something and I was just over at Claire’s. Figured I’d see if he was here while I was on this part of campus.” The mention of her makes my skin crawl. I don’t even know this chick, but on some level I hate her.

“If he comes back, I can let him know you stopped by.”

“Yeah, thanks. So how are you handling things now? With the two of them being together?” He leans against the door frame, making it seem like he’ll stay for a while.

It’s a good question. I’m not exactly sure how I feel some days. But they’re always very respectful of me and my time and what they do—and more importantly, don’t do—in front of me.

Flicking my eyes to the ceiling for a second before turning back to his, my heart skipping when they lock on his and the gentleness there, I find the words. “I’m good with it. Still weird sometimes. I mean, for years, they were always separate entities to me. My brother, my best friend. Now they’re basically one person. But they’re so happy together that I try to just move on. I feel kind of bad for you, though. I’m sure they don’t hold back as much as they do here.”

The smile that spans his face reminds me of why I had a crush on Weston when I first met him. It lifts slightly higher on one side, showing perfectly straight, perfectly white teeth that make his eyes look even more brilliant, resulting in a flutter in my chest. I know he’s always felt like he’s not anything special, especially next to Lochlyn. But Wes is gorgeous in his own right.

“Yeah. I definitely agree with them being one person. But he’s happy. I don’t know Shay very well yet, but in the two and half years I've known Lochlyn, I've never seen him so happy. It’s worth the slight moments of discomfort. They try, but they’re like magnets. Can’t keep them apart if we try.”

“Yeah, I learned that the hard way.” I look at the ground, running my fingers through my hair as it falls in my face, only for it to do so again, creating a curtain to hide my shame behind.

Weston’s throat clearing draws my attention back to him as he adjusts his backpack strap on his shoulder, looking as ashamed as I feel. “I feel bad about that. That I didn’t tell you.”

My eyes fly wide. “Oh no, please don’t. I was so wrong on so many levels about all of that. Besides, you’re Lochlyn’s friend, his roommate. Why would you tell me? We don’t owe each other anything.” The look that flashes across his features is the briefest crack in his sunny demeanor.

I’d met Weston at the same time Lochlyn did almost two and a half years ago. We drove up to drop Lochlyn off at school, meeting his new roommate that first day. My body immediately reacted to his good looks and charming personality. I still remember the flip my stomach did when I first saw his lopsided smile. Even just the memory sets my insides alight.

Weston became a regular in conversation. They got along so well, they decided to room together again the next year, moving off campus for junior year. My heart sank slightly the day Lochlyn mentioned over a phone call that Weston was with his girlfriend, Claire.

There were a handful of times Weston came home with Lochlyn for a long weekend, a few days of break, even a stopover on his way elsewhere. When Shay and I talked about her first impression, I was surprised that it was from last year, having to recall the times he’d visited. Shay was such a staple in our house, it was almost impossible to imagine her not being there. But her dad had just passed when Weston came the first time, and he hadn’t stayed long. They somehow just missed each other every time.

“Just so you know, I didn’t agree with lying.” Weston’s voice breaks me from my reverie.

“There was wrongness on all parts. We've all agreed on that. They shouldn’t have lied, and I shouldn’t have been such a bitch.”

The crooked smile and chuckle that break from Weston makes me shift my weight as my legs suddenly feel wobbly.

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