Page 49 of Bossy Ex's Brother

Addicts didn’t care about anything but getting their fix, and neither did I.

The thought terrified me.

I never understood when my mother told me that she got addicted to men. She’d never had a drug problem or any substance abuse issues, for that matter. Her vice was falling in love too quickly with piece-of-shit men who gave her nothing and only took from her. I didn’t understand how someone could get hooked and let themselves be treated like that, ignoring advice from their loved ones.

Now with Luca, I got it. I just hoped I didn’t crash and burn the way she did.

Breakfast wastense the next morning. Everyone could feel it because Angel was quieter than usual, and even Bethany didn’t give her typical sarcastic comments during it. I didn’t ask where she was last night because, truly, I didn’t want to know. I was too exhausted for another argument, and I was just glad that she was here this morning looking no worse for the wear.

“The bus is here,” Emmett announced after about ten minutes of the torture, taking his little sister’s hand. I knew he was a good thirty minutes early to the bus, but I couldn’t blame him for wanting to get out of this high-pressure atmosphere. I made sure to give the little girl an extra hug and assure her that everything was okay. Sometimes, she became nervous when her siblings fought, so extra reassurance was needed. She hugged me tightly before she left. Pretty soon, Bethany also made her excuses and left, and then it was just Felix and me.

I sighed, figuring now was as good a time as any to resolve it. “Fel—”

“It’s okay,” he said, meeting my gaze with a chagrined look. “We don’t have to talk about it again. Or ever, for that matter. I kinda don’t want to remember it.”

He shuddered, and I smiled through the embarrassment.

“And I’m not mad anymore,” he continued. “Not that I have any right to be. You were right about what you said yesterday, and I shouldn’t have jumped down your throat like that. I’m sorry. I’m just worried. Mom started with a guy like that too, and see how she ended up.”

“I’m not mom,” I reminded him gently.

“I know, but it’s just…You’re so pretty, Jane. And smart, and you have a great personality too. A lot of guys would kill for you. Heck, half my friends at Harvard had crushes on you. It’s why I didn’t let you visit often. That Luca guy is definitely beneath you, and I don’t want to see you fall in love and waste your life with a guy who doesn’t value you. That’s all.”

I must have been getting close to my period because the whole speech moved me. I felt tears leap into my eyes as I reached forward and took Felix’s hand.

“Luca is not so bad once you get to know him,” I told him. “But I’m not in love with anyone, much less him. I’m not sure I even know what love feels like. Except for you guys, of course. I love all of you very much.”

Felix made a sick sound at the ‘l’ word, but he squeezed my hand tighter, betraying his emotion. “I know you’re only trying to look out for me, so I forgive you for yesterday. But please try to trust me on this, okay? Right now, you and Emmett are still the most important men in my life.”

“That’s a tad creepy, sis,” Felix said, but he smiled as he said it. I ruffled his hair, and just like that, we were okay once again.

I was dreading coming into work and facing Luca again, not just because we’d had sex again but also because of how everything ended. Luckily, he wasn’t there when I got in.

Brandon shrugged when I asked where the boss was.

“No idea,” he said. “He was in a pretty bad mood last night, so he might have gone on a bender.”

“A bender?” I asked.

“Yeah, you know, at one of the other clubs.”

I frowned at him. I still had no clue what he was talking about, but somehow I knew it wasn’t good. I pictured a drunken night with women all around him.

Jealousy burned in my gut.

Suddenly, Felix’s warning popped back into my head, a reminder that I wasn’t supposed to be jealous. Luca had made no commitment to me, and I wasn’t sure I would have believed him even if he did. But that didn’t remove the ugly feeling.God, what was I doing with this guy?Reason cautioned.Why was I playing with fire?

“Hey,” Fab said, poking her head out of the dance room. “Could you help me out in here?”

I wiped away all thoughts of Luca from my mind, concentrating on work. “Sure. What do you need?”

“Just let me know what you think of this routine. I’ve been planning it out all day.”

“Of course,” I said, ready to be as helpful as possible.

Of course, I didn’t quite make it because the very second I took a step into the dance room, a wave of nausea hit me. I dashed to the bathroom before I hurled all over the floor.

TWENTY

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