Katy stands in front of him, her hand on her hip, and hair falling out of her messy bun. “You’re seriously not going to say anything?”
Justin shrugs.
I lean against the counter, and stay quiet. I know I should probably butt out because sibling fights are like landmines but it’s hard not to feel for both of them.
Katy’s heart’s breaking because she’s been terrified something like this would happen. And Justin… well, Bryan deserved what he got. He threatened Katy and he crossed a huge line. If it were me, I would have done the same thing Justin did and I wouldn’t have stopped until he couldn’t stand.
I exhale. Looking at the two of them, it’s hard to tell who’s hurting more. Katy’s pacing like she’s about to combust, and Justin’s pretending to be stone cold but his jaw keeps ticking.
“Say something!” Katy yells, stomping her foot.
Justin finally looks up at her, his eyes dark. “What do you want me to say?” He asks. “Sorry? Well, I’m not sorry for what I did. In fact, you should be sorry for trying to hide that bastard’s threat.”
“I wasn’t trying to hide it,” Katy snaps back, her voice trembling. “I didn’t want to tell you because I know you!”
Justin shoots up from the couch, his voice booming. “So how the fuck were you going to handle it, huh? How?”
“Braydon!”
My name comes out, and I freeze. How the hell am I suddenly part of this family feud?
Katy turns toward me, her eyes wet, and finger trembling as she points. “I was going to tell him.”
Wait, what?
My eyes widen, and from the look on Justin’s face, he’s just as shocked. The guy looks like he just saw Santa Claus crawl out of my fridge.
“She was going to tell me?” I mumble, mostly to myself.
I stare at her, and something in my chest tightens. She trusted me enough to want to confide in me? Really? And that should make me feel good… but instead, it scares the shit out of me. Because if Katy trusts me, that means I have the power to disappoint her and that feels like standing on the edge of a cliff.
I step closer, gently wrapping my hand around hers, lowering her pointed finger. “Hey, it’s okay, I whisper. “Your brother is only trying to protect you, Peach.”
Her breath catches. She wipes her tears with the back of her hand and shakes her head stubbornly. “And what about him? Why can’t he protect himself?”
Her voice cracks at the end, and that’s all it takes. Justin’s expression softens, the anger draining from his face. He rakes a hand through his hair, looking more tired than pissed now. Then he glances at me, silently telling me to give them space.
I nod, rest a hand on Katy’s shoulder and give it a light squeeze. “Hey,” I say quietly, “he’s still your family. Don’t let this be the thing that breaks you two, alright?”
She nods, eyes down, and trying to pull herself together.
Only then do I step back, walk to the fridge and grab a can of beer.
“Try not to kill each other while I’m gone,” I mutter. Then I head to my bedroom.
Inside, I flop face-first onto my bed and let out a groan that probably echoes down the hallway. Today’s been wild.
I woke up thinking I’d talk to Katy about what happened at the party and somehow, my best friend ends up suspended for three freaking games. All because of Bryan.
I drag a hand down my face, my jaw tightening. I kept telling myself Katy’s drama with Bryan wasn’t my business. That I just had to stay in my lane and help her with her goals. But after today? Nah. This is personal now. I want that jerk to regret ever messing with her.
A thought hits me at this moment and my eyes widen. The whole reason Katy came up with our fake dating thing was to get back at Bryan. So… now that the guy’s been beat up, does that mean she’s done with our little act?
The thought makes my chest do this stupid zing, and for some reason, I feel anxious as hell.
And no, it’s not because I want to keep pretending to date her. That’d be dumb. I’m in college and there are literally girls who’d jump at the chance to hook up with me. It’s definitely not that I’m desperate for Katy’s attention.
…Okay, maybe I do like having her around. She’s funny, cool, and the way she frowns when she’s explaining something makes me actually pay attention. But that’s not the point. The point is… if she ends the arrangement, I lose my tutor. And I actually need her if I’m going to crush these grades and shut my old man up for good.
I sit up, and pop my beer open. The foam hisses, and I take a long sip, staring at the ceiling.
“She better not ditch me,” I mutter under my breath.
Just then, my door creaks open and Katy steps in. I prop myself up on my elbow, watching her drop her bag by my wardrobe like she’s been carrying a ton of bricks all day. She walks over slowly, and I shift to the side as she flops onto the bed beside me, letting out a tired sigh before lying flat on her back.
She looks completely drained with her messy hair, and red eyes but somehow still manages to look… cute. Don’t ask me how that works.
My gaze falls to her sneakers and I shake my head, already kneeling to pull them off. She doesn’t even protest, just lets me slip them from her feet and set them beside her bag.
I sit back on the bed, glancing down at her. “How’d the talk go?”
She licks her lips. “You know how he is.”
I nod, scratching my neck. “Yeah. Human brick wall.”
Silence stretches between us for some seconds before I check my watch and realize it’s almost six pm.
“You must be starving,” I say.
She nods, her eyes closed.
“Want something to eat?”
She gives another lazy nod.
I grin. “And what’ll it be? Pizza? Tacos? Or are we going classy with pasta?”
“Chinese,” she murmurs without opening her eyes. “Please.”
“Chinese it is.” I pull out my phone, but before ordering, I glance at her again. She looks so small lying there, the edge of her sleeve half-covering her hand.
I reach over, and gently pull her toward the middle of the bed. “Come on, Peach. You’re gonna roll off.”
Her eyes flutter open at the nickname, but she doesn’t say anything.
After moving her, I stay leaning over her for a second, my eyes tracing her face. “You must’ve been scared… because of Bryan.”
Her lips part slightly, and for a moment, I think she’s going to deny it. But then I see the shimmer in her eyes and the quick blink to hide it.
I exhale quietly and reach out, brushing a tear from the corner of her eye with my thumb. My body moves on instinct before my brain can stop it and I lean down and press a soft kiss to her forehead.
The second I do it, I freeze. What the hell, Braydon?
But she doesn’t move. Her expression stays the same with her breathing even.
So yeah. I pretend it’s normal, like forehead kisses are suddenly my new hobby or something.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there,” I whisper, my hand still resting near her hair. “From now on, I promise to protect you from him.”
Her lips twitch, then she nods slightly, her chest rising and falling against mine.
“I… I know our arrangement, pretending to be my boyfriend, must be exhausting,” she says softly. “I get it if you want to quit now. Besides, I don’t even care what Bryan thinks anymore, and everyone else who has an opinion about my life can just-“
“I’m still in.”
The words slip out before I can stop them. Her eyes widen, flicking up to my face like she’s trying to figure out if I’m joking. I’m not.
“Why don’t we just… finish what we started?” I add quickly, trying to sound chill even though my pulse is hammering. “At least for a few more weeks, you know, so it doesn’t spark more dumb rumors.”
She hesitates and the entire time, my heart’s doing backflips. Say yes, Katy. Please.
Finally, she exhales. “Fine. Let’s do it.” She presses her lips together. “Thank you.”
I shake my head. “No, thank you.”
Reaching out, I pinch her nose lightly and she lets out a tiny laugh. Fuck me because it’s the best sound I’ve heard all day.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.