We’ve been pushing him away.
“Ben,” Freddie says, and he flashes his angry eyes at Ryker.
“The stepbrother,” Ryker says coldly, and I don’t know if that ice is for Freddie or for Keegan. “How cliché.”
“Go to hell,” Freddie snaps, and like that, in the hollow silence, something ignites. Freddie hides his hands beneath the table, and I know without seeing that they’ve tightened into fists. He hasn’t jumped to his feet to take a swing at Ryker, which is one positive, but his nostrils flare and his jaw shakes as he holds in whatever else he wants to yell at my brother.
“It isn’t Ryker’s fault she cheated.”
The words knock the air from him, and he deflates. “I know that. But he’s the one who turned up yesterday and fucked up my night.”
Ryker laughs behind me, a savage, humourless laugh that doesn’t help the situation in the slightest, and a sting of humiliation hits Freddie’s cheeks. They turn crimson. I know things are about to get ugly, but I’m not sure how to stop it.
“I was looking forward to taking Alice to a hotel room,” Freddie says.
A teaspoon clatters; there’s a rustle of material as Ryker’s trousers rub when he turns. “You ended up with us, and you loved every second.”
Freddie’s top lip curls. “In my head it was her.”
“There were two hard cocks rubbing on you.”
“In my head,” Freddie says slowly. “It was her.Alice.”
It doesn’t make sense. It’s the kind of thing Ryker usually bows over and laughs at, but his complexion turns purple.
Ryker takes a step closer and waves a finger. “Stop it.”
Freddie’s eyes gleam, his lip’s part, and I know he’s about to say the name, again and again, but I can’t let this go on.
“Ryker made you come,” I say. “And before that, we made you wet with arousal.”
Freddie presses back in his chair. “You . . . you finished what she started.”
I lean over the table. “Bullshit.”
“Screw this,” Freddie surges to his feet and leaves the kitchen. “I don’t know why I’m here,” he shouts back at us.
I keep my calm and pursue. “We need to talk.”
“No we don’t.” Freddie snaps. “We really don’t.”
Ryker is so much better at this, but he stands behind me with his lips in a bloodless line.
“My car is blocking you in and I’m not moving it,” I say before Freddie tries to open the door.
“You can’t do that. It’s . . . it’s against the law.”
“I am the law.”
“I’ll call a taxi, then.” He tugs his phone free of his jeans.
“I’ll take the phone from you before you get the chance.”
Freddie widens his eyes, pressing down with his thumb to unlock the phone. He swipes, and I get ready to pounce at him, but finally Ryker speaks.
“This is ridiculous,” he says. “We don’t want to fight; we want to talk.”
“What if I want the fight?” Freddie murmurs. “What if I need it?”
