Page 80 of I Choose You

KADEN

Kody was gone all weekend for both business and pleasure. A good friend of his had a birthday party at the casino Saturday, and Kody didn’t want to drive back home after drinking. And Sunday, he went to play golf with someone he’d been trying to negotiate a deal with for the company. Not all hours fell within the work week.

I didn’t normally keep tabs on my brother but I was eager to speak with him. I wanted a chance to talk to him about his shitty behavior at the cake tasting. All weekend, I stewed about it.

He was an ass for no reason. Even Mercedes had been appalled by the way he spoke to Brooke. Brooke didn’t contact me all weekend, and I had a sinking suspicion she wanted space from me because of the way he’d treated her. I had relished the chance to see her at the office last week, but Todd was there. And all she offered me was the sharp, get-to-the-point professional version of her. No flirting. Hardly any smiles.

It sucked.

I came to the office earlier than usual. I hadn’t slept well, aggravated about his attitude and also anxious about confronting him. Kody and I butted heads often, but this mattered to me. I’d rehearsed and tried to guess how he’d blow my concerns off.

Well, I wouldn’t have it. I refused to let him think he could get away with being such a dick to everyone. Just what the hell was up his ass to be like this? It was bullshit.

As soon as I heard his voice on our floor, I headed to his office. He liked to “settle” in before getting his coffee going.

I caught him as he was lowering to his high-back leather chair.

“Hey. What’s up, Kaden?” he greeted.

“What the hell is your problem?”

I intended to start neutrally, but just seeing his smirking face irked me. In the background, not a single person made a peep. Great, an audience.

I returned to the door and slammed it.

“What is up your ass?” he asked.

“You! Where do you get off talking to Brooke like that?”

He dipped his brows together and lifted his hands as if to suggest he was clueless. “When did I talk to Brooke? I’ve been out of town all weekend, dude.”

“At the cake tasting. About the chocolate.”

He blinked lazily and waved me off. “Oh. That.”

“You called her fat. And reminded her that she had acne. Who the fuck does that?”

When he rolled his eyes, I had to remind myself why I shouldn’t punch him.

Oh, yeah. Because this is Dad’s office. And he’s still the boss—who wouldn’t approve.

“You were a fucking dick. How dare you say that shit to her?”

“Dude. Listen to yourself.” He shook his head. “She’s just a fake date, right? Why do you even care?”

I did care. I cared a lot. I cared because I thought of Brooke as more than just a work associate I’d paid off to be my date. I’d agonized about this all weekend because I hated the thought of her hurting because of something my insensitive brother said.

Admitting that to him wasn’t on the agenda, though.

“You were mean enough to Brooke in high school.”

Again, he waved me off. “That was years ago.”

“And you have no excuse to still be such an immature ass.” I didn’t care if he glowered at me. He had to hear this. “One of these days, you’re going to have to grow up and get your shit together.”

He shot to his feet. “Oh, like you do?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I crossed my arms.