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“Why are you so mad?” Her voice was shaking, and knowing girls, I knew tears couldn’t be far behind.
“Are you joking? You make me feel like a fucking fool over and over again and I’m sick of it. I’m not doing it anymore. I’m done with this. ” His voice was cold and I glanced at Cassie, who looked like she was holding her breath.
“What do you mean, you’re ‘done with this’?”
“With this. With you. I’m not doing this anymore. ”
“So, that’s it? We’re not even friends?” she asked, her voice rising in pitch.
“I don’t want to be your friend! How many times do I have to tell you that?” he shouted, and it sounded like he punched something, but I couldn’t imagine what. “Damn it, Melissa. I don’t want to be your fucking friend, okay? Stop acting like you don’t know this already. You know how I feel. And I can’t be around you with all this back-and-forth bullshit that you do to me. I’ve wanted you for two years. Two years!” he yelled and I almost felt bad for eavesdropping. Almost.
“Well, who asked you to want me? I didn’t, did I?”
My eyes widened at her response and I shifted closer to Cassie and grabbed her hand. She squeezed it hard.
Dean whistled a sound before responding to her. “No, you sure didn’t. Well, you don’t have to worry about me anymore. You can delete my phone number from your cell since I won’t answer if you call. ”
The guest bedroom door flew open and none of us even pretended to be doing anything else. We all stared at my little brother as he walked into the kitchen and grabbed a beer from the refrigerator.
I cleared my throat, determined to be a good host. “Dean, this is Trina, Matteo’s wife. Trina, this is my little brother, Dean. ”
Dean smiled, then sauntered over to Trina and shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, I’ve heard wonderful things. Sorry about all the yelling. ”
“It’s okay. I understand,” she said with a sympathetic smile.
“I love your accent. No one told me you were British,” Dean said, laying on the charm.
“And no one told me you were so cute,” she flirted back and I had to bite my lip to keep myself from laughing. My brother could use the attention.
Melissa rounded the corner, and Cassie immediately dropped my hand and headed toward her. They disappeared and I heard a door close. I glanced at Matteo and Trina and apologized.
“It’s okay. We need to get going anyway. We have reservations in a little bit. It was nice to see you, Jack. And nice to meet you, Dean. ” Trina kissed my cheek and gave Dean a squeeze and told him, “Personally, I think she’s crazy to not be head over heels for you. But don’t worry, you’ll find the right girl. You’re a catch. Don’t ever forget that. ”
“Thanks, Trina. It was nice meeting you. You too, Matteo,” Dean said with a nod in his direction. “Thanks for this afternoon. ”
“That’s what adoptive brothers do for each other,” he said with a laugh.
I shook Matteo’s hand and closed the front door behind them as they left. “How are you feeling?”
My brother peered around the kitchen column to look at me. “I’m still pissed, but I feel good. ”
“Good. You’re right, you know,” I offered in consolation.
“About what?”
“Everything you said to her. So don’t feel bad when you wake up tomorrow and want to take it all back. ”
He half smiled. “That’s not going to happen. ”
Slow Recovery
I couldn’t believe the drama that happened during Dean and Melissa’s visit. Hell, I’d only suggested they come out here together because I wanted them to finally get together. I guess that backfired. And now Dean was hurting and I didn’t know what Melissa was feeling, but I somehow feel responsible for it all.
Dean refused to sleep in the guest room last night, so he stayed on the couch. I tried to get him to stay in our room with Jack and I’d sleep with Melissa, but he wouldn’t budge.
“Just go stay in our bed. It’s no big deal, Dean. I’ll go stay with Melissa,” I offered.
“No, thanks. I like couches,” he said with a wink as his gaze looked past me to something over my shoulder.
