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I stand too. “That’s not what’s happening at all.”
No one says anything, and then it all happens so quickly. Spencer lunges toward me, knocking the table, and a few glasses crash to the floor. Everyone stands and shouts at us.
“I care about her,” I hear myself say as Spencer’s right hook connects with my jaw.
I won’t hit back.
But, I won’t let him keep punching me either, so I grab his arms, and Mr. Watts is already pushing us both through the back door.
“Stop it, stop,” he says over and over. He settles Spencer and me onto the back patio table, sitting on either side. “Now, we have a ton of shit to figure out.” It’s one of the first times I’ve heard the man use a curse word.
“No, it’s pretty simple, Dad. Vaughn here is taking advantage of Paisley.”
I stretch my jaw, running my fingers over it to figure out how tender it is. “It’s not like that, man.”
“Don’t.”
And it’s right here and right now I realize no matter what I say, they won’t believe me. Why should they? I have the world’s worst track record with women.
“I’m sorry,” I end up saying. “I never meant to hurt anyone.” I sit still as Mr. Watts stares at me.
“I know you never meant to hurt anyone, Vaughn. You’re a good man. Tell me, how bad was the house?” Mr. Watts asks.
I recount everything that’s happened since I first saw Paisley’s house, minus the sex, obviously, and tell him about the phone calls, and the police.
I tell him about our own issues with the company as well.
Spencer fills in a few holes, and once Mr. Watts is up to speed, we head back inside.
I end up taking Spencer’s seat, not really knowing if I should take the seat next to Paisley.
My eyes meet hers, and I don’t want to turn away, but I do. I shouldn’t be thinking about kissing her. The important thing is protection.
“I just want to say one thing,” I meet Mr. Watts’ eyes. “I care about Paisley. A lot. I would never let anyone hurt her.”
“So, who am I staying with tonight?” Paisley asks after the dinner is over and we’ve moved into the living room. With me, I wish I could say. But, I don’t because I’m still unsure if her family is ok with it all.
Her father wraps an arm around Paisley and tells her she’ll be staying with Spencer.
Spencer hasn’t even looked in my direction since the moment he learned something was going on with Paisley and me.
I pull him aside. “Hey, man, we cool?”
His blue eyes, a shade darker than Paisley’s stare back. “I never thought you’d touch her. I always thought you knew better.”
I rub a hand on the back of my neck and we move to the rear of the house so we can be alone. “I’ve never thought of Paisley as a little sister. Even when we were younger. Spencer, I didn’t do this to hurt you, or your dad. I didn’t do it to hurt her either.”
“Then why did you?”
I glance at the floor, hoping another answer is written along the worn-hardwood. Because I can’t admit the truth to him right now. But then, I spot a picture of Paisley at her high school graduation hanging on the wall, and it takes me back to another time. “Because I’ve always had a thing for Paisley.”
“Are you joking?” He scratches his head.
I shake my head, my eyes never straying from his. “No. I’ve always been drawn to her. Even when we were younger.”
“No shit.”
“But, I promise you, I won’t touch her. I value her, and your family. I want to prove to all of you how much I care for her.” I go to step away, but Spencer holds a hand to my chest to stop me.
“Hold on. You really care about her, don’t you?”
I crack a smile. “More than anyone, brother.”
“We need to find this fucker hurting her.”
“I agree.” I glance at Paisley from across the room. “What did you have in mind?”
“Well, I don’t know if I’ll ever get on board with the idea of you and my sister, but I promise I’ll be better.” He stares across the room at her. “We should have eyes on her at all times. If not me, then you. If not us, then my dad.”
“Ok.” I nod, crossing my arms, liking the terms to his plan. “She can stay with you each night, and you can watch her in the morning. I’ll pick her up to work on her house.”
Spencer’s eyes soften. “Listen, if she wants to stay at your house, it’s all good. I trust you, man.”
My chest swells with appreciation for my best friend. Spencer is so much more than that, though. He’s my brother. I would never do anything to betray his trust. So, I should feel weary about having Paisley stay with me. But, for some reason, I don’t. In fact, I want her to. I want to protect her.
