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He was hurt. I got that.
But I was just as fucking hurt.
“I don’t want to hear whatever you or my sister have to say.”
I marched forward before he could get into Kevin’s car. “Well, too bad. You have to listen.”
I placed a hand on his chest, and his eyes narrowed, his gaze flickering between my hand on his chest and my face.
I couldn’t get into a fight now. I couldn’t afford to. Though the thought was tempting enough.
“Get your hands off of me.” His jaw clenched, and I stepped back, giving him some space.
“You wanted her to choose, right?” I spat out. Maybe I’d come here, thinking we could be civil, but I was too pissed. “Well, she did. She left me, man. She left me for you.”
The hurt in his eyes, the anger swimming in his irises, stilled me.
I knew I had two seconds to get out what I needed to say. “I love her, Alec.”
He didn’t move, didn’t flinch, didn’t say a word. And then, “If you love her, leave her the fuck alone.” He stepped into my face. I was taller than him and he tipped his chin upward. “Do you think I’ll ever let what happened to me happen to her? Never.”
I saw the protectiveness in his glare, in his stance, in the strength of his shoulders. But he had pegged me all wrong.
“I’d never cheat on Sydney.” My voice was steady, sure, strong—because I’d never.
“That’s exactly what your sister said to me.”
I shook my head, propping my hands on my hips. He was letting his hurt affect his judgment.
He moved past me and walked around the car. Kevin was already waiting on the passenger side. I trailed behind him.
“I don’t agree with what my sister did. You think I’m okay with that? I beat the shit out of James, and look where that got me.” I raised my arm, gesturing toward my injured shoulder.
His stubborn-ass mouth stayed silent.
“I’ve never cheated on any of my girlfriends,” I told him, anger bubbling dangerously inside of me. “My father did that to my mother, and she took it year after year, woman after woman, until he finally left her.”
Fuck, this hurt to talk about. I hated bringing up the past.
Alec had his hand on the car door, his face still hard as stone, but at least I saw a softening in his eyes. I guessed he hadn’t known about our father because Brandy didn’t know what he’d done. I’d kept it from her. Our mother had hidden it well.
I swallowed hard. “You don’t know it, Alec, but I vowed to never be that guy. I live my life, trying to make a life for me, my mom, and Brandy. I’m not going to mess up and be my father.”
His eyes hardened again. “I told you, I don’t care.”
“She picked you!” I shouted, desperation leaking into my tone. “She’ll always pick you. There is no competition here, Alec. I don’t have a chance in hell with her when it comes to any of you.” My heart was on my sleeve and then fell to the floor, and I didn’t give a damn. “When are you going to let her be happy? Don’t you think she’s sacrificed enough? For you? For Addison? For the whole damn family?”
The waiting was torture, waiting to see if anything in his face changed, waiting to hear him tear me down again, never accept me because he was an entitled little brat who didn’t know what an amazing sister he had.
“I can make her happy, Alec.” My voice choked with emotion.
And I waited.
He opened the door and stepped into Kevin’s car. “I don’t care.”
I reached for the top of the door, preventing him from shutting it. “Okay. I get it. You don’t care about me. But for once … think about your sister. Think about what makes her happy. If it isn’t me, fine. But let her live her life, Alec. Let her be happy for once.”
The words were out, but he’d already yanked the door from my grasp. Then, he drove off, leaving me and my heart flat on the pavement.
