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“I’m not going home, Austin. I’m going to talk to Alec.” My voice was firm. My eyes set firmly on his.
“Good.” He exhaled.
I took a breath and said nicely, “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to come with me.”
“Why the hell not?” He jerked back and assessed me. “He’ll be livid and hurt.”
“Which is exactly why you shouldn’t come with,” I argued, feeling extra protective of my brother. It wasAustin’ssister after all who was responsible for this whole mess.
“I’m coming with you.” His jaw was tight, and he towered over me, as though I had no choice in the matter.
The sass in me came out to play. “No, you’re not. I’m driving your snarky ass home.” I lifted my nose, jingling his keys in front of him.
I’d just have to pick up my car at the mall later.
He closed the gap between us, his eyes narrowing on me like a laser. “Why do you have to be so damn stubborn? I’m trying to help you out here. There’s so much I want to tell him. I want him to know that I knew nothing about their relationship.”
“You talking to him will not do any good. If anything, he’ll get pissed that you’re even there.” I lifted my chin and exhaled heavily.
He inched closer, and I held my breath. He spoke slowly, enunciating each word. “Right now, I want to at least try to talk to him. I think it’ll be better if I am there.”
“You’re wrong.” My voice lowered, and his eyes flickered to my lips, which caused heat to flush my cheeks.
What was it with this guy? I had basically been forced to undress him, and now, I couldn’t stop reacting to him? This was crap!
And then that damn smirk tugged at his mouth. “I beg to differ,” he said in a softer but still imposing voice.
He was lucky I didn’t slap that smirk off his face. I exhaled a huff through my nose like a bull but said nothing. I wasn’t going to fight with an injured man. Enormous and intimidating, but still injured.
I guessed we were going to find Alec together.
CHAPTER10
SYDNEY
There wasno way to get rid of him, and I didn’t have the time to nonstop argue with him, so against my will, he came with me to The Meetup. I ran to the entrance, leaving him in his car and not looking back.
The scent of greasy burgers welcomed me when I stepped through the doors. The first person I rammed into was Nana.
“Hey,” she said, putting down the set of glasses at the bar before reaching for my hand.
“Hey.” My eyes scoured the room until I spotted my family in the corner, where we usually sat. “How is he?” I asked.
Nana’s shoulders drooped with sadness. “Not good. Which is why I keep sending beers over there. Normally, I don’t condone this kind of behavior, but …” Her eyes crinkled with age, with wisdom, with all her years of heartache and knowledge. “He’ll be okay, Syd.”
I kissed her cheek before heading into the cloud of doom. Everyone was there. Serena, Lyria, Brooklyn, and Ryanne were seated all at the same table. Alec’s head was on the table, and Addison was beside him, rubbing his back in comforting circles.
My heart sank to the floor and kept on going. Immediately, I walked toward my family, who was consoling my heartbroken brother.
“It’s just not meant to be. You’ll get over this. You’ll be fine,” Lyria promised, though her face was set with sadness.
“I’m totally going to kick her ass when I see her,” Ryanne added. “Torch her car. Hack into her social media. Send a virus to her computer.”
I would’ve smiled if she wasn’t dead serious. Ryanne was who I considered to be the bodyguard of the family.
“How is that going to make things better?” Serena asked, admonishing her. Her eyebrows pulled together, worry clouding her features.
“I can’t believe it was all caught on film.” Brooke was nose deep into her phone, like she always was, probably searching social media right now.
