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“He had enough balls to cheat,” I fire back.
“He hardly challenged you, and I know from growing up with your mean ass that you love being challenged. Sure, you liked him, but he was the easy way, notlove, love.”
Frustration rattles through me. Not at my brother, but at being so blind. Marrying Devin was a mistake.
I level my elbow on Kyle’s shoulder, who’s next to me in the booth, and narrow my eyes on Rex across from us. “Okay, Dr. Drew, how are you such an expert on relationships? You’ve never even had a serious girlfriend.”
“Coaches don’t play, sister.” He shrugs and pops a pepperoni in his mouth.
I roll my eyes. “You’re dying old and alone.”
“No, I’ll have my booty calls at my funeral, crying at my casket, sad that their favorite screw bit the big one.”
I glance over at Kyle. “Swear to God, you’re taking care of him when the nursing home kicks him out for bad behavior.”
My arm falls when Kyle shifts to look at me. “Nope, dear sister. He’ll shack up with you, considering you’ll both be single.”
“I hate you too,” I grumble, pushing my hand over his hair, messing it up as he attempts to pull away.
“Where are we moving your shit, by the way?” Rex asks.
“You moved my stuff all day and never thought to ask that?” I reply.
Kyle chuckles, shaking his head. He borrowed Gage’s truck, and after dinner, we’re dropping off what I’m not taking to Maliki’s at the storage unit I rented.
A wide grin spreads across Rex’s face. “I was too busy staking out the residence for shit I wanted you to give me.”
I roll my eyes.
“You still haven’t answered my question,” Rex continues. “Are you moving home? I have an extra bedroom at my place if you want to crash there.”
“Hang out with your college buddies?” I ask. “I appreciate the offer, baby bro, but that’s a hard no.”
“You know the offer still stands to stay with me,” Kyle says.
“Your place is full,” I say. “Not to mention, you have so much happening with Chloe and Trey. It’ll be uncomfortable for everyone there.”
Chloe is Kyle’s girlfriend, and Trey is her nephew. Trey is also our half-brother. Chloe never told Kyle that my dad was Trey’s father, even after they started dating. Our family found out at the same time as everyone in town. All thanks to Chloe’s sister, Monica’s boyfriend shouting it out for everyone to hear. That was the night I went to Maliki. The night our family changed. Now, Trey comes around from time to time. Kyle and him are close, given they live together, and Rex bombarded himself into Trey’s life, wanting a relationship with him. Rex felt bad for him, that he’d been handed such a shitty life, and wanted to change that. My brothers have taken him under their wing.
“So, Mom and Dad’s it is,” Rex says, sipping his Coke.
I shake my head.
His lips form a wide grin. “I know where this is headed. You’re moving in with your side boy toy. I dig it.” He dramatically waggles his eyebrows.
“Shut up. I don’t have a side boy toy.”
Rex snorts. “Who is Maliki to you then, huh? Even when you were with Devin, you had a thing for him.”
“We’ll be roommates for a minute. That’s it,” I answer.
“Holy shit, so youaremoving in with him.”
“It isn’t like that,” I argue.
“Keep your head straight, sis,” Kyle says. “Maliki is cool, but as long as I’ve known him, he doesn’t do committed relationships. You’re already dealing with a broken heart, and I have a feeling a broken heart from him will be harder on you.” He shakes his head. “Ki won’t let it get that far though, so you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.”
Kyle’s warning tugs at my heart. He’s not only right about Maliki not doing a committed relationship, but he’s also spot-on with how Maliki has the ability to pulverize my heart.
