AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Wait," I say. "Why wereyouat the party, Austin?"
"Well—" But before Austin can get the words out, Brett's arm shoots out and grabs my brother by the shirt collar. He pulls him a foot forward, unlatching Austin's arm from around Brittany and bringing Austin's face within inches of his own.
"Shut the fuck up," Brett growls again, a threat laced through every syllable.
I dash forward and claw at Brett's hand, trying to loosen his grip. "No, Brett," I insist, pulling them off each other. "Let him say it."
"Denise," Brett says, his eyes finally back on me. Their blue color has darkened and become almost unrecognizable. Deep and dangerous. "Don't listen to him."
"I think youshouldlisten," Austin insists. "I'm the only one here telling you the truth, after all."
"Only now," I say bitterly.
"Yeah. But at least I'm not trying to date you under false pretenses."
I blink, my veins going cold.
"That's exactly what you did to her assistant manager, you fucking bastard!" Brett shouts.
For the first time, the dancers all around us seem to realize something is happening. And though the music continues playing, a ring of still bodies forms around us, all watching the drama unfold.
"You told Brittany to sabotage the bakery, didn't you?!" Brett continues to yell, face red with rage. "You took advantage of a poor lonely girl and forced her to trash your sister's dream!"
"A dream she didn't deserve to have!" Austin's grin has dropped, replaced by a rising anger of his own. His eyes pop, his cheeks turn purple. "Iwas the one with the real estate business! I was Sylvia Lawson'sfucking son!It wasn't hers to inherit!" He throws a hand out, pointing a finger at me, which Brett protectively smacks away.
"Don't you point your fucking finger at her! Now get the hell out of here before I walk you out!"
"You know, I never got to thank you, Brett," Austin continues. "For all you did for me!"
Brett shoves against Austin's shoulders, making him stumble. "OUT!"
"I know your first attempt to get the bakery from her didn't work out, but hell, you didgreatthe second time!" Austin lets out a laugh. "You bought out the landlord that owned her building! Giving me the chance to finally evict her! I could never thank you enough!"
A fire burns in my belly. Without any control over what I'm doing, I rush forward and slap Austin so hard across the face that he stumbles backward. The band stops playing as the crowd gasps, and suddenly everything around us is quiet and still.
The whole world is watching.
I look at Brittany, who looks pale and deathly, like she's about to puke. I look at my brother, bent over and cupping his reddening cheek. I look at Tinsley in the distance, her expression confused and shocked. But even more than that—exhilarated. Think of the views she's going to get for this.
And then I look at Brett, who looks so wracked with shame and guilt that he looks like he might be sick as well.
"I…." The words struggle to exit my mouth. My breathing quickens. "I have to go."
CHAPTER23
Brett
I've been feeling lately like the floor is giving way beneath me. But this?
This feels like the floor has suddenly become the ceiling, and I'm upside down with my head dangling perilously close to the ground. I feel upturned. Delirious.
Right after she slaps her brother, Denise stands there, panting hard and looking like she's about to vomit. She can barely even bring her eyes up to look at me. Honestly, after what just happened—the callous way she learned about my association with her brother—I don't really blame her for feeling this way.
She inhales sharply, and like a spooked rabbit, she turns on her heel and runs through the gathered crowd away from the three of us. Her smaller frame allows her to slip through the small gaps between onlookers, and I lose sight of her quickly.
"Denise!" Austin calls, still cupping his reddened cheek.
Despite Brittany's affection toward Austin at the party, her body hanging all over his like a human garland, she stands beside him now with a frown, not moving an inch to comfort him. In fact, she looks like she's about to cry herself. I guess she didn't expect Austin to be this cold-hearted, this bitter, either.
