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Declan lets out an offended huff. “You told him we don’t get along?”
“Really?” I giggle.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asks, his voice rising an octave as he pretends to be even more hurt.
Mack nods toward him. “And he wonders why he can’t get a girl. He probably thinks you guys are best friends.”
Declan chucks a beach ball at Mack’s head. “I seem to recall you also went to bed alone last night, dickhead.”
Mack squeezes my shoulder. “Yeah, that’s because I brought my buddy here. Better get used to it because she’s basically part of the family now.”
Zach, their cousin, lifts his beer in the air. “Hey, I’ll trade you for either one of these fuckers.”
“We all know you’d be the first family member to be exiled, Zach,” Declan says.
Zach’s eyes light up. He looks to Mack for confirmation of something. “Next week?” he asks him, pointing to me.
“Yes!” Mack turns to me. “You free next Sunday for the game? Zach is going to be out of town so we have an extra ticket.”
“We?” I ask as my eyes flick over to Declan.
“My family bought season tickets this year.”
Declan stares me down, threatening me to say no. I whip my head back to Mack with a smile. I’m not letting Declan’s threats stop me from having the much needed fun I had planned to have with Mack originally.
“Are you asking me to meet your parents?” I giggle.
He squeezes my shoulder with a laugh. “Just uncles and cousins. You’re a part of the family now, remember? Don’t worry. Declan won’t even bother you. He’ll be too busy yelling at the refs.”
I bite my lip, smiling at Declan. “I’m a ref yeller myself. Prepare for no voice at the office on Monday.”
“Yeah,” Zach chimes in. “Well, that’s the only way to cope when your team loses every year. I’m so pissed I’m going to miss it. I fucking love getting my heart broken.” He raises his beer bottle to me. “Drink an extra beer and yell a few profanities for me.”
“Sounds good,” I laugh as I lean my head against Mack’s shoulder, trying to establish what I’m here for. I’m here for Mack. Declan just happens to be his brother. I need to make that clear to him. To myself.
Chapter 13
I’m fucking irritable. And it’s Declan’s fault.
I can’t exactly pinpoint how it’s his fault, but I know it is. I know it. He’s been so… normal.
He’s acting like an actual co-worker. He’s still flirty, but it’s more innocent now. Like he’ll pick on me, and we’ll laugh at all our new inside jokes from the weekend, especially the small dick one. I’ve had many occasions to bring that one up again. It’s different now though.
I don’t know. Maybe we can really be friends now. Maybe I could even end up dating Mack if I ever decide I want to try a real relationship again. Unlikely, but you never know.
I still don’t understand why I’m upset then. I guess he’s just not acting how I was expecting him to, so it’s throwing me off. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t imagining him being all jealous and angry at me this week for agreeing to go out with Mack again.
His indifference is driving me mad. It didn’t hit me fully until just now. It literally hit me in the face.
Declan chucked a gummy bear at me from his desk across from me. He gives me one of his stupidly cute smirks as he pops a few gummies in his mouth. He’s been working across from me all day, looking all fucking sexy and shit. He wore his tight as fuck black button up today. I hate when he wears it. Mostly because then all I can think about is unbuttoning it.
Disappointment. That’s what I’ve been feeling. As much as I tried telling myself I didn’t care, I do. I wanted him to care. I wanted him to be jealous. I wanted him to want me.
I’m a terrible person.
“You’re so charming,” I say, rolling my eyes as I reach across the desk into the bag. “Give me some of those.”
A grin ghosts his lips as he continues popping gummy bears in his mouth, teasing me with his silence. I lean back in my chair, matching his stare as I pop my own gummies in my mouth.
