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No, I can’t do that to her. Contrary to what she thinks, I’m not a heartless bastard.
There are only a couple of people I can trust for advice. They’ll know what to do. And I’m here waiting, impatiently, for them to answer the door.
“It’s about time,” I complain as Jake opens the door. “Where’s Dax?”
“In my office.”
Jake leads the way to his home office, where Dax is already seated. He looks pissed off as I enter and sit next to him. “I’m still not talking to your dumb ass.”
I shrug at him. “I said I was sorry. It wasn’t my fault.”
“Not your fault?” His voice rises a pitch as he asks the question. “How is it not your fault?”
Jake is looking at us, back and forth, an amused expression on his face. “Anyone going to tell me what happened?”
“It’s not important,” I grumble.
“The hell it isn’t,” Dax says. “We had these two fucking hot girls at my place last night. I’m in my room, already got the chick half naked, when this asshole messes it up.”
Jake busts out laughing. “What the hell did you do, Ethan?”
I sigh loudly, showing my annoyance at having to talk about this. Might as well get this shit over with since neither of my brothers is going to let this drop. “Dax and I brought two girls back to his place. Dax took one to his room, and I took the other to the guest room. I ended up sending my girl away before anything could happen because I wasn’t interested in her. So she got pissed and stormed into Dax’s room and took her friend. They both left. Dax didn’t get his all-night sexathon, and now he’s mad at me. The end.”
Dax is shaking his head. “Those girls would have done literally anything we wanted.Anything. You’re such an asshole, Ethan. Next time you have problems getting your dick up, can’t you just suck on her tits or something?”
I pick up the pillow behind my back and chuck it at him. “You’re the asshole, Dax.”
“Alright, boys. That’s enough,” Jake says in his best older brother voice. “Ethan, you called us in here and said it’s important. I’m assuming it wasn’t about the two girls last night?”
Here it goes. I’m not entirely sure how to start. I hate feeling vulnerable like this, especially around my brothers.
“No, it’s not about the girls from last night. It’s about Liz.” My throat tightens as I fight to get the words out. The thought of her leaving is tearing me up, but I don’t want my brothers to see that.
“Is Liz okay? Did she get another creepy note?” Jake asks.
“She’s quitting her job here and moving to Syracuse,” I spill out quickly before I lose my nerve.
Dax starts laughing. “Oh man, that’s rough. Looks like you shoulda just gone ahead and slept with that girl last night after all.”
I shoot my brother a look that lets him know what I think about his comment. “Shut the hell up, Dax. I don’t know why I asked you to come here today.”
Jake’s look is direct and unnerving. “And you want her to stay?”
“Of course I want her to stay,” I say vehemently.
“Why?” he asks. His head is tilted curiously as he waits for my answer.
“I care about her. I care about Matthew. Obviously. What kind of shitty question is that?” What’s he getting at? In usual Jake style, he’s going to go in circles until he finally gets to the point.
“And have you told her that? That you want her to stay?” Jake asks.
“Well, yes. I think so,” I say.
Jake’s brows reach halfway to the ceiling. “You think so, huh? That doesn’t sound too definitive.”
“Yes, I told her. She knows.”
Jake runs his hand through his hair and leans back in his chair. “You’re my brother, and I’m going to be straight with you. Liz and I have been friends for years. She’s not the type of woman who is okay with half measures. She’s not a plaything you can use and toss aside when it gets hard.”
