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Before either of them can say anything more, Miles turns his fiery gaze to me. “And you? We talked about this, Shay. After what happened with Devon, you said you were focusing on yourself. You came crying to me begging for advice. Telling me you’re going to take a break from dating. From sex. This is how you do it? Fucking the guy who treated you like absolute garbage for the first two weeks you worked here?”
I feel my face heat up with humiliation. “It’s not like that, Miles. Austin isn’t Devon.”
“Of course, he’s not! He’s supposedly my best fucking friend…” Miles trails off and his voice grows quiet as he shakes his head in disgust. “You’re going to take that away too. You ruin everything in our family.”
Austin’s jaw tenses. “I know this is surprising, but don’t take your anger out on her.”
“Oh, you have no idea how angry I am.” Miles is reinvigorated. He points at me. “Did you forget about your condition? Or did he?” He swirls his finger around his head . “A few lapses in memory and you throw yourself at the next guy.”
The dig stings. Tears burn behind my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. “Miles, stop it. This has nothing to do with my epilepsy.”
“You’re in over your head. Again.“ Miles’s voice drips with condescension.
I’ve never, ever hated my brother until now. Then again, he’s never been anything but supportive of me, which is why the sharp taste of betrayal lingers. I’m caught in the crossfire of a storm I knew would come when he found out about my relationship with Austin. I certainly didn’t anticipate it would go quite this badly.
Austin, however, stands resolute. “Miles, whatever issues you have with Shay or with me, throwing them out in anger isn’t the solution. That’s not how we roll.”
Miles scoffs and throws his hands up. “Not how we roll? You think I didn’t know about that night in high school when we all got drunk and she took your virginity? You moped about it for a long time. For the past few years you fucked any woman that showed even a hint of interest; none of whom look like Shay, I might add. The reason I felt comfortable giving her a job at our company was because I thought you were over her.”
Austin’s eyes widen slightly, but he says nothing. I want to go to him, but my feet feel like they’re bolted to the ground.
“Shay might not remember what happened that night, but I do.” Miles slaps his leg. “I chose to stay silent, thinking it was best she didn’t know.”
“Miles, that was years ago. We were kids. It’s in the past.” Though I’m reeling from my brother’s pent-up resentment about my illness, my pageant training kicks in like I’m on autopilot. I’m not going to let him see me fall apart. I stay measured. Calm. I want this to end quickly so Austin and I can pick up the pieces.
Hopefully.
Miles’s gaze softens a little, but there’s a clear pain behind his eyes. “Ever since you got sick, you’ve been…unpredictable. I never know what you’re going to do next. One minute you’re here, the next you’re gone. I thought if I gave you some stability…”
His condescending tone takes me aback and I lose my cool. “Wow. Okay. Patronizing much?”
Miles winces but is undeterred. “It’s always got to be about you. Doesn’t it? Whatever Shay wants. Whenever she wants it. I’m so sick and tired of this.”
“It’s her life, Miles. Not yours. You can’t control her decisions.” Austin moves next to me and grips my hand in solidarity.
Miles’s gaze darkens. “I’ve had to watch out for her and pick up the pieces since we were kids. Especially after her diagnosis. She’s destroyed our friendship and she’ll destroy you too. Don’t you realize that, Austin? It’s infuriating.”
I feel like I’m watching this conversation from above. Like it’s not really happening. Like we’re not going to have to deal with the fallout of this angry tirade. I hear myself blurting out, “I can find another job.”
“Yeah. Good. I think that’s best.” Miles gestures with his arm for me to leave.
Austin’s arm tightens around me. I look up and see the hurt in his eyes, but he stands by me. “She’s not going anywhere.”
Miles laughs. “Oh, but she is. As you said, ‘you can’t control her decisions.’”
“What I meant to say is, I can find another job but I don’t want to leave,” I find my true voice amidst the storm of emotions. “You’re being so disrespectful and cruel. I don’t even recognize you.”
Miles deflates. “I’ve reached the end of my rope.”
Austin steps in front of me. “Okay, that’s enough, Stodge. You’ve said your piece. I think we should all head out. Let cooler heads prevail in the morning.”
“I trusted you, Austin.” Miles shakes his head. “I trusted you.”
Austin pulls me against his side. “You can trust me with Shay. I love her.”
The room goes silent. I look between the two most important men in my life, praying for a resolution. But it seems Miles has had enough. “Fuck this.”
He storms out.
