Page 15 of Love Me, I Dare You

“I hate him,” she cries out between muffled sobs. “God, I’d forgotten how much I hate him.” I know exactly what she means, though I don’t say that out loud. Monroe knows the way I felt about her brother and everything that transpired between us, but this moment is for her. I may have mourned the boy I thought I was in love with, but she grieved for the brother who wanted nothing to do with her.

“I’m so sorry, Moe,” I whisper into her hair as I walk us further into my apartment. Together, we sit on the small gray couch I’ve had since our dorm room back at NCU, since it’s the only one not covered in boxes.

“How could he come back, just like that, and act like nothing happened? As if the last ten years he hasn’t been completely and selfishly avoiding me.” Her words sting. Every truth she speaks hits so close to home because it’s the same way I felt when I looked into his eyes last night.

I hated I spent the night thinking about nothing else but him while he probably slept like a fucking baby, not a care in the world for the pain he’s caused. That’s Nash’s MO, leaving girls broken hearted across Crossroads. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’sspent all this time away doing the same thing wherever he’s been.

“I don’t know what to say, Moe.” I really don’t.How can I comfort her when I’m just as confused and angry as she is?

Luckily, I don’t have to come up with anything before Billie knocks on the door. I shout for her to open the door, since I didn’t have time to lock it when Monroe came barreling in.

Billie enters and rushes to our side, a tequila bottle in one hand and a gallon of cookies and cream ice cream in the other. She sets her things down on the coffee table and wraps her arms around Monroe.

“Oh Moe, I hate seeing you like this. I swear the moment I see the bastard, this boot,” she says, kicking her foot in the air to show off her bright pink Luccheses. “Is going right up his well-deserving ass.”

However, that only makes her cry more. “I hate him, ugh, I freaking hate him. Not to mention these hormones are definitely not helping.” She sobs into her hands while Billie releases her and turns her attention and worrying to me.

“How are you holding up, B?” she asks, and Monroe nearly jumps out of her seat.

“Oh, my God! I’m a horrible friend,” Monroe cries out, placing her palms on my thighs as she turns to face me. Her bright blue eyes, red rimmed and swollen from her tears, anxiously watching me. “You saw him last night, didn't you? That’s where he came from, the bar? I heard him tell Monty about stopping by Stingers for a drink before he came to the house.”

He told his brother he’d seen me?

Monroe had to have heard wrong. There’s no reason Nash would’ve told Monty he’d stopped by to see me.

I nod. “He dropped into the bar last night, didn’t say much, not that I gave him much chance to.” I take a deep breathand reach for the bottle of tequila, twisting the top off and taking a sip. Caffeine won’t cut it this morning. “We kept our conversation short. He didn’t say anything about why he was back and I let him know he hadn’t been missed. Then I had Alexis politely kick his ass out.”

Monroe lets out a giggle while Billie claps her hands in excitement. “Yes, you go, girl. Good for you, not falling for the bastard's charm. Cause fuck me, when I saw him walking down Main Street mounting that sweet bike he has, he is gorgeous.”

I take another swig of the liquor, indulging in the burn as it flows down my throat. Because Billie is damn right. Nash Bishop is gorgeous. So beautiful, it’s even more painful to witness his return. Monroe smacks Billie’s leg, making her whine in response. “Ouch.”

Monroe rolls her eyes and reaches for the gallon of ice cream. “Not helping, Bills. And eww, reminder you’re talking about my brother.”

Billie reaches for the bottle and plucks it out of my hand. “I’m just stating the facts. Just because we hate the asshole doesn’t mean I can't acknowledge the years have been good to him.”

I can’t help the scoff I let out at the memory of just how cocky and smug he was last night as he wandered in, all eyes on him. “If the years have done anything, it’s remind me exactly why we hated Nash. Especially after he walked into my bar last night and tried to act like the last ten years hadn’t happened. Like I should welcome him home with open arms and throw a fucking party in his honor.”

“Tell us how you really feel,” Billie jokes, and I toss a pillow her way.

She dodges it, nearly spilling tequila all over my couch. Monroe opens the ice cream and grabs the spoon Billie hands her, digging right into the creamy deliciousness. “Well, after Itold him to fuck off and then ran off to puke in the downstairs bathroom, I heard him tell Monty he’s not here to stay.”

Billie lets out a sharp laugh, bending forward in hysterical laughter. “You puked when you saw him?” she asks, wiping away the tears under her eyes. “Oh man, that must have been hilarious.”

Monroe pops a spoonful of ice cream into her mouth. “Yeah, and apparently Monty’s heard me throwing up at odd hours and now suspects I have the stomach flu.”

“Wait till he realizes the flu’s going to last nine months.”

“Not funny, Billie,” Monroe mumbles with a mouthful of ice cream.

I know she’s been incredibly anxious about telling her oldest brother, specifically because he’s incredibly overprotective of her. Monty and Nash, along with Beau and Theo, much like my brothers did with me, used to run off any guy who showed the tiniest bit of interest in us all throughout high school. For so long, they saw two naïve little girls who were as innocent as they were precious, and I think Monty still sees the little girl he helped raise when he looks at Monroe.

I don’t blame him. Unlike my brothers, who did it more to be a huge pain in my ass, Monty cares more about Monroe than he does anyone else, and he’s sworn to protect her for as long as he can. Which means from any man that wishes to hurt or touch his little sister. Finding out she’s pregnant from a drunken one-night stand is going to give him a heart attack.

“Are you planning on telling Monty soon?” I ask, trying not to press her too hard about her impending future. She’s still very early in her pregnancy, but as thin and fit as she is, she’ll start showing in no time. “Now, with Nash here, I don’t see him being as clueless as Monty about your situation.”

Monroe’s eyes go wide in horror. I don’t think she’s thought about how Nash’s presence back in town will affect her hiding this secret.

“No, I’m not telling my oldest brother slash the only father figure I’ve ever had, that I got pregnant from a one-night stand and am planning to raise the baby on my own without telling the father I’m pregnant. I’m planning on hiding my entire pregnancy and, who knows, maybe Monty won’t notice there’s a baby hiding out in my home studio.”

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