Page 188 of Defend Me

“Who’s in there?”

“Tilian, Sen, and Kai.”

“I want to meet them.”

“I don’t…”

“Now.”

“Fucking hell. I thought the day was starting to look up. If you pull any threatening dad shit, I’ll jump off the balcony.”

“I’m glad to see I raised you to be a forward thinker.”

Chapter 50

Tilian

The door swung open and I sat up abruptly. Brooks stood there, looking a little awkward. His eyes were red and his lovely smile was absent, but he wasn’t actively crying, which I wanted to think meant things were okay. He was also really good at hiding his emotions most of the time, so I could be completely wrong.

“Beer,” he said before he turned around.

Me and the guys shared a look.

“I don’t want to,” Sen murmured. “If his dad is like his mom…”

Kai caught a tear with his thumb just as it released. “He’s not. We heard his parents talking, remember? And if he makes you cry, I’ll smash a bottle over his head.”

Leaving them to continue talking, I crossed my arms over my chest and wandered into the kitchen. I felt more awkward than I had in a long time. Not only was I meeting Brooks’ dad for the first time; I’d also straight up called his mom a bad parent not too long ago.

There was no way this guy was gonna like me.

I looked at Brooks, who was leaning his elbows on the island and spinning his beer bottle. Beside him, there was man who was slightly broader than him but about the same height. His hair was a shade lighter and cut short, not a curl to be found. He wore a dark gray button up and slacks, which sounded horribly uncomfortable on a plane. I wondered if he owned casual clothes.

My lips pursed when I saw a watch on his wrist.

“Is he mute?” he asked.

Brooks dropped his head to the counter and started to laugh. Did I say I felt awkward before? This was a million times worse.

“Sorry,” I said with a grimace.

“Don’t apologize.” He slid a beer across the island and I immediately took a long drink.

Brooks came around to stand by me. When he passed me a dab pen, I looked at his dad. He just made a dismissive gesture.

“Relax,” Brooks said close to my ear.

“Oh, that’s funny. The last parent I met made me want to drown myself in my mimosa glass.”

“I’m sorry,” his dad said. “Whatever my wife said to you, I’m sorry for it. There’s no excuse.”

“It’s okay. Um, I’m Tilian.”

“Noah.”

He held his hand out and I started to lift mine, but Brooks took it. “You already have him on the verge of passing out, Dad.”

“Alright, alright. Your house, your rules.”

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