Page 31 of Faking It with My Bossy Ex

“Jake? Tyler?” I squeak, not sure if I should believe my eyes. They're supposed to be hours away right now, nowhere near Snowfall Springs.

Jake grins and holds his arms wide. It’s been a while since I saw my brothers and even longer since we spent Christmas in the same place. I’m pretty sure I’m dreaming. I barrel into him, hugging him tight.

“What are you doing here?” My voice is muffled by his green and black sweater, the perfect colors for a stuffy doctor. Pulling back, I catch another glimpse of his crooked grin, so much like Dad’s …

“We wanted to surprise you for Christmas, seeing as it’s literally been four years. Come here, you!” Tyler pulls me in next. He’s my little brother by three years, but there’s nothing little about his towering frame and lanky arms now.

My face hurts from smiling so much.

“How did you get here? I mean, with the storm and the lack of hotel rooms, and …” I throw my hands up, giving up. There were plenty of things to keep them away, but they clearly managed.

“We planned this weeks ago. We weren’t about to let a little snow stop us. Say, how about we pass by your friend’s bakery for a bit of coffee and a donut? We can catch up.” Tyler rocks back and forth on his feet. He’s no good at staying still, no matter what he's doing, whether it’s a conversation or when he’s playing basketball with his high school students. “Mom would have wanted us to connect every once in a while, you know?”

I nod. My mom loved Christmas, family, and putting the two together. Well, it was her elixir. Especially after Dad died, she clung to us in the aftermath. I can imagine her scolding us,telling us family shouldn't be taken for granted. Goodness, I miss her. It’s been three years since she passed away.

“Catching up sounds perfect. I’m sure Laura would love to see you!” I wink, knowing that he and Laura are just a match made in heaven waiting to happen. A blush creeps over his boyish features. He might be twenty-three, but he still looks sixteen to me. “It’s walking distance so …”

Just as I turn to leave, Dylan strides in, his eyes instantly locking onto Jake and Tyler. The warm holiday buzz slips into icy tension. Dylan’s mouth tightens, and my brothers’ jaws do the same, like mirror images in a face-off.

“Dylan.” Jake’s tone is dangerous, a warning. Tyler’s look could kill, like dead on the spot. I’m kind of glad he doesn’t have that ability.

“Wait, were you two here at the library together?” he demands.

Jake and Tyler are glaring, like twin guard dogs ready to pounce. And Dylan, well, he’s not exactly backing down. This is the exact lineup I’d pay to avoid. An ex-boyfriend and two overprotective brothers in the same room? Yeah, this is a recipe for trouble.

A murder in the library might be front-page news, but I’m not that desperate to be famous.

“Jake and Tyler. It’s been a while.” Dylan’s face shifts. His usual easygoing smile sliding into place. But I know him well enoughto catch the faint shadow in his gaze, the kind that tells me he’s bracing himself. I can’t tell if that’s comforting or terrifying.

Chapter 14

Dylan

Eight Years Ago

Where is my jacket? I know I left it in the room somewhere. Amy is already waiting for me at the campus library, and I’m fifteen minutes late as it is. I stumble across the room as someone knocks on the door. She must have come back to see what’s going on.

Instead of Amy, Jake stands in the doorway. He’s angry, not surprising. He’s always been surface level polite. Tyler is much more of a pal sort.

“What’s up? I’m kind of on my way out.” I lean against the doorway, trying my hardest to look intimidating. There’s nothing that intimidates Jake. He’s the definition of intimidation.

“Really? On your way out? We need to talk.” Jake scowls and pushes past me into my room. Rude.

“What’s this about?” I think I would remember if I’d done something specific to tick Jake off.

“It’s about you and Amy. Tell me you didn’t know she’s turning down Europe to get an apartment near you while you finish up your second degree.” He crosses his arms across his chest and stares me down, demanding an answer.

“Europe? I don't know what you’re talking about.” I feel like she would have mentioned Europe to me. It’s a big thing.

“Yes, Europe.” His expression softens a bit, and he pulls a crumpled pamphlet from his pocket and shoves it at me.

‘You’ve been accepted into our exclusive painter apprenticeship program. Join us in Europe for the next calendar year …’ My eyes drop down the rest of the pamphlet, taking in bits of information.

This is everything Amy’s ever dreamed of. Why did Jake say she was turning it down?

“If you let her give up Europe so she can stay with you, you’ll be killing her dream before it even starts, understand?”

My throat goes dry. I understand a little too well.

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