Page 80 of Trust Me Always

A moment later, I hear the shower turn on and let out a huff, yanking the covers over my head.

It is way too early for this shit.

I roll over, trying to get comfortable, but unfortunately for me, the bed isn’t half as cozy as it was five minutes ago. I do my best to fall back asleep, pretending that I have when Brady quietly slips back in to get his things.

His lips ghost my temple on his exit and then the door closes with a soft click.

I don’t fall back asleep after that.

“You look surprised.”Alister grins, holding the door to the café open for me.

“I am. I thought for sure I’d have to kick your ass today.”

“So you didn’t follow along with me last night, watching my progress from your side of the screen?”

“Nah. I was knuckle-deep in fried garlic noodles watchingGalaxy Questfor the hundredth time.”

“Really?” Alister chuckles. “I never would have taken you for a sci-fi fan.”

“It’s Brady’s favorite.” I shrug, scanning the menu with rapt interest even though I always get the same thing. “Have you ever tried the Cookie Butter Latte?” I glance his way, frowning when I see he’s staring at me with a crease between his eyes. “What, does it suck?”

Alister pulls in a full breath, a smile appearing a moment later, but it seems a little forced.

“Dang, that bad?”

A low chuckle leaves him, and he shakes his head, the upward tilt of his lips real this time. “I’ve never had it, but I’m not big on the stuff. I usually stick to the banana protein smoothies.”

“Typical.”

“Why, is that Brady’s favorite too?”

My attention snaps his way, and he steps up to the counter and orders, giving me a sheepish glance as he looks to me to add my drink to his tab. I do but I don’t let him pay, setting a five-dollar bill on the counter before moving toward the pickup side of the bar top.

Alister walks over, hands in his jeans pockets, eyes on mine, but he doesn’t say anything until his name is called, and we’re tucking into a diner-style booth in the back corner of the café. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“Being jealous of everything that has to do with you and Brady.”

My muscles tense, and I should look away, but I can’t. He just admitted that like nothing.

Maybe it shouldn’t come as a surprise, seeing as he has said directly that he wants to be with me, but I guess I assumed that things had changed, that we weren’t in the same place we were a few weeks ago.

He told me he had regrets. He said he understood where I was at.

I thought he was letting things go.

I mean he still could be. It’s like I said, you can’t just turn your feelings off, and jealousy is definitely a feeling.

But why does it have to be such an attractive one?

Jesus. Proof I’m a damn hot mess.

Aren’t I supposed to hate jealousy? If I am, then something is broken in this little mind of mine ’cause…yep. Even after thinking it through, it’s still hot.

Not that I want him to hurt or be angry or whatever way he processes that specific emotion. In reality, he has zero reason to be jealous, least of all of Brady. We’re basically family, and our relationship is as fake as Professor Gilroy’s hair color.

Brady’s sneaky smile from this morning flashes in my mind.

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