Page 64 of The Bad Brother

You need to tell her who you are. What Ethan is to you before she finds out on her own. Before this turns into a lie she’ll never forgive you for.

Fuck.

Standing slowly and carefully so I don’t wake her, I carry Sloane upstairs. Crossing the room, I gently lay her down on the bed. Leaning over so I can tuck her in, I have every intention of going home but before I can, I feel her move beneath me. Hear the sheets rustle quietly while she reaches up to brush cool fingertips along the line of my jaw before she whispers the one word that can send me straight to hell.

“Stay.”

“Sloane…” It comes out rough, the sound of it graveled and pitted like my throat is full of hot asphalt. “You’ve had a really long day. I don’t?—”

“Please,” she whispers softly. “I don’t want to be alone.”

Hell.

Straight to hell.

Turning my face into the palm of her hand to press my lips against it, I nod. “Okay.”

Straightening just long enough to kick off my boots and jeans, I pull off my socks and shirt before skirting the end of the bed to crawl under the covers on the other side. Sliding across the sheets, I hold my breath when she turns toward me but I can’t stop myself from reaching for her. Laying onmy side, I pull her close, making her the little spoon, her back pressed against my chest.

Settling in with a sigh, she angles her head on our shared pillow to press her lips against the underside of my jaw. “Thank you,” she says softly before turning away to tuck the top of her head under my chin.

“I didn’t do anything, Peach, except make you cry and a mess in your kitchen,” I tell her, my tone still rough and full of holes.

Hell.

Straight to hell.

“You picked me flowers and made me grilled cheese,” she reminds me softly. “No one has ever done things like that for me before.”

“Things like what?” I should stop talking. Let her fall back to sleep so I can leave but I can’t. All I seem to be able to do is lay here, with her in my arms, and make things worse.

“Things that matter.” Her fingers trail done the length of my arm to thread themselves between my own. “Things that make me feel likeImatter.”

Tell her, you asshole.

Tell her right fucking now.

“You do matter...” Tightening my arm around her, I lean down to press my lips against her neck. “I need to tell you something. Something you’re probably not going to like.”

“Okay.” Before I can stop her, Sloane turns herself in the circle of my arms. Facing me, mouth inches from mine, she nods her head on the pillow. “I’m listening.”

Say it.

Just say it.

Now, before it turns into a lie she’ll never forgive you for.

“Do you remember when I told you earlier that my brother was here?” I ask because I’m too much of a fucking coward to say it outright.

“Yes.” When I mention Ethan, her brow crumples slightly. “You said he was here causing trouble.”

His name is Ethan Pryce.

Your ex-fiancé is my psychotic younger brother.

“I had cameras installed.”

Coward.

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