Page 29 of Trouble
“We used to talk when you and Wes were playing video games, or you and Jack were out on your bikes. He hung around here. He listened to me; he didn’t treat me like the annoying little sister.”
“Ha, you were the annoying little sister. How many times did I have to tell you and Ianthe to go to the mall instead of bothering us?”
There had been too many occasions to mention, particularly during my sophomore year, their senior year, when I’d first seen just how ripped Maddox had become. His heavenly abs and muscled torso. Even thinking of them now made me squirm in my seat, bringing back memories of our two nights together.
“Turns out I wasn’t the only one with a crush back then,” I said suddenly. Maybe if I told Andre about Ianthe, he might understand how I felt about Maddox.
“What are you talking about?”
“You and Ianthe. I mean, I know your heart was only interested in Willa, but you must have seen how Ianthe acted around you.”
He shrugged. “Yeah, maybe.”
“And how do you think I felt about it? The prospect of my brother and my best friend getting together.”
Andre shrugged again. He really was a man of few words now, when only a few hours ago he had been ready to throw all the expletives in mine and Maddox’s direction.
“Don’t you think I would have been happy for you? Two of my favorite people becoming a couple? Getting to see my best friend every day? Seeing them happy together?”
“How do you know it would last? Maddox doesn’t exactly have a history of long relationships.”
While I didn’t know if this was the truth, it was certainly why I felt unable to settle down with someone else. Because it would be settling. I took a deep breath. “Because none of the other women he’s been with are me.”
My brother took a moment to take in what I’d said. When he didn’t say anything for a while, I leaned over and punched his arm.
“Say something.”
“I know how you feel.”
How could he? Although I didn’t say the words out loud, he went on.
“None of the other women I’ve dated have ever lived up to Willa. I know it was my fault we split up and I don’t blame her for dumping me at the time. Since then though, I always compared anyone I dated to her. Unfairly, too. She won every single time.”
I couldn’t remember the last time Andre and I had spoken like this. In fact, I wasn’t sure we ever had. Andre had gone away to college and although he’d been home several times during semesters, he’d rarely mentioned a steady girlfriend. I remember thinking how odd it was, considering how good-looking and intelligent my brother was. How he hadn’t been snagged by someone had always been a mystery to me.
“Then you must know how much this hurts me right now,” I said softly.
“You heard what Maddox said back there, Lyla. He doesn’t want anything more to do with you.”
My skin blanched and I crammed another cookie into my mouth. Despite Andre possibly coming around to the idea of Maddox and me being together, if Maddox wasn’t into it then I was back to playing the lovesick little sister again.
“But if you told him you were okay with it, I’m sure he’d change his mind again.”
Andre shrugged. “Who said I was okay with it?”
“You said you knew how I felt.”
“Do you see me with Willa? No. Then why should I be supportive of you and Maddox?”
Seriously, my brother could be an absolute dick at times. “You always ruin everything!” I wailed. “You better accept it because I can be with whomever I want. And that’s Maddox.”
Andre folded his arms across his chest. “He doesn’t want you.”
I swear I saw a triumphant smile playing over his lips as I mirrored his pose.
Oh, but I’ve changed his mind on a least two occasions this past weekend. What makes you think I can’t do it again?
Andre didn’t need to know those details. I certainly didn’t want to be the one to tell him. I was sure Maddox wouldn’t either.
