Page 91 of Dessert Flirt Repeat
“Would you knock it off with the evasive bullshit? I know something is up.”
Bag of ice in hand, I try to walk past him, but he shoulder-checks me.
I drop the ice and stumble back. “What the fuck?” I shove him. He leans back slightly but rights himself instantly.
“Did you and Becca have a fight or something?”
I glare at him. “That’s none of your fucking business.”
“Yeah, probably not, but whatever went down between you two must have been bad because you’re not acting like yourself.”
I scoff. “Dude, I’m not in the mood, okay? Fucking drop it.”
He shakes his head. “Not a chance. I know I annoy the hell out of you, but I’m also your big brother. I notice when you’re happy and when you’re sad and everything in between. You’re sad, Gage. Why?”
I try to shove past him to get to the door, but he blocks me again.
“Get out of my fucking way, Tyler.”
“Talk to me. Tell me what’s wrong.”
I tug a hand through my hair. It feels like someone shook up a can of soda and shoved it into my chest cavity. I feel restless. I feel like I’m about to blow.
I let out a bitter laugh. “We broke up. There. Happy?”
I shove him again. Just like before, he stumbles back but quickly recovers. “What happened between you two?”
“None. Of. Your. Fucking. Business,” I repeat through gritted teeth.
Concern flashes in his frown. “Itismy business, Gage. You’re my brother, and ever since you and Becca got together, I’ve never seen you so happy. And now that you’re not, you’re being an asshole.”
I stand there, glowering at him, as my chest heaves with each breath I take. It feels like my lungs and my heart are about to explode.
“What went wrong?” he asks.
“Nothing. We just decided to call it quits,” I lie, not wanting to get into something so personal.
He blinks, his expression neutral. I can tell he’s not buying it. “Really? Sounds pretty amicable then.”
“Yup,” I huff.
He finally steps aside, and I make it to the door.
“Since it was mutual, you wouldn’t mind if I asked her out, would you?”
My hand freezes on the doorknob. “What?”
“Well, I mean, she’s smokin’ hot. And sweet. Just my type.”
Fury flashes through me. It feels like lava is burning through my veins. Slowly, I spin around to face him. “What the fuck did you just say?”
“I said Becca is hot. And I want a shot with her since you’ve made it clear you’re no longer interested.”
I stomp over to him and shove him against the wall. He lets out a wheezing sound as he clutches a hand to his stomach. He’s hunched over as he catches his breath.
“You stay the fuck away from her, understand me?” I growl.
After a few seconds of coughing and gasping, Tyler starts to laugh.
