Page 69 of Together We Burn
I would have if Alex hadn’t shown up not long after my long soak in his tub or spent so long looking around his bedroom.
I chewed my bottom lip as I thought. “I can’t leave them here alone.”
“I know. That’s why you’ll be staying too.” My eyes bugged as he dragged my head to his and kissed my temple. “Baby, it makes sense. You want to protect your sister, and I want to protect you.”
“But…”
“But nothing, Stefany. You’re staying.”
“If the girls are staying, I am too,” Alex said, his face morphing into a scowl.
Jake’s lips thinned as he eyed Alex up and down. “No.”
“Excuse me?” he asked, taking a few calculated steps forward until they'd have been chest to chest if I wasn’t sandwiched in the middle. “You don’t get to swoop in and play the hero after everything you put her through.”
“Alex,” I warned.
His eyes darted to mine, then returned to Jake’s. “No, Stevie. This is happening. Either we all stay, or none of us do. Simple as that.”
I sighed and felt Jake tense against my back. This macho posturing was really getting old. You’d have thought fighting it out would have resolved some of their issues. It kind of did for us…
Jake dropped his hand and possessively splayed his hand across my stomach, pulling me back into his chest in a clear sign of dominance.
“Fine,” he snarled through gritted teeth. Alex took a step back, a victory smile crossing his lips as he dropped himself back into the chair he’d been napping on.
“When did she say she would be here?” I asked.
“Three days,” he answered, scrubbing a hand through his hair and ruffling the strands. “She needs to finish a few things at work, and Nate’s got a big test on Thursday, providing he feels better, so they will come this weekend.”
I nodded. “Did you tell her why I want her here?”
Alex shook his head. “I told her you could really use your little sister around you right now.” I screwed up my nose at the ridiculous sentiment. Chris knew I wasn’t lovey-dovey like that.
“And she bought it?”
“Fuck no.” He laughed with a sigh, then looked to his feet. He was keeping something from me. Touching the back of his head when nervous was one thing, but now the whole not-looking-me-in-the-eye thing.
Interesting.
“What did you say then, Alex?”
“Does it matter?” he asked, finally looking me in the face. “She’s coming, end of story.”
I narrowed my eyes, scrutinising him.
“You’re acting weird,” I said.
“Am not,” he retorted.
“Are so,” I countered childishly. I was so close to stomping my foot that it was embarrassing. We used to never keep secrets, and now that’s all our friendship was made of.
Let it go, Stevie. He didn’t know.
“Stefany,” Jake drawled, amusement filling his tone.
Taking a calming breath, I said, “Fine. Keep it to yourself, you miserable bastard.”
Jake’s hand, still held against my stomach, moved to grip my hip. Squeezing tight, he said, “C’mon, baby, let me take you out for lunch.” He pointedly looked at Alex as he added, “Alone.”
