Page 46 of My Brother's Enemy
RAIN
Iknew that knock was coming before it came.
It was another night. The first before the week that everything inside of me was going to get overhauled. I was already unsteady when I opened the door and Tyler shoved in. It was late. They had an afternoon game today, but he sent a text saying he was heading to Bruge’s to watch Boston’s game.
The mention of my brother made me want to upheave the little I’d eaten today.
“Damn. You look good.” There was no food in his hands and he crowded against me, kicking the door shut behind him. He was here for sex and that was first and foremost on his mind. My stomach dipped as his hands went to my hips, sliding under my shirt.
But, no.
I couldn’t do this. Not tonight.
I needed all my reserves to handle the next week, knowing Dane would be in town.
I held up a hand to his chest and moved back, giving me some space. My heart leapt, then it sank because I couldn’t do this.
God…
I was about to break my own heart, but no.
Enough was enough.
“Tyler.”
He stopped. “What? What is it?”
We’d gone too far.
I couldn’t go further. He needed to know who exactly I was.
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to tell him?
Maybe he wouldn’t react the way I always assumed he would, with hatred and loathing? Maybe he’d be like Coach Hines, just a quiet understanding. But I knew I was deluding myself. I wanted to believe I could still have him, but he’d look at me with such disdain.
And my job… I’d already gone too far. My career was over if this got out. And then what would I have? Nothing.
My chest grew tight as my throat closed off, but I had to tell him. It was the right thing. I moved his hands back to his sides. He watched as I pushed him back, creating more space between us.
“We can’t do this.”
His gaze clouded over. “What? Why not?”
“I…” It hurt to talk.
Was I really going to do this? Tell him? Give my enemy who didn’t know he was my enemy the ammunition against me? But he hadn’t felt like my enemy this whole time.
No.He had to know.
“You don’t want me?”
Pain already began trickling through me. “No,” I said gently. “It’s not that. I—I need to talk to you.”
He moved back in, appeased by my answer. He reached for me, but I ducked out of his hold and stepped aside.
“Tyler—”
“What is this?”
