Page 34 of Three Pucking Ex's Brothers
It’s quiet for a moment before Freddie speaks. “Russell?—”
“Don’t.” I hold up my hand, not wanting a lecture from him. I swear, despite the fact that he’s not even thirty yet, you’d think the guy was older, like he was our father or something.
Technically, Brett’s the oldest at thirty-two, and Freddie’s just a few years older than me at twenty-eight. But you’d never know it. You’d think living with two guys in their early twenties would ease him up, make him a little less of a damn square, but that would be the furthest thing from the truth.
We may live together, but that doesn’t mean he has any right to tell me what the fuck to do.
“I don’t need to?—”
He sighs, and I push past him, toward the kitchen. “I’m tired as fuck, hungover, and I feel like shit right now, so excuse me if I’m not in the mood for one of your damn lectures.”
“And whose fault is that?” he asks, and I turn to glare at him. He stands in the kitchen, arms crossed and a resting asshole face that pisses me off as much as it comforts me.
“Fred, I said I don’t want to do this right now,” I gripe as I head for the coffee pot, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee hitting me hard. I set to fixing myself a cup as he shakes his head.
“That’s the problem, Russ,” he says calmly. “Youneverwant to deal with your actions. And most of the time, I can let that go, but when it comes to Nora?—”
I sip my coffee, not wanting to respond to him or his judgmental voice. I need to get a shower, eat something, and head to the gym.
Yeah, that’s what I fucking need right now. The gym…I need to work out this weird frustration and guilt, get Nora and the feeling of her warm body next to mine out of my damn mind.
8
NORA
I followTommy to his truck, my cheeks still strangely heated from the weird exchange in the house. Caught between Freddie and Rush, I couldn’t help but feel antsy.
And don’t even get me started onwaking upwith Rush.
Or rather, in hisarms.
My memory is a bit all over the place, and I wasn’t entirely lying to Freddie when I said my stomach was upset. It’s in knots and has been ever since I woke up next to Rush. For the briefest minute as I curled next to him on the couch, felt his warmth…I forgot where I was. Forgot the truth of the matter.
For the briefest moment, I feltgood.Warm. Content.
Loved.
Which is crazy, considering it wasn’t Brett I was cuddling with, and I never felt that kind of warmth with Brett. Even when he was home, he rarely stayed in bed in the morning, always up at the crack of dawn to work out or run.
And then I opened my eyes and everything changed.
Even now as I get into Tommy’s truck, as I try to recall my memories from last night, they’re blurry.
I remember dancing with Rush, remember the way he looked at me on the dance floor, and I certainly remember throwing up on the side of the road. I shiver at that memory…
But it’s the after that’s hazy. I only know I showered because of the clean clothes, but I didn’t wake up in the guest bedroom as I should have. I woke up with Rush. On the couch.
How did I get there? What exactly happened?
Was it an innocent mistake? Or was I so drunk I decided falling asleep with my ex’s brother was a good idea?
Because it’s not. A good idea. Not by a long shot.
Tommy opens my door, pulling me from my thoughts, and I nearly jump. I don’t miss the way he glances at me for a moment, his eyes roving over me and hovering just above my mouth.
“Thank you,” I say, my voice strangely weak as he nods.
“Sure,” he says, swallowing hard. Almost like he’s nervous. But what does the baby Sterling brother have to be nervous about?
