“Really? Because I’m thinking that it’s barely seven in the morning and Professor Scott is leaving your apartment.”
“Like I said, it’s not what it looks like,” I repeat, reluctant to explain my sex life with someone who wants to be a part of it but never will. Brody wants to be more than friends. At one time, I thought I might be able to give that to him, but now I know for certain that it’s never going to happen for us. I love him to death, but more as a family member than a boyfriend.
“You’re one of Josephine’s friends,” Rebel states. His voice is flat, unwelcoming, and I groan again.
Grabbing hold of Rebel’s bicep, I squeeze it firmly. “We don’t have time for this, Rebel. We’ll miss the flight.”
“Rebel? Flight?” Brody’s eyes leap to mine, questioning.
“Yeah, Rebel is Professor Scott’s brother. Look, I don’t have time to explain right now,” I tell him, pushing him back with a hand to his chest as I pull Rebel out the door behind me. “I’m going out of town for a couple days, but I promise we’ll catch up when I get back.”
“I don’t like this, J.” Brody’s expression is full of confusion, and who can blame him? He’s just been slapped with the same reality I was little more than a month ago—Ransom has a twin. I’m still struggling to get used to it myself, so I can only imagine how fast his head must be spinning right now.
“She didn’t ask for your opinion, frat boy,” Rebel tells him.
“Rebel!” I go from being cautiously optimistic to beyond irritated in a nanosecond. I may choose my words and actions wisely to avoid confrontation with him most days, but today is not one of them. I was trying to keep a bad situation from getting any worse, but he’s crossed a line.
Shouldering my bag, Rebel ignores my protest and wraps his hand around the back of my neck, using it to guide me toward the stairs.
Batting his hand away, I twist free of his hold and leave him standing there. Returning to Brody, I beg him with my eyes to understand.
“You’re going to just run off with that asshole?” Brody questions, his face tinged red from withholding his anger.
“I’m sorry for the way he treated you. He’s just upset with the situation,” I explain. “He’s not too keen on the idea of other men in my life. Just…don’t be mad, okay?”
His eyes narrow slightly. “Are you in trouble? Is this guy going to hurt you?”
“What the fuck did you just say?” Rebel starts back our way, but stops in his tracks when I hold my hand up.
Honestly, I hadn’t thought that’d really work. It feels like I’ve just discovered I have magical powers, like Cesar, The Dog Whisperer. Forcing myself to focus, I address Brody’s concerns. “No, he’d never hurt me. He’s not like that. He was caught off guard when he saw you, but it will be fine.”
“Let’s go, Josephine. The car is waiting.”
I hold up my hand again, impressed that it seems to still be effective. Although, I’m under no illusions that it will last much longer. Rebel is growing impatient.
“At least tell me where he’s taking you in case I have to file a missing person’s.”
I smirk. “We’re going to Maine for a couple days. I should be back by…” I look to Rebel.
“Monday morning. Maybe,” he bites out.
Good lord, he’s such a caveman. If I wasn’t so busy trying to keep the peace, I might find his behavior hot.
Who the hell am I kidding? I think everything about Rebel is hot. Even when he’s being rude, crude, and downright nasty. Being an asshole suits him.
Brody’s reluctance to let me leave pours off him, but he’s not in any position to make me stay and he knows it. Heaving a sigh, he scratches his fingers through his longish brown locks. His arm drops down to slap against his thigh. “Fine, whatever. If you say it’s cool, then cool. Just call me when you get there. Or use Morse code, smoke signals, whatever in case he decides to hold you prisoner or something.” His smile is crooked, one dimple making an appearance.
Throwing my arms around his narrow waist, I give him a quick squeeze and step back, keeping the contact short and sweet. Rebel may not like it, but he’ll have to deal. I’m making compromises for the both of us.
“Thank you,” I say softly. I can feel Brody’s eyes on me as I walk away, feel the sadness in them. I think I might be a terrible person.
I toss an apologetic look over my shoulder as I meet back up with Rebel, hoping Brody isn’t too upset with me. Rebel has a way of getting under a person’s skin, and not always in a good way. As if to drive home his dominance, Rebel replaces his hand at the base of my neck and steers me toward the stairs. Brody looks to be a cross between bewildered and two seconds from going nuclear.
Thankfully, the car is already waiting for us at the curb when we leave the building, just as Rebel promised. Gerardo stands at the rear, holding the door open for us. I climb in first, sliding over to allow Rebel room to get in. When he does, he’s wearing what I call his business face. It’s a perfectly blank mask, impenetrable. I have no clue what is going through his head, but I’m sure whatever it is, none of it is good.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I narrow my eyes at him. “You need to work on your manners.”
“What, I was supposed to be nice to that boy back there?” He scoffs, clearly thinking himself above the act of basic human decency.
“Brody is my friend. He deserves a little damn respect.”
“Brody is a horny little shit with his eyes on the wrong woman. What he deserves is my fist in his face.”
“Jesus, Rebel! What is wrong with you?” I can’t believe he’s being so vicious. After last night and this morning, I was beginning to think he’d turned over a new leaf. How foolish am I?
Rebel’s expression morphs into a mask of outrage. “What’s wrong with me? Let’s start with his assumption that I might hurt you. He’s lucky I didn’t hurt him, starting with his face!”
“Can you blame him? Look at how you’re acting. You’re being a crazy person, and why? Because he’s a man?”
“I told you to make sure no other men touch you,” Rebel snarls.
“Newsflash, Rebel,” I say smartly. “That’s an unrealistic expectation. There are going to be other men in my life and sometimes, they might touch me. Are you going to beat them all up?”
“If I have to.”
My eyes widen. “What if it was your dad? Would you hit him for touching me?”
“Of course not,” he scoffs. “That’s ridiculous.”
“And so are you. You know what your problem is, Rebel? You’re jealous. You’re so worried that another man is going to swoop in and take me out from under you that you’re missing the real issue.”
His dark eyes swoop up to meet mine, and I see the level of his anger. It’s deep and I get the immediate sense that it stems from something beyond me. I probably shouldn’t push, but I venture forward anyway.
“Do you know what happens to a bird if you hold on too tight?” I ask. “You crush its wings.”
“Bird analogies, really?” Rebel’s lip curls with annoyance.
“I happen to like birds,” I snap. “My point is if you spend all your time holding on so tight because you’re worried I’ll fly away, then you’ll never know what will happen if you let go.” He refuses to look at me, so leaving my seat, I close the gap between us and crawl onto his lap.
His entire body stiffens and his jaw flexes as he stares up at me, determined to be angry. I wouldn’t expect anything less. With a tender touch, I brush my fingers through his midnight hair. “I’ll tell you what would happen, Rebel. I’d come back.”
“You say that now,” he says, his voice a low rumble of doubt.
Shaking my head, I lower my forehead to his, close my eyes, and breathe him in. “Did I ever tell you what happened that night at your apartment?”