“It’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much. Brandt says you’re his best friend.”
I glanced over my shoulder into the back at her, wondering what she was talking about. She hadn’t heard “so much” about Sarah. Colton had mentioned her one time around Julianna, and that was it. When I met her gaze, however, she only shrugged, letting me know she hadn’t been sure what else to say. Then she added, “I work at Forbidden with him.”
Sarah nodded. “Our brothers used to work there together. That’s how we met.”
That was about all the friendly small talk I could stomach. “Do you mind if I drop you off first, Juli?”
The glare she shot me told me what a rude jackass I was being, but I couldn’t help it. Violence was bubbling just under the surface of my skin. Nice was not in my vocabulary at the moment.
“That’s fine,” Julianna answered, despite her irritation.
I nodded. “Thanks.”
BRANDT
The interior of my truck grew even quieter after we dropped Juli off at her apartment and I walked her to her door.
When I returned to the truck, Sarah was gazing out the passenger side window, ignoring me. That pissed me off. She needed to start talking. Now.
I climbed behind the wheel, started the engine, and steered us back onto the road, grinding my teeth and stewing until I just couldn’t take it any longer.
“This,” I growled when I turned down her street, “is exactly why I wanted to know more about him before he ever took you out.”
She sniffed and glared over her shoulder at me. “I’m really not in the mood for an I-told-you-so.”
“That’s not what I’m doing.” I tried to keep my cool, but I was still upset about seeing her cry and not yet being able to kill the bastard for it...or even know what he’d done to cause it. But I couldn’t keep the sneer from my voice when I muttered, “Excuse me for worrying about you.”
“Well excuse me for wanting to go on a date like a normal, average woman without all the drama of you background checking him, or giving him the third degree, or maybe even threatening him to treat me right.”
God, I hated it when she was right. “I might not have done that.”
Except I totally would have, because she wasn’t a normal, average woman. She was the most precious thing in my life. I knew it was unnatural how much I relied on her to be there for me when I needed a friend, but I didn’t care. Sarah was priceless to me. I couldn’t help but be overprotective of her and snarl at any threat that came near her.
I didn’t know how to tell her any of this, though; she seemed determined to push her crappy mood off onto me.
“That’s exactly what you would’ve done,” she ranted. “You are so fucking predictable it’s not even funny. I love you for caring, but you take it too far.”
Too far? I hadn’t even done anything! And I really didn’t appreciate receiving the brunt of whatever shittiness Seth had started. He was going to die an extra time for that alone.
Working my jaw, I pulled to the curb in front of her house and tried to calm myself because arguing over what I might or might not have done was getting us nowhere. Spinning toward her as soon as I cut the engine, I demanded, “Will you just tell me what he did already?”
“Screw you.” Shoving open her door, she climbed out and slammed it shut. But she couldn’t go very far. Stomping off to the house wasn’t an option, and she didn’t have the muscle to lift her chair from the bed of my truck.
I stole a second to grip the wheel tight and squeeze my eyes shut. When I jerked open my door and rounded the bed of my truck so I could fetch her chair, she leaned against the side of my truck, waiting impatiently. She hugged herself the entire time and shook like crazy, avoiding all eye contact as she lifted her chin stubbornly.
I flipped open the chair and set it on the sidewalk for her, making sure it was ready for her to sit in.
“Your chariot,” I bit out.
Sparing me a killer glare, she muttered, “Bastard,” and slid down, seating herself.
I snickered. “You’re welcome, by the way. It was simply an honor to save you from your fucking date.”
Sarah ignored me as she rolled up the driveway without a goodbye, fuck off, or even a backward glare.
My fingers curled into fists at my sides. Oh, this was so not over. I was not leaving this property until I found out what good ol’ Seth had done.
She must’ve known I’d followed her because once she reached the front door, unlocked it and shoved her way inside, she tried to slam it in my face.
I caught it before it broke my nose and glared at her back as she sped through the front room and past her brother, who was sitting on the couch, watching TV in nothing but some sleep pants.
“What the hell?” he yelped, jumping to his feet and gaping after his sister, who barely spared him a glance on her way through.
“I’m going to bed. Goodnight,” was all she muttered.