“So what happened?”
Trying to shut my mind off from thinking about Amelia’s touch, I continue, “We were hungry, and I had nothing in my house so we decided to go to hers. She went ahead of me so I could put shoes on and when I made it back to her house, she was sitting on her porch with Trey, holding hands and talking.”
“Shit,” Tucker mutters to himself, understanding the impact this has on me.
“Yeah, shit was right. At that moment, everything blacked out around me and all I could see was them. Together. And before I knew it, Amelia, with the help of Trey, put two and two together. She asked me if I knew, and I couldn’t lie. She looked at me with total disgust.” I take a deep breath, pausing to gather myself. “Trey figured out I was the asshole Aaron who broke Amelia’s heart, and he didn’t take kindly to that. He punched me. I didn’t reciprocate even though I wanted to, and then I left. I apologized to Amelia and fucking took off.”
“Did she say anything to you?”
I shake my head, removing the ice pack but Emma gently pushes my hand back to my nose. “I didn’t want to stick around to hear what she had to say. It was written all over her face. I fucked up my second chance.”
“Maybe she was just in shock.”
“I like you, Emma, so I’m going to be honest with you. There is no way she’ll forgive me or even look at me again. No fucking way.”
“Was it that bad?”
“Yeah,” I sigh. “It was that bad. And I only have myself to blame. I should have said something. All she ever wanted from me was to be open and honest with her, to talk things through with her, but fuck I was scared.”
“Why?” Emma places her hand on my knee to comfort me.
“Because, he’s so much better than me. I didn’t want her to look at me and think she was stuck with the other brother. The brother less successful, emotionally unstable—who can’t control his temper at times—and who doesn’t have the loving family to visit on holidays. The other brother who, despite how hard he tries to shed his upbringing to be a better man, will never be enough.”
“Dude,” Tucker chimes in. “You’re so much better than that, and you know it.”
I chuckle sarcastically. “Yeah, not so much.” Standing, feeling a little lightheaded, I gain my balance and hand Emma the ice pack. “Thanks, Em.”
I stumble slightly and Tucker grabs my shoulder, stopping my walk to the door.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?”
“Somewhere. I don’t care where, just somewhere.”
“Fuck that. Give me your keys. You’re not in any condition to drive.”
I shrug off Tucker’s hand and keep walking. “I’m fine.”
“You’re not.” Tucker charges toward the door and blocks me while holding out his hand. “Give me your fucking keys. We won’t bother you, you can rest in the guest room if you want, but you’re not going anywhere, and you’re sure as hell not driving anywhere.”
I stare Tucker down, contemplating moving him. I’m bigger than he is. I can do it. He will fight me, but I know I can get past him.
“Don’t even think about it,” Tucker says, recognizing the look in my eyes. “Hand over your keys. I’m not opposed to breaking your nose again.”
Knowing he’s not kidding, I pull my keys out of my pocket and hand them over, feeling exhausted, lightheaded, ready to call it a fucking day, despite that it’s still morning. Sagging to the floor, I place my forehead in my hands and ward off the agony I’m feeling.
Tucker speaks to Emma while standing above me. “Babe, can you grab me a pair of sweats for Smalls. My shirts won’t fit him, but at least he can change out of his pants.”
“Of course.” Emma heads upstairs, the creak in the wood giving her away.
Tucker squats in front of me and says, “Come on, man. Let’s get you in the guest room.”
“I don’t want to go back,” I say, my voice cracking. “I can’t fucking see her again.”
Tucker pats my shoulder. “Don’t worry, you can stay here. I’ll drive over later today and grab some things for you. For now, let’s get some food and water in you, okay?”
I nod and keep my head down as Tucker guides me to his guest room, his hand never leaving my shoulder. We’ve seen each other through the worst, and today is no exception.
Emma brings me a pair of sweatpants and leaves the room to make me breakfast. I quickly change out of my bloody attire, not caring that Tucker is in the room and rest on the bed, my hand draped over my eyes.
I can feel Tucker’s gaze on me and silence stretches between us before he asks, “Is it over?”
I press my lips together, a stray tear falling down the side of my face. “It’s fucking over.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
AMELIA
Tucker drives away, his brief visit to Aaron’s house complete.
He hasn’t returned; it’s eight at night and he hasn’t returned. And I’m not sure what I would have done if he did.
I’m mad, confused, caught off guard.
Brothers?
I should have known. I don’t know why I didn’t see it before. Why I didn’t notice their similarities from the beginning. Both loving hearts, both sweet, both with devastatingly blue eyes. Those eyes . . .
I press my head against my palm.
It was so obvious and yet, I was so oblivious. But then again, who would think they would date their ex-boyfriend’s brother? I knew Aaron had brothers, but I never knew exactly who they were or where they were. I knew nothing about them.
I guess I do now.
After Aaron took off, I asked Trey to leave as well, unable to stomach talking to anyone. Thankfully, Trey gave me space, time to process the bomb dropped on my front porch this morning.
Sighing, I lie on my bed, peeling my eyes away from the window, knowing Aaron isn’t coming home tonight. I feel marginal relief. Having him only a few feet away from me right now would be too difficult. I would be tempted to lash out, to ask him the many questions I’ve been asking myself since he left.
My lips flatten as I squeeze my eyes shut, a new wave of tears starting to fall. I have no idea what to believe anymore, who to believe, or what to do. I only know I’m in pain. I wasn’t this hurt when I left Trey, yet here I am again, hurt because of Aaron.
I’m tempted to call Amanda, but I don’t want to hash things out again, so I turn on my side, smelling Aaron’s cologne on his shirt I’m still wearing. And I just started to get used to the comfort of his smell . . .
A sob escapes me as memories from last night come to the forefront of my mind. The way he was with my father, his smile, his joy when they were talking about my birdhouses. And then his touch, his lips pressed against mine, the way he stared into my soul when he entered me. It felt so real, so right.
And once again it’s gone.
There’s a knock at my door, startling me to my feet. With the backs of my hands, I wipe at my eyes and go to the door and find Trey with his hands in his pockets, dressed more like himself.