Anti-Stepbrother - Tijan Page 0,53
he looked when he wore that hat. Somehow it made him seem angsty, more mysterious. Now I couldn’t help but wonder how Caden would look in a baseball cap.
Kevin assessed me with tired eyes before taking in the guys behind me. They were heading to the second truck. Caden waved them on, gesturing to me and Kevin at the same time. I had no doubt he was explaining that the Land Rover might be a while.
“Hey.”
I was right. He didn’t sound like a dipshit tonight.
“Are you here to apologize or attack?” I asked.
He gripped the back of his neck, letting his arm hang there a moment. “Neither. I was hoping just to talk.” He gestured to the truck that was now pulling away, moving past us. “I was told the fraternity was helping out with the flamingos tonight. I was coming to lend a hand. I see some of Marcus’ crew is here too. I didn’t know you’d be here, actually, but I’m glad you are.” His hand slid into his jeans pocket. “I wanted to come see you.”
“I thought you were pissed at your fraternity.” He wanted back in. I could see it on his face, in his envious look when the truck left.
“I am. I’m not. I don’t know. I’ve had time to think stuff over, and I was an idiot.”
I snorted. “Just this one time?”
“Summer, come on.”
We stood on the passenger side of Caden’s Land Rover. I knew he was on the other side, listening. I folded my arms over my chest. “You need to apologize to me. You attacked me at the bowling alley, and you had no right.”
He grew quiet, shuffling his feet around, but staying in one place.
My chest tightened. Was he not going to say anything? At all?
Then he did, half-mumbling. “Why’d you lie to me?”
“About what?”
“You couldn’t stand Banks. Then the next time I see you, he’s protecting you. From me.”
“He’s my friend, and the first time you saw me, he wasn’t. It’s as simple as that.”
“You could be a little nicer about it.”
“Why? What do I owe you?”
“You know he’s my enemy.”
I shook my head. “You were dating his brother’s girlfriend. That makes you Marcus’ enemy. Caden is your fraternity brother.”
“Come on. Seriously? You could’ve told me you were friends.”
It wasn’t his business, but he was right. I hadn’t told him on purpose. I sighed, leaning back against the Land Rover.
“I knew you wouldn’t like it. I guess that’s why I didn’t tell you. And he is, you know. He’s a good friend to me.”
“Caden Banks doesn’t have female friends, Sum. You should think about that.”
“Well, now he does.” My tone cooled. He needed to back off. That was also none of his business. “And stop, Kevin. You don’t have a right to use a nickname for me. We were housemates, remember?”
He looked up, eyes blazing. “Don’t start with that.”
“With what?”
“Summer, I…” He kicked at the gravel on the road. “Listen, what we had—”
I didn’t want to listen. “Our one-night mistake, you mean?”
“Stop.”
I pushed off the Land Rover, but wrapped my arms around myself. “What do you want, Kevin?”
“Stop. I haven’t said anything.”
“I can see it. I don’t even want to talk about this. What we did was a mistake. I see that now, but I’m doing my own thing. I don’t care if you don’t like it. It’s none of your business.” My lungs were stinging. “What, are you jealous that I might be interested in someone else?”
He was such an asshole. I’d had enough. I reached for the door.
“Yeah. Maybe I am.”
I turned back. He had no right, no right at all. I felt punched in the chest. “Oh my God.”
Kevin stepped in front of the door so I couldn’t close it after I got inside. “I’m sorry, Summer. I am.”
“Just stop it.” I tried to move him out of the way, but he pressed even farther inside, resting his hand on my leg.
I shoved his hand off. I wanted to tell him not to touch me, but Caden would’ve been there in a flash. I bit back the words, for now.
I couldn’t talk. I couldn’t look at him either.
“I should’ve stayed and faced that night head-on, together, but I didn’t. I’m a coward, Summer, and I’m used to my old ways. Being a coward is easy for me. I’ve been that all my life, just like my father. He’s a coward. He ran out on my mom and me.” He paused for a moment. “I always have to