On Dublin Street The Bonus Material - Samantha Young Page 0,11
could do something. He wished this were happening to him instead of her. Not to Els— one of the kindest, warmest, sweetest gift life had ever given him.
The other best gift (a less sweet, prickly, stubborn, passionate, smartarse one) he’d ever gotten stirred next his wee sister, but he steadfastly ignored Jocelyn as Els asked, “What time is it?”
“It’s past noon. I’ve made you some lunch.”
Braden felt Jocelyn’s eyes on him but he kept his on Ellie as she whispered, “I’m not hungry.”
Prepared for that, Braden shook his head stubbornly. “You need to eat. Come on, sweetheart, time to get up.”
Leading Ellie by the hand, he faltered when Ellie asked, “Joss, you coming?”
Good thing he’d made her some lunch, too. The petty inclination to leave her to starve had reared its ugly head, but it went against his nature not to look after her, so he’d made her scrambled eggs on toast once he’d made Ellie’s.
While he watched to make sure Ellie was eating, Braden was very much aware of the increasingly horrendous tension between him and Jocelyn, and although he tried his best, every time she came near him his anger made him instinctively move away from her.
Ellie caught on fast after that. “What’s going on?” she asked softly.
Not wanting her to worry about anything but getting through her doctor’s appointment, Braden mumbled “nothing” at the exact time Jocelyn did.
“Guys,” his sister said, looking suddenly stricken, “did the doctor call?”
He immediately felt like a Class A prick. For all his promises to himself to put Ellie first, he’d fucked up right away by letting Jocelyn get under his skin.
“No, Els,” he assured her. “We’ve the appointment with Dr. Dunham later this afternoon, just as planned.”
“Then why are you two acting strangely?”
He didn’t say a word and yet a few seconds later she guessed it.
“You broke up,” she said, looking so despondent more guilt crashed over him.
When he felt particularly guilty Braden did what he knew best: ordered people around. “Els, you should get in the shower, brighten yourself up a bit. You’ll feel better.”
She ignored him. “Because of me? You broke up because of me?”
“No, Ellie,” Jocelyn answered for them and he felt his muscles tighten at the sound of her voice. “Not because of you. This had nothing to do with you, and it’s done. We’re okay. Don’t worry about us. We’re getting through this minus the drama.”
So you fucking think, Braden just stopped himself from glowering at her.
Ellie jutted her chin out, her expression mulish, and Braden was actually happy to see the fire back in her eyes, even if he was to blame for it. “You’re clearly not talking to each other, though. What happened?”
Not wanting Ellie to feel like she’d caused this and letting the part of him that Jocelyn had hurt take control of his mouth, he said, “She doesn’t love me, and I think she’s an untrustworthy, cold bitch. Now get in the shower.”
Braden watched his sister’s eyes fly to Jocelyn’s face. His girlfriend’s expression was hidden from him but watching Ellie’s pale skin turn even more wan, and hearing the hurt reprimand she gave him just saying his name, he knew he’d wounded Jocelyn.
More guilt made him feel even more pissed off. “Shower. Now.”
Her worried eyes flew to Jocelyn.
“Ellie, shower,” she said, sounding surprisingly composed for someone he’d apparently wounded.
“You’re worse than my parents,” Ellie murmured, dragging her exhausted body out of the kitchen, leaving him alone with her roommate.
Like it had been waiting for Els to leave, his anger stoked to new life and he clenched his hands into fists to keep from yelling just for the hell of it. He held it together though. Braden needed a reaction out of her, anything to give away her true feelings. He took a breath and managed calmly enough, “You left some of your shit at my place. I’ll drop it off this week.” When Hell freezes over.
“I’ll get your things together for you,” she answered softly.
Not the answer he’d been hoping for.
New tactic? Perhaps something a little friendlier?
Braden cleared his throat. “You came back for her?”
“Well, sometimes untrustworthy, cold bitches keep their word.”
His blood instantly heated with indignation and he slammed his mug down on the counter. Just for once could she not put that fucking armor of hers away? This was Ellie they were talking about. “She doesn’t need your charity or your fucking guilt.”
“She doesn’t have my charity or my guilt.”
His eyes finally flew to her. She stood leaning against