Better If He Goes (Always You #1) - Allie Everhart Page 0,64

knew I didn't I have a curfew." He reaches across the counter and grabs an apple from the bowl and takes a bite.

"I was worried about Riley. She never stays out that late. I thought something happened."

"Why were you worried? She was with me."

"You should've been home by nine or ten." I take a glass from the cupboard. "She said you guys went to dinner and a movie. If that's all you did, why'd you get home so late?"

"We went to her place and watched TV. I wasn't paying attention to the time. I didn't know you were waiting up for me," he says, sounding annoyed.

"You could've at least texted and told me you were there," I say, my anger rising.

"I'm not going to tell where I go and when. I moved out of my parents' house to get away from that shit." He finishes his sandwich and takes the plate to the sink. "So what happened with you? The date didn't go well?"

"It went okay. At least I took her home at a reasonable hour."

He chuckles. "And you get to define 'reasonable' for the rest of us?" He pats my shoulder. "Sorry, man, I know it's your house, but I'm not under your rules." He takes what's left of his apple and walks back to his room.

Sometimes he really annoys me. Like just now, he could've just told me what they did last night, but instead he makes it all mysterious. I shouldn't have to ask twenty questions to find out why he got home so late. Why didn't Riley tell me they went to her place?

After breakfast, as I'm cleaning up, Brad appears again, wearing shorts and a t-shirt.

"I'm heading out," he says.

"Where are you going?"

"On a run." He walks to the garage.

"You're driving?"

He turns back. "What's with all the questions? Last I heard, I was free to come and go."

"You are. I just wondered why you're driving somewhere to run."

"I wanted to run on a trail, not sidewalks." He turns to leave.

Just minutes ago I was pissed at him, but I'm over it now and would rather be hanging out with my cousin than alone in my room. I'm feeling sad about Riley and could use some company, and maybe some advice.

"Wait!" I race up to him. "Would you mind if I went with you?"

"You don't run."

"Sometimes I do. And I've been wanting to get in better shape."

He looks to the side, then back at me. "How about some other time? I don't want to wait for you to get ready."

"It'll only take me a few minutes. All I have to do is change."

He sighs. "Hurry up."

As I walk off, I turn back and see him texting someone on his phone. Was he planning to run with someone else? Is that why he was driving? To meet this person? I can't think of anyone he knows here who runs. None of the other lifeguards do.

When I go out to the garage, I see Brad's not in his car but in the driveway.

"I thought we were leaving," I say, meeting up with him.

"I decided to stay around here."

"Were you planning to meet someone?"

"No. Why?"

"I saw you texting someone."

He turns to me. "Okay, seriously, what the hell is your problem?"

"What?"

"Why are you spying on me?"

"I'm not spying on you."

"Monitoring what I'm doing. Where I'm going. What time I get home. Who I'm out with. What the hell?"

He's right. I AM doing those things. I'm worse than my mom.

"Sorry." I shake my head. "I didn't even realize I was doing it."

"You've been doing it a lot and I need you to stop."

"Got it." I pause. "So can I see your phone?" I laugh.

He smiles. "You're getting an extra mile for that."

"Extra mile? How many are we going?"

"Seven or eight." He twists side-to-side, then stretches his arms out.

"I'll be lucky if I make it three."

"You sure you want to do this?"

"No. I just don't want to be alone right now. The whole Riley thing is really bothering me."

"I thought you were feeling better about it."

"I was, but then I didn't see her last night and I missed her."

He nods. "Forget the run. Let's just walk and talk. Sound good?"

"Yeah." I hit the button to shut the garage and we head to the sidewalk.

Brad is taller than me and walks really fast. Keeping up with him feels like I'm running.

"So you missed her," he says.

"Yeah, and then being out with Tara...it's not like we didn't have a good time. It's just that