Saved by the Crush's Brother - Maggie Dallen Page 0,30

just a little different than mine.”

“Now who’s making assumptions,” I snapped.

Here was the thing. I rarely did anger. Sadness, sure, on occasion. Frustration, sometimes. But in less than forty-eight hours this guy was witness to two out of only a handful of fits of temper in my lifetime.

The first had been because of Alex, but this…? This was all on him. I planted my hands on my hips. “My parents split when I was in junior high.”

His mouth opened like he was going to say something but I didn’t let him.

“It was ugly. Capital-U ugly,” I said. “Like, my parents sent me to live with my grandparents for the summer before freshman year because the fighting had gotten so bad. I haven’t talked to my father in nearly a year. Or…” I gave a humorless laugh. “Actually, he hasn’t spoken to me. He said it’s too hard...whatever that means.”

I sounded bitter now, too, and I knew it.

Cristian was gaping at me like I’d just grown a second head.

“I-I’m sorry,” he said.

I shrugged. “Yeah, well. We all have our crap, right?” I didn’t wait for him to answer. “But just because our parents are going through stuff doesn’t mean we have to take on their baggage.”

“It’s not that simple,” he said.

“No, I’m sure it’s not,” I said. “But if you don’t at least try to understand where your dad is coming from, if you don’t at least attempt to see what Alex is feeling—”

“Is that what this is about?” His eyes roamed over me. “Is this about Alex? You’re defending him right now?”

My lips parted because...seriously? That’s what he got out of this conversation? “I’m not defending anyone, just trying to say that relationships take work...on both sides. If things are bad between you and your dad or you and Alex—”

“Look,” he interrupted. “You don’t know Alex. Not like you think.”

“Maybe not, but he’s not a total stranger to me either. I’ve liked him for years. I’ve had a crush on him since freshman year. I’ve seen him—”

“You had a crush or you have a crush?” Cristian’s curt question cut me off mid-sentence.

“What?” But I’d heard him. My mouth went dry because I’d heard him and I had no idea how to answer.

“This isn't about that,” I said. “My point was—”

“That’s all this is about,” he said. “You and I might have different views on how to deal with family, but none of that means anything if you’re still hung up on my spoiled, entitled little brother.”

His voice was as harsh as I’d ever heard it and it took me a full second to gather my wits enough to respond. But before I could, he was reaching for his jacket and setting Buttercup to the side. “You know what, forget it. If you want Alex, then don’t let me stand in your way.”

And then he was gone.

Out the door before I could stop him.

10

Cristian

Two days later I was still kicking myself. Hating myself, actually.

The best thing to happen to me in years and I’d ruined it by lashing out like a child.

I should have been celebrating as I packed my belongings back into a duffel bag so I could head back to school early.

I was going back, and I was dropping business as a major. I’d be an English Lit major starting next semester and...I owed it all to Avery.

I held my breath as a fresh wave of guilt washed over me at the way I’d walked out on Avery the other day. But, at the same time, what was the point of sticking around?

She’d told me herself she’d been in love with my brother for years. Alex and I had enough issues without letting a girl come between us.

She’s not just any girl…

She wasn’t. I’d never had such a crazy instant connection with anyone, and I’d certainly never had anyone talk to me like that. At once sympathetic but also...fierce. Avery wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. And while her upbeat attitude was naive and adorable, it was also kind of...brave.

Refreshing.

It was a different perspective that I wasn’t used to, not even from my mom who was always doling out the pep talks.

But Avery hadn’t been giving a pep talk, she’d just given her perspective. And her perspective was just like her—all sweetness and light.

I’d gone into the big ‘talk’ with my dad with her voice in my head and for the first time in a long time, I made it through a conversation with my father without a power