Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 96129 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96129 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
32
DOMINIC
“Well, fuck.” That was Gabriel.
I could kill him right now. I turned around and walked to my kitchen, ignoring him and his stupid comment. For someone who always had honors and AP classes, got into an Ivy League University, earned the degrees he had, and landed a high-paying job, my brother was one stupid motherfucker. Normally, when he pushed my buttons, I laughed it off, but tonight he’d gone too far. Way too fucking far.
“You’re in love with her.”
I looked him straight in the eyes. “What gave it away? Was it my threat to you, which, by the way, I meant every word of, or the way I kissed her?”
“Neither.” His brows rose. “It was the begging. I didn’t see that coming.”
I shook my head and opened the fridge, grabbing one of those disgusting sour beers I stocked up on just because he liked them, and handed it to him. He held it up as a thank you and started drinking.
“Tell me about the job you were doing.” I leaned against the counter.
“I will.” He paused to take another sip of his beer. “But you’re not going to believe me.”
“Try me.”
“I signed an NDA.” He raised an eyebrow.
“Fuck your NDAs. I’m your brother.”
“I asked you to take care of my girlfriend and you stole her from me.” He raised an eyebrow and took a seat. “If that’s what you do to your brothers . . .”
“She wasn’t your girlfriend, asshole.” I felt myself scowl, and scowl deeper when he grinned. “And she was mine first before you went behind my back and asked her out.”
“I’ll admit that it was a shitty move.” He nodded, conceding. “Not that it matters, all things considered. I guess I’ll let you have her for now.”
“Gabriel.” I stood up straight, pulse racing.
“Kidding.” He chuckled. “Jesus.”
“It’s not funny.” I took a breath. “None of what you said is fucking funny. She already had doubts about us, and you just gave her more reasons to rethink this whole thing.”
“She needed to hear it.” He sighed, shaking his head. “I wish someone had told Mom that before she got involved with Dad.”
“Then neither of us would be here, moron.”
“And Mom would be alive.”
“And it wouldn’t matter because you wouldn’t be here, so she wouldn’t be your mom.”
“My point is, someone needed to tell Rosie. Not that it matters.”
“Trust me, it fucking matters.” I slammed my fists on the counter. The look on her face, the way she kissed me, it was all fucking me up right now.
“Did you see how she looked at you? She’s fucking crazy about you. I don’t think anyone’s ever looked at me like that. She’s one hundred percent yours.”
“I know she’s mine. I just want to make sure that you know she is.” I glared at him. “What you just said will stick with her all night. She might not come back.”
“She’ll come back.” His shoulders sagged slightly. “She’s been through so much, D. Maybe you’re the one who needs to reconsider.”
“And give her up?” I shook my head. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
I couldn’t. I felt like an elephant was sitting on my heart.
“Fine.” He set the beer on the counter. “If I tell you where I was, you’re not going to like it, and if they find out, I may be the one floating in the river.”
My eyes narrowed. “You really think I’d let anyone hurt you?”
“You’ve threatened me like three times since I got here.” He raised an eyebrow. “You threw a fucking chair at me.” He nodded over his shoulder as if I needed a reminder of the broken television and fucked up furniture.
“Because you stormed in here talking about Rosie, and she’s not a topic of discussion unless you’re going to allocate some of my money into a wedding fund.” I scowled at the grin on his face. “You owe me a TV and a new chair.”
He shook his head, still grinning, and because it was genuine, I felt myself loosen a bit, but my chest still felt heavy. I was going to try really hard not to fixate on the way she left, but the kiss tasted like a goodbye, and not just goodbye for now. That didn’t bode well with me. She was with Marco though. He’d tell me if she made any strange moves. If she really wanted space, really wanted to sleep in her apartment tonight, or her dad’s house in Washington Heights, I’d have no choice but to let her. I’d probably be sore as fuck from sleeping in the backseat of an SUV across from her building, but I’d do it for her. Fuck. If this was what love felt like, I didn’t understand why anyone would want to willingly chase it. We’re a masochistic society. There was no other explanation for it.