“I’m sorry…who’s we?”
“All of us.”
Popping my hip out, I cross my arms and demand, “You’re gonna have to give me more than that.”
“Me, River, Jake, and Sonny,” Milo answers.
The guy acts like this is a normal response when a roommate breaks up with her boyfriend. I mean, why wouldn’t everyone tag along to help me pick up my crap, right? I rub my palm along my face.
This is ridiculous.
“I don’t even know Sonny,” I protest. “Why would he want to help me?”
Milo waves me off. “Hell if I know. You don’t know River, either, but he’s adamant on tagging along too.”
“How does River even know about this?”
“Sonny’s got a big mouth,” River offers from the hallway, obviously having overheard our conversation. His long stride quickly eats up the distance between us until he’s less than a foot away and reaches into the cabinet behind me to grab a coffee mug. The guy is still shirtless––shocker––but smells like heaven as his firm body pins me between himself and the counter behind me. Unsure where to look, my eyes bounce between his tan skin, the scuffed up baseboard behind him that’s surrounding the kitchen, and my brother shooting daggers at the model who’s all up in my grill.
Mug in hand, River steps away to give me some breathing room, then pours himself a steaming cup of coffee before adding a shit-ton of vanilla flavored creamer from the fridge. For some reason, the fact that he has a sweet tooth doesn’t surprise me. At. All.
It’s actually kind of adorable.
Bringing the coffee to his lips, he inhales deeply then gives me a panty-melting smile. “Ah…that’s the stuff. Anyway, Sonny brought me up to speed before hopping in the shower. Which reminds me. You smell. You should grab one before we leave.” He hesitates before looking me up and down while sneaking another sip from his steaming cup. “Nope. I changed my mind. Go exactly like that. Your ex will help you pack up your shit in no time.”
“Are you saying that I stink so bad my ex will be glad to get rid of me?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” he replies shamelessly, oblivious to my brother’s glare that I can feel is alternating between River and the side of my head.
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from egging him on, but I can’t help myself.
Who says something like that to someone of the opposite sex that they barely know?
Scratch that. Who says something like that, period?
“Should I be offended?” I challenge.
“Probably. But don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll take care of you. We’ll just make sure you take a shower after we get your shit. See? Simple.”
“But I thought it was in the dating handbook to make the ex jealous so you can win the breakup, right?”
“Not when it comes to you and Ian,” Milo interrupts, ignoring our banter. “He’s been messing with you for too long, Reese.”
“Give me a little more credit––”
Milo scoffs. “The guy has you wrapped around his little finger.”
“That’s not fair,” I argue.
“But it’s true,” Jake interjects from the hallway. He strides toward us with something in his hand and looks beyond pissed, though I have no idea why.
“Ian has always been bad news, but you keep going back to him. Tell me, do you like being treated like shit?” The accusation is clear in Jake’s voice, but I’m too confused to argue with him until I realize what he’s insinuating.
How the hell would he know about all the other crap Ian has put me through? That was between Milo and me.
My rage is almost palpable as it finally clicks into place. I don’t need to say a single word as I turn to my brother. My flaring nostrils combined with a glare from Hades is enough to get my point across. Besides, he knows me well enough to read my mind, and I’m sending the signals loud and clear.
What else has he told Jake that was supposed to be between us?
“Don’t get pissed at me,” Milo volleys back at me. “Jake’s been around long enough to piece together your history with Ian.”
“Yeah, and I’m sure you were more than happy to fill in all the blanks. Am I right?”
“Am I missing something?” River interjects.
Milo and I continue our little stare-off while Jake jumps right in, more than eager to spill all my dirty laundry. “Ian and Reese go way back. He’s been using her like a yo-yo for years.” Scowling at me, he continues. “Treating you like shit until you snap and leave his sorry ass. Then he comes back on his knees a few days later after he realizes you’re the best he’s ever gonna get, and you welcome him back with open arms. Again. And again.”
“First, what the hell is your problem?” I snap. “And second, he’s never cheated on me before. Or at least, I don’t think so?”
He snorts. “That sounds promising. I wanna know if it’ll be enough to keep you from reviving your dead relationship a week from now, or if you’ll remember what a jackass he is this time around?”
“Back up, Jake,” Milo orders, his brotherly instincts taking precedence over his annoyance with me. “Reese is right. Why are you so pissed at her right now?”
“Yeah, I’ve never seen you treat a girl like this,” River adds, his earlier amusement evaporating into thin air. With his chest puffed up, he takes a step closer to me. There’s a protectiveness in his stance that only digs up more questions.
Have I entered The Twilight Zone?
Because Jake is never mad at me, and River barely knows me. Why would he be willing to come to the rescue?
Jake scoffs as he takes in River’s protective stance. “Shut the hell up, River.”
“Excuse me?”
“Milo had one rule, and you broke it in less than twenty-four hours. Although, with your reputation, I don’t know why I’m even surprised.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” River demands. His muscles are coiled tight like a spring, practically begging Jake to say something wrong so he can finally snap and go after him.
Ignoring him, Jake turns back to me. “And you. Your brother gave you one order to follow if you wanted to stay here. Do you remember what that was?”
Confused, I shake my head back and forth. “What are you talking about, Jake?”
“I found his shirt in your room.” He tosses the wadded-up material at me, and I catch it against my chest. “Wanna tell me what it was doing there?”
River laughs out loud, slapping his hand against the granite countertop like this is the most hilarious interaction he’s ever had.
“Are you shitting me right now?” he asks. “That’s why you’re pissed?”
Jake’s forehead wrinkles in confusion before his spine straightens. “Yeah. That’s why I’m pissed. Milo told you to keep your hands to yourself––”
“And I have. She doesn’t have any clothes, remember? I gave her something to sleep in. That’s it.”
Jake’s jaw tightens, but he doesn’t respond. Of course, he wouldn’t. There’s nothing to say. He just made some huge assumptions with almost no evidence to back any of it up, and it backfired. Bad.