Stolen Course(33)

I don’t say anything, and Emma just shrugs before shaking her head.

“All right, big man. Let’s get out of here. You two can talk this over, maybe over the phone…on a long-distance call…with at least twelve hundred miles between you.” Eli tries to move Brett toward to the door.

“Fuck you, Eli,” he snaps.

“Eli?” Emma squeals, causing us all to look at her. “You’re the one who snuck Sarah a phone, right?”

“And you’re the crazy-ass woman who screamed at me,” Eli says with a devilish smirk.

“Eli,” I growl in warning.

“Yep, that’s me,” Emma says proudly before releasing me and throwing her arms around his neck.

“For Christ’s sake! Can someone fucking tell me what the hell is going on? You have been in town not even a week, yet somehow you and Jones have already hooked up?” Brett booms.

Emma immediately releases Eli and resumes a protective stance at my side. It’s almost cute to think that she’s protecting me. I bite my lips to keep my smile hidden. I have a sneaking suspicion that it would be highly underappreciated right now.

“We’ve been talking every day for over a month now,” Emma quickly explains, and I can’t help but close my eyes and look up at the ceiling, hoping for divine intervention. I know exactly how well that little bit of information is going to go over with Brett.

“A month?” he whispers. “A. Fucking. Month.”

Like I said, I’ve known Brett for a while now. These fights are nothing new, so I know exactly how this is going to go down. While he stands there stunned, I walk to my den and grab my prized coffee table, pulling it into the corner. I grab one wooden picture frame with a picture of my niece off the wall and the clay pot from the corner, tucking them safely out of the way next to the table. Just as I turn around, Brett is already storming toward me.

“Start talking,” he says, stopping directly in front of me.

Emma starts to head toward me, and I know Emma too—she’s about to get all up in this shit, and it won’t have a positive ending.

“Don’t let her go,” I say to Eli.

He rolls his eyes and lets out a frustrated groan but grabs her arms.

“Get your fucking hands off me!” she screams, becoming suddenly aware where this is going.

“Caleb?” Brett says again, oblivious to all the activity going on around him.

“Well, jeez, sir, I’ve been dating your daughter for…oh wait. You’re not her daddy at all!” I smart off. It’s habit. Really, I can’t even control it.

I shouldn’t have kept this from him, but I knew he was going to overreact. I figured as soon as Emma got back in town, we could sit down and tell him together. Maybe go out for drinks with him and Jesse. She can usually keep him from freaking out completely. I guess it’s out there now though.

“Don’t give me that shit. Don’t act like I’m the fucked-up one in this situation.”

“Am I the fucked-up one? I met a girl, talked to her on the phone, built a relationship, and then brought her home. I’m pretty sure that’s how dating works these days.”

He barks out a laugh but never backs away. “A relationship? You’re fucking delusional! She’s no more than a passing obsession for you, and the fact that you kept this from me for over a month proves it.” He takes in a deep breath before roaring, “That’s my family!”

“No, she’s your ex’s family. Is Sarah still your family?” I say as Brett leans in even closer.

“God damn it, let me go!” Emma screams, but thankfully Eli does his job and keeps her back.

“Fuck. You,” Brett says slowly.

“Get out of my house. What I do with Emma is none of your fucking business.”

“Oh, I believe it is very much my business. I have watched you fuck every woman who has come within a ten-foot radius of you for five years now. You get your fill then walk away. The only woman who ever managed to get you to commit was Manda, and you have made every woman since her pay for the fact that she wouldn’t commit to you.”

The truth in his words stings. I don’t necessarily agree with him, but that doesn’t mean his words don’t hit me hard.

“Fuck you, Brett,” is my very uncreative response.

“Can you please stop them?” Emma yells at Eli.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. He won’t hit me. He never does,” I tell Emma while smirking at Brett. “Right, brother?” I say with a wink.

I’m not lying. He won’t hit me. He never does. He likes to think he will, but he’s just a good guy who has a jaded asshole for a best friend. He’s used to this shit by now. The only time we have ever come to actual blows was the day of Manda’s funeral. And I think he only hit me that day because he knew I so desperately needed some sort of distraction to keep myself from losing it completely.